Protect the things insurance can’t replace with a life-saving home sprinkler system

Residential fires claim more Australian lives annually than all other natural disasters combined, including bushfires, floods, and storms. It’s a sobering fact, but one that Sionainn Hayes, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Designer Fire Sprinklers, believes to be crucial knowledge for Australian homeowners.

“An average of 52 Australians die every year in house fires — that is equivalent to one person every week,” Sionainn says. “These deaths are preventable by installing sprinklers.”

Fires in modern homes spread in less than five minutes, a dramatic increase compared to older homes (built between 1950 - 70) which averaged around 29 minutes.

“It takes on average seven minutes for the fire brigade to attend the scene of a house fire in metropolitan Melbourne (other cities' response times may vary),” Sionainn explains. “A fire can spread and cause significant damage or incapacitate a person in less than five minutes, meaning the fire brigade is often responding to save the house next door, rather than the one on fire.”

The life-saving power of sprinklers

While smoke detectors are essential for early detection and evacuation, they cannot control the spread of a fire or extinguish it completely. Paired with smoke detectors, sprinklers add a layer of active fire suppression, controlling a fire quickly to give families with small children, people with disabilities, or pets additional time to evacuate.

“Fire sprinklers also protect if no one is home; in 99% of cases they will extinguish a fire completely, if not contain it to the room of origin, even if no one calls the fire brigade. This dual approach ensures that fires are detected early and managed effectively before they can cause more harm to people and property.”

Residential fire sprinklers, like those available from Designer Fire Sprinklers, are designed to automatically detect and work to extinguish a fire within approximately two minutes of ignition. 

“This early intervention significantly reduces the reliance on an individual detecting the fire and calling emergency services. By controlling the fire in its early stages, sprinklers help to limit the spread of flames and minimise potential damage,” Sionainn explains.

Utilities made beautiful

Sionainn and partner Raphael Corbett founded Designer Fire Sprinklers to protect the things you love — the things insurance can’t replace. Knowing sprinklers are a legal requirement in commercial buildings, the pair wondered why it wasn’t the same for residential buildings, especially due to the high number of Australians who die in house fires every year. 

“We believe that safety devices, like fire sprinklers, should not detract from a home’s design aesthetic. By offering beautifully designed sprinklers, we allow homeowners to protect their homes without sacrificing style. This approach helps integrate essential safety measures into everyday living spaces seamlessly, encouraging more homeowners to adopt these life-saving technologies,” Sionainn says.

Designer Fire Sprinklers’ collection of elegant sprinkler systems is tasteful and discrete, available in a range of finishes only limited by your imagination. With end-to-end service — from design and supply to installation and maintenance, as well as custom plate design —protecting your home and family has never been easier.

“Sprinklers are designed to be heat-activated and typically trigger at a temperature of 68°C or higher. This specific activation threshold ensures that everyday activities, such as using kitchen appliances or your home heating system, will not accidentally set off the sprinklers. Residential fire sprinklers also operate independently; if one detects heat, only that specific sprinkler will release water. This means you can contain fire and subsequent damage to a single room in your home,” Sionainn explains.

“We invest so much into designing and furnishing our homes — architecturally, structurally, financially, and personally. It only makes sense to protect them with something just as thoughtfully designed and beautiful.”

Learn more about Designer Fire Sprinklers.