Do Bushfire Sprinkler Systems Work?
Bushfire sprinklers are one of the most common questions we get. The short answer is that a well-designed system can reduce the risk of your home catching fire from embers, but it is one part of your preparation, not a replacement for a bushfire plan.
How homes catch fire
Many homes lost to bushfire are ignited by embers rather than by direct flames. Embers can arrive well before the fire front and keep landing for hours after it passes. They collect in gutters, on decks and against walls and windows, where they start small fires.
What sprinklers do
A sprinkler system wets your roof, gutters, walls and the ground around your home. Wet surfaces and fuel are much harder for embers to ignite. Sprinklers can also be positioned to cover windows and decks, which are common entry points for fire.
What makes a system reliable
A sprinkler system is only as reliable as its pump and water supply. That means a petrol or diesel pump that works without mains power, and a dedicated water supply that will not run dry too early. It also needs metal pipework above ground that holds up in radiant heat, and a pump that has been serviced before summer.
What sprinklers cannot do
Sprinklers will not stop a fire front, and they do not make it safe to stay in a home that is not prepared. The CFS advises every household in a bushfire risk area to have a written bushfire plan and to decide in advance whether to leave early. Sprinklers support that plan.
Is a system right for your home?
It depends on your property, your water supply and your plan. A site assessment is the best way to find out what would make the most difference.
Need help preparing your property?
Our licensed plumbers design and install bushfire sprinkler systems across the Adelaide Hills, with Davey and Reefe pumps and a 25-year labour warranty on installations. Call 08 8337 4969 or request a quote online.
