SITE PLAN REQUIREMENTS

Sprinklers are extremely cost prohibitive.

An NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system is actually not as expensive as you might think.  Estimates from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) as recently as 2016 are that sprinkler systems can be installed for as little as $1.35 per sprinklered square foot, while average cost per square foot for construction in Arizona, per Home Advisor, is $100-$200.  Another Home Advisor search shows that the average cost for a sprinkler system in Arizona is $382, while the average cost of overall construction is $433,752.  Additionally, some insurance companies may lower rates for homes with sprinklers.  

When one sprinkler goes off, they all go off, causing water damage throughout the house any time I burn my toast.

Unlike smoke alarms and detectors, sprinklers are not activated by smoke at all, so burning your toast probably won't get you all wet.  Sprinklers are activated by heat, sufficiently high to avoid false activations, and activate individually.  That means that if one sprinkler knocks down the fire, the others do not activate.  Most fires are extinguished by one or two sprinkler heads.

But, even so, that is a lot of water damage.  

Yes, a sprinkler activation can cause water damage, but it will be localized to the area of the fire.  The damage from a fire which could have been knocked down by a sprinkler will be much greater.  In addition, we fight fire with water-a LOT of water.  Our attack lines generate enough force to rip sheet rock off of walls.  A sprinkler head probably won't even damage your paint.  And, once we are on scene and are sure we have the fire controlled, we turn off the sprinkler system or wedge the individual sprinklers shut.

Pine and Strawberry are too cold for sprinkler systems in the winter, and I don't ever go to my cabin in the winter.  The system will freeze and break, and I won't even know it.

There is a possibility of a sprinkler system freezing if unattended in a cold house.  There are many ways to avoid this.  Antifreeze, of the type we use in our cars, is currently prohibited as it is flammable.  However, a new UL listed product will be available in 2022.  Alternative types of systems can also be used, such as dry systems.  Dry systems maintain pressure with air until a sprinkler activates.  Then the system floods with water and sends it out through the sprinkler.  Other alternatives include insulating or heating the pipe or installing it in warm locations.  Finally, the 2018 IFC allows residential sprinkler systems in unoccupied structures in freezing environments to be drained and winterized.

Sprinklers are ugly.

There are a number of sprinkler styles on the market now which are easily concealed and won't detract from the beauty of your new home.  Consult with a contractor, and you may be surprised.

Sprinklers are designed for property protection and not life safety.  Besides, my smoke alarm will protect my life.

NFPA 13D sprinkler systems are actually designed for the express purpose of life safety as a cheaper alternative than other types of systems to keep people safe in their homes.  A pleasant side benefit is that the sprinklers usually put out the fire, protecting the property as well.  Smoke detectors are vitally important, as well, but they only give you warning that there is a fire.  Sprinklers hold the fire at bay so you can actually escape. 

Our primary concern is fire apparatus access.  Our attack lines are 200 feet long, so we require certain road and driveway clearances to allow us to get within 150 feet of any new construction.  That still leaves us 50 feet of hose to attack the fire.  

We also approve and inspect any fire suppression systems (ie: sprinklers, commercial hood systems).  Additionally, we try to confirm proper addressing.  

Finally, we do look through the rest of the plans for other life and fire safety concerns.

The county tax rolls are one to two years behind.  This means that the fire district does not receive any money from the new construction for quite some time.  However, we are still providing fire and medical services during that lag time.  The fee offsets the cost of that protection.

You will receive your stamped plans, a data sheet with fee breakdown and other data, and a letter for the county explaining that we have approved the plans, along with any stipulations.

Gila County has the lowest percentage of privately owned land in Arizona:  0.034628%.  The next lowest is La Paz County with 0.052332%.  Compare that to the highest percentage of private land ownership, Cochise County with 0.398193%.  The end result is that with fewer taxable parcels, each taxpayer has to pay more for commensurate service.