Fire Suppression System Cost

In order for fire or combustion to happen, there must be three elements: fuel, oxygen, and heat. Much like the three sides of a triangle form a strong, stable shape, these three elements, when combined correctly, produce a chemical reaction that's also difficult to destabilize. Fire suppression systems work by removing one or more of the fire triangle's sides and preventing ongoing combustion from occurring.

There is a wide range of fire suppression system options, each with its own pros and cons. When choosing the right system for your facility, be sure to factor in not just cost, but also maintenance, inspections, and lowered insurance premiums. Another thing to keep in mind is that some systems leave a residue that must be cleaned up before using the space again and others cause collateral damage, so make sure you're not choosing a solution for its short-term savings.

Average Cost of Fire Suppression Systems

The average cost of a fire suppression system depends a lot on what you're trying to protect, where you're located, and the local and national fire and safety regulations that apply to your area and industry.

Average Fire Suppression System Cost

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Commercial Fire Sprinkler System Cost

There is no one size fits all solution when it comes to commercial fire sprinkler systems. Fire sprinkler systems are your first line of defence against fire damage and loss of life. They work to keep the scope of fire as small as possible and slow down the fire so that people can safely evacuate.

There are a lot of factors that go into the cost of a commercial fire sprinkler system. For instance, the size of your building affects how many sprinkler heads you need and how much piping must be installed. The way your building is designed also plays a part in whether you're able to opt for a simpler, streamlined solution. Large open spaces have vastly different requirements than facilities with many enclosed rooms.

The age of your building may make retrofits more expensive, while new construction is generally easier to install a fire sprinkler system in, thus dropping the price considerably. The area where you're located will factor into the bottom line, and if your main water supply doesn't have a high enough pressure to protect your building, you'll need to supplement it with stored water tanks and additional pumps.

Parts of a Basic Fire Sprinkler System

Sprinkler heads are the most easily recognized elements of a fire sprinkler system. They release water, targeting only the area that is affected by an ongoing fire. The alarm valve is what controls water flow to the sprinklers. It is activated when a fire has been identified and the alarm triggered. When the released water flows to the sprinkler heads, it triggers the fire alarm, letting people know there's a dangerous situation and they should leave the building. Alarm test valves let you test your system without activating the sprinklers so you know everything will work in the event of a fire.

You may also need a backflow preventer to prevent antifreeze/water solutions from contaminating the municipal water supply, water storage tanks, and booster pumps. As always, the complexity of your design and the components used heavily affect how much your system will cost. For example, plastic piping is less expensive than copper pipe, but can't be used in every application.

Commercial Fire Sprinkler System Cost

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Factors That Impact Cost

There are a lot of things that affect how much your fire suppression system is going to cost.

One of the most heavily weighted factors is the size of your structure. In general, the more square footage you have, the higher the cost of your system. Larger systems require more points of delivery, additional sensors, alarms, pull stations, piping, and more complicated control units.

Something like a simple water sprinkler system installation in new construction can run you as little as $1 to $2 per square foot. Once you increase the complexity of your facility by adding components such as additional floors or areas with sensitive equipment, you could be looking at $3 to $5 or more per square foot. Older buildings offer their own set of challenges when retrofitting a modern fire suppression system, so expect to see the cost average between $4 and $12 per square foot. Historic buildings will fall to the more expensive side of this range.

The materials you use and the brands you choose affect your immediate price point. Plastic piping is cheaper than copper, for example, but make sure you don't reach for a solution that offers a false economy. If you choose poor quality equipment, you'll have to spend more on replacement parts and the system may not perform as expected in the event of a fire.

Fire Suppression System Costs by Type

Cost Of Wet Chemical Fire Suppression System (NFPA 17A)

Wet chemical fire suppression systems are designed to handle commercial kitchen fires. This type of system works by isolating the fire's fuel source and preventing the fire from spreading and causing more damage. Restaurant kitchen fire suppression systems may be automatically or manually triggered, and include nozzles in the ventilation hood and shutoff valves for your gas line.

When activated, liquid chemical agents disperse in a spray that reacts with oils and fats to create a smothering foam that starves the fire, cools the cooking area, and makes it harder for the fire to reignite. This process is called saponification, and is the result of combining a strong alkali, like potassium hydroxide, with the fat or oil that has caught fire.

Wet chemical systems use different alkali mixes to produce the optimum saponification needed to extinguish fires fueled by specific fats or greases. Make sure you choose a system with a saponification value that matches what you cook with.

Wet Chemical Fire Suppression System Cost (NFPA 17A)

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Cost Of Dry Chemical Fire Suppression System (NFPA 17)

Dry chemical fire suppression systems are versatile and can be used for a wide range of applications, including paint spray booths, boiler/furnace rooms, flammable liquid storage areas, and electrical/mechanical rooms. They put out many types of fires, including Class A, B, and C. Flexible system design options let you create configurations that protect a specific piece of equipment, or flood an entire area.

Dry chemical agents, such as Monommonium Phosphate or Sodium Bicarbonate, work quickly to stop a fire in its tracks. The fine powder surrounds fuel sources, creating an effective barrier that knocks out the fuel side of the fire triangle, halting the chemical reaction needed to sustain a fire.

Dry chemical fire suppression systems avoid the water damage associated with wet chemical fire suppression systems, have a generally lower maintenance cost compared to other fire suppression systems, and work well in both retrofit and new construction situations. They will, however, leave a residue and may not be suitable for areas that contain sensitive equipment.

Dry Chemical Fire Suppression System Cost (NFPA 17)

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Cost Of Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression System (NFPA 12)

Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) fire suppression systems are versatile and effective at combatting Class A, B, and C-type fires. CO₂ is a colourless, odourless gas that does not conduct electricity or leave behind any damaging residue or costly cleanup. These systems work by cooling and blanketing the fire with heavy CO₂ gas that creates a smothering effect, depriving the fire of much-needed oxygen.

Carbon Dioxide fire suppression systems are effective, with a wide range of fuel sources and less disruptive to your operations than other types of systems. They are an excellent choice for industrial processes, manufacturing, oil and gas, records storage, clean rooms, data processing, and mining operations.

Because Carbon Dioxide fire suppression systems displace oxygen, they aren't safe to use in occupied areas while employees are present. Choose from three system configurations: local application, hand-hose line, or total space flooding in unoccupied spaces.

Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression System Cost (NFPA 12)

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Cost Of Clean Agent Fire Suppression System (NFPA 2001)

Like Carbon Dioxide fire suppression systems, clean agent fire suppression systems won't damage electronics, archives, or other high-value assets. What sets them apart from other gaseous chemical suppression systems is that clean agents are safe for people, so they can be used in occupied spaces.

These agents don't leave a residue and won't saddle you with a costly, time-consuming cleanup. Gasses are more effective at moving in three dimensions, unlike water-based agents, so they are able to extinguish fires in areas where water can't penetrate quickly.

Because clean agents are, by nature, environmentally friendly, they don't deplete the ozone or release toxic substances, making them also safe to deploy when people are in the building. Pre-engineered modular cabinet design reduces overall cost and makes these units easy to integrate with your facility's fire protection system.

Clean Agent Fire Suppression System Cost (NFPA 2001)

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Cost Of Condensed Aerosol Fire Extinguishing System (NFPA 2010)

Condensed Aerosol fire suppression systems use aerosolized containers that use a mixture of an ultra-fine dry chemical agent (1 - 2 micron particles) and a gaseous agent to quickly put a stop to fires before they spread and become more difficult to contain. This hybrid extinguishing agent suppresses fires similar to the way Halon does by using a combination of physical and chemical strategies.

Condensed Aerosol fire extinguishing systems don't need pressure vessels or piping, and require very little in the way of maintenance. Ideal applications for this type of fire suppression system include enclosed special hazards, like energy storage containers, sea cans, utilities, laboratories, telecommunications, manufacturing, commercial buildings, transportation, onshore oil and gas, maritime vessels, search and rescue, and facilities that are remote.

Condensed Aerosol fire suppression systems offer fast response times, a compact footprint, are friendly to the environment, and can be used in critical applications to minimize fire damage and costly downtime.

Condensed Aerosol Fire Extinguishing System Cost (NFPA 2010)

*Cost varies depending on the room volume and the commodity being protected.

Fire Suppression System Installation Cost

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) lists the average fire sprinkler installation cost at about $1.35 per square foot of protected space. You can also expect to pay fees to your city to hook your building up to a municipal water source.

The job complexity will also factor into the installation cost. Buildings with special requirements, like historic buildings or facilities that contain clean rooms, for example, will require installation experts with additional experience and training, which will cost more per square foot than your average installation job.

A poorly installed fire suppression system can fail to protect your property, even if it consists of top of the line equipment and the highest-grade materials. Protect your investment with a top-rate installation you can count on.

Fire Suppression System Installation Cost

*Cost varies depending on the size of the facility and complexity of the system.

Fire Suppression System Inspections Cost

Every fire suppression system needs periodic inspections to make sure it will operate correctly in the event of a fire hazard. Some inspections can be carried out by your own personnel, but others must be made by authorized fire inspection companies. This is mandated by governing bodies in your local and regional area, as well as organizations, like Occupational Safety & Health Association (OSHA), that exist to ensure your employees are operating in a safe environment.

The annual cost for an inspection of a fire suppression system that has fewer than 30 detectors will run you somewhere in the vicinity of $880 to $1,000. Larger systems take longer to inspect and require more certified technicians, costing anywhere from $1,800 to $4,000. Semi-annual inspections cost less, because fewer items are being checked out and it takes less time to complete. You might only pay $480 to $880 for these smaller inspections.

If you don't have the ability to perform daily, weekly, and monthly checks on your own, consider contracting with a reputable fire protection agency to make those inspections for you. This will save you money in the long run and avoid costly problems.

Fire Suppression System Inspection Cost

*Cost varies depending on the size of the facility and complexity of the system.

Contact Control Fire Systems

Control Fire Systems is a company that treats your investment and people with the respect they deserve as the most important part of your fire protection solution.

Control Fire Systems has been at the forefront of fire protection since 1975, supplying equipment you can rely on, designing and installing effective fire suppression systems, and inspecting and maintaining fire protection systems.

We're Canada's authorized distributors for some of the most well-respected manufacturers in the world, including Honeywell, Potter, Xtralis, Kidde Fire Systems, FireFlex, Sevo, FireAway, Stat-X, Sev Systems, and Cease Fire. We're ULC listed to repair and refill clean agent suppression cylinders, and are the only Halon 1301 recycling center in Canada with military and airline contracts.

Our experienced and well-staffed service department is here to help you keep your fire protection systems properly maintained and in regulatory compliance. If you have questions about particular solutions or want an idea of how much your fire suppression system will cost on a new installation, reach out to our knowledgeable estimating department.