sprinklers will provide a few extra minutes for oocupants to get out of the house. they do not "save structures" . yes, they help "contain" the fire to a certain extent, maybe a certain area with a quick response time. residential systems are not a 2 -1/2 inch hose either. low pressure, small coverage areas, etc. they are a good idea, not an "end all, save all". sprinkler heads at 135 f are pretty darn hot when they let go. hotter than i want to be near. i work in an area where electricians commonly put the smoke detetctors on a dedicated circuit, which is, in my opinion a mistake. all one needs to do is flip a switch an they no longer work. in all my years as a working electrician, i always ( and still do) pull a feed for the smokes from a local lighting circuit. everyone wants lights, they wont shut off the lighting breaker. theres a good code change proposal. something like "power for the required interconnected hardwired smoke detetctors shall be taken from a local lighting circuit". at what point did civilization become one of "no responsibility for our own actions" and have we crossed the line to the point that we need to be legislated to death, and out of the housing market by rules and laws that make it impossible for some to buy and or build a house? when did our society become one that neede protection from cradle to grave. i don't think we are there yet.