Domestic Sprinkler System Costs & Prices 2024

Prices start from £1000 for a basic system for a 2 bed house up to £4000 for a 4 bed house. This can also rise further depending on whether any extras are included.

Cost Per m²

The average cost of a domestic sprinkler system is between £15 – £25 per m². This translates approximately to the following house types and sizes:

House TypeAverage (Min – Max)
Small 2 Bedroom Terrace House£1400 (£1050 – £1750)
3 Bedroom Semi-Detached House£2100 (£1500 – £2700)
4 Bedroom Detached House£3100 (£2400 – £3900)
1-2 Bedroom Apartment£1400 (£1000 – £1650)
1-2 Bedroom Bungalow£1700 (£1300 – £2200)

These are the individual item prices that make up the m² cost.

ItemCost
Sprinkler Head£220 each
Valve Box£85 each
Shut Off Valve£165
Backflow Device£85 each
System Controller£550
Alarm System£330
PVC Pipework£10/m

Factors Affecting the Cost

Contractors will find it difficult to quote exact prices before seeing your home. This is because various factors can affect pricing:

The size and design of the building

Larger buildings will cost more overall but cost less per m².

The number of sprinklers required/distance between sprinklers

More sprinklers within a given area means extra cost. The standard distancing between standard spacing between sprinklers is around 1.5m – 1.8m. Partial systems with fewer sprinklers will obviously cost less than full systems.

Refurbishment vs new build

A system which is installed at the building stage when all ceiling voids are accessible will be much simpler and therefore, cheaper than an existing building, particularly if the building is occupied.

Sprinkler system specifications

Higher spec systems designed more recently will cost more than a dated system. The materials used can also affect the cost. For example, if copper pipes are used instead of plastic pipes, this will add to the cost.

Carrying out first fix and second fix at the same time

The first fix of installing a domestic sprinkler system involves installing the pipe and heads and pressure testing the pipework.

The second fix involves covering plates for the heads, the mains connection/pump and tank and testing the water supplies meets system requirements.

If there is the flexibility to carry out the first fix and also the second fix at the same time then this can enable the installation team to work more efficiently and so reduce the cost of the project.

Suitably sized towns main supply already available

This is needed with sufficient flow and pressure available. The water supply is critical and the demand is calculated for each individual design.

Any size below 25mm (1 inch) is normally too small. If the towns main is unsuitable then a storage tank and pump set could add another £2,000 – £5,000.

Location

The above costs are based on the South East/Outer London Area. You can use the following adjustments depending on where the work needs to be done. These are based on the BCIS and Spon indices.

Resin Overlay Only, Little to No Groundworks RequiredResin Overlay + Extensive Groundworks Required
National Average£65 / m²£130 / m²
Typical Range£55 / m² – £80 / m²£120 – £160 / m²
Low End – High End£50 / m² – £95 / m²£110 / m² – £200 / m²

Why Choose a Domestic Sprinkler System?

Statistics released by the Home Office show that there were 37,740 dwelling fires in the UK in 2017/18.

Fires can happen at any time without warning due to even the most innocuous of actions. Here is the breakdown of the main causes of fires in homes across the UK:

Source: Morgan Clark 

Fires affect between 500-1000 homes per 100,000 each year, so it’s worth getting the benefits of using domestic sprinkler systems. Essentially these boil down to:

  • Control and stop fires spreading even before the fire and rescue services have arrived
  • Reduce fire and smoke damage and limit the amount of harmful emissions produced
  • Operate 24/7 to give you peace of mind

Can I Install A Fire Sprinkler System Myself?

No. All contractors should be certified based on British Standards BS9251:2005 for residential systems. Your contractor should have a quality procedure standard to 1SO9001:2000 or equivalent as well. Check your chosen contractor has these certifications beforehand to ensure the job is done properly.

Get Free, No-Obligation Quotes

We’ve done our best to give you a good idea of what you can expect to pay for a domestic fire sprinkler system.

However, our guides are not a substitute for a fixed written quote specifically for you.

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