Built-in sprinkler systems are estimated to fail in what proportion of fires?

Built-in sprinkler systems are known to be highly effective in controlling and extinguishing fires. However, they are not infallible. The statistic that they fail in approximately 1 out of every 14 fires is based on data collected from various incidents and is intended to guide fire safety planning and emergency response strategies. This means that, while the majority of the time sprinkler systems function as intended, there is a small, but significant risk that they can fail to activate or perform adequately during certain fire situations.

Understanding this proportion helps fire officers and their teams devise strategies for scenarios where reliance solely on sprinkler systems may not be sufficient. It also underscores the importance of regular maintenance and testing of these systems to ensure they are ready to perform in the event of a fire. The other answer choices, while they reflect a similar concept, do not accurately represent the established statistic related to the failure rate of built-in sprinkler systems.