I strongly encourage the inclusion of a residential fire suppression system. They can be designed seamlessly into the custom elements of the home to provide around the clock fire suppression. They do not pose any additional leak potential beyond the normal water plumbing in your home.
Smoke alarms have been required to be hardwired in homes by the National Fire Protection Agency since the late 1980's. Today, you wouldn't dream of living in a home without smoke alarms. That's how I want fire suppression systems to be viewed. They are not a luxury, just a common sense standard for life safety.
High levels of heat from the fire is required to activate a sprinkler head, and when one head is activated it begins fighting the fire immediately to bring it under control and allow the occupants time to escape. The other heads do not activate unless high heat reaches them as well. There's a saying among firefighters that states "any fire could have been put out with a water can at some point". A water can is a small portable extinguisher holding 2.5 gallons of water. With fire suppression sprinklers, you have substantially more water than that applied in the first 30 seconds of activation. For a great infographic & further reading click here to visit the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Website.