At CalState Fire Defense, we know that wildfire defense isn’t about guesswork — it’s about engineering systems that work when they’re needed most. That’s why we’ve aligned every part of our design and installation process with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) 2024 White Paper on External Sprinkler Systems for Wildfire Defense. This document sets the standard for how sprinkler systems should perform in real-world fire conditions, and we are proud to say our systems fully comply with everything it recommends.

The IBHS report makes an important distinction between passive and active fire protection. Passive measures — such as noncombustible siding, fire-resistant roofing, and defensible space around the home — are always present and don’t rely on power or water at the moment of crisis. Active systems, like external sprinklers, are meant to add another layer of defense but should never replace the fundamentals. Our philosophy matches that guidance exactly. We design sprinklers to supplement, not substitute, proven passive protections, creating a layered approach to wildfire resilience.

The paper also underscores one of the biggest challenges facing sprinkler technology: performance under real wildfire conditions. Strong winds, radiant heat, and flying embers can all reduce the effectiveness of poorly designed systems. IBHS highlights the risks of water drift, evaporation, and inadequate coverage. CalState Fire Defense addresses these concerns directly. We use durable, heat-resistant materials rather than vulnerable plastics, and we engineer our installations to cover the areas wildfires target most — roofs, siding, under-eaves, and vents. Our systems are tested to ensure water lands where it’s needed, even when conditions are far from ideal.

Another critical point raised by IBHS is the reliance on local infrastructure. Water lines and electrical grids often fail during wildfires, leaving many active systems useless. We’ve built redundancy into our solutions from the start. Our designs include independent water storage tanks, pool or well integration, and pumps powered by generators or battery backup. This independence ensures that our systems keep operating when municipal supply lines and electricity cannot.

Zoning is another area where IBHS raises caution. Too often, systems are divided into zones that only run one at a time, leaving large parts of a property unprotected during rotation. We design for continuous coverage, mapping out every vulnerable surface to prevent gaps and strengthen protection in the areas most likely to ignite.

IBHS is clear in its conclusion: external sprinklers show tremendous promise, but only when built on reliable design, supported by infrastructure, and combined with passive measures. We fully agree. That’s why every Platypus installation is planned with compliance in mind — from the choice of components to the way we integrate with defensible space strategies. Our maintenance programs keep systems ready year-round, ensuring they’ll respond in the critical moments when wildfire approaches.

By meeting and exceeding the guidelines of the IBHS 2024 White Paper, CalState Fire Defense, gives homeowners more than just equipment.
We provide confidence that when fire season arrives, their property has a defense system designed on proven science, field-tested logic,
and nationally recognized best practices.