The Co-operators and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition advocate for fire safety through new partnership

QUINCY, MA, Feb. 23, 2016 /CNW/ - The Co-operators and The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) announced a formal partnership today to advocate for and promote the installation of home fire sprinklers in new construction of homes in Canada. You may have seen fire sprinklers in a hotel room or a restaurant, but HFSC states that the need for them in the home is key to reducing the fire problem in Canada. In fact, eight out of ten fire-related deaths occur in the home.

"As a co-operative insurer, we strive to identify and fulfill unmet needs related to our business," said Kathy Bardswick, president and CEO of The Co-operators. "Fire sprinklers in a home provide life-saving protection. With more awareness and understanding, it is our hope that more and more Canadian homeowners and builders will choose to have them installed to better protect their families and property."

In 2012, The Co-operators sponsored a three-year study by Sunnybrook Health Science Centre that looked at the healthcare costs and consequences of house fires in Canada and the potential impact that home fire sprinklers can have. The Co-operators also offers a 10 per cent insurance discount for homes with fire sprinklers.

"We've been building a relationship for a number of years, but I'm looking forward to the impact we'll be able to make together in Canada now that this partnership is official," said Shayne Mintz, Canadian Regional Director of the National Fire Protection Association, a member of the HFSC's Board of Directors. "The Co-operators is the only Canadian insurer to formally support us in this way, both financially and in terms of awareness."

Visit www.homefiresprinkler.org to learn more about the need for home fire sprinklers and to read some success stories.

About The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition:
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition was formed in the United States in 1996 in response to the tremendous need to inform the public about the life-saving value of home fire sprinkler protection. HFSC is charitable organization and the leading resource for independent, non-commercial information about residential fire sprinklers.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $40 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products.
The Co-operators is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to sustainability. The Co-operators is listed among the Best Employers in Canada by Aon; Corporate Knights' Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada; and the Top 50 Socially Responsible Corporations in Canada by Sustainalytics and Maclean's magazine. For more information, visit www.cooperators.ca.

SOURCE The Co-operators

Leonard Sharman, The Co-operators, 519-767-3937; Lorraine Carli, National Fire Protection Association, 617-984-7276