Many fire officials allow longer distances between hydrants when all of the property is protected with sprinklers. Demand for water is greatly reduced when sprinklers are present, and the time needed for connecting to a water supply can be relaxed. Also, most fire departments now carry large-diameter hose, which greatly reduces the friction loss in longer hose lays.
When looked at on a per property basis, this cost savings can be significant. In a 1-family home development, for example each hydrant may protect between 4-8 homes, depending upon the density. When hydrants cost $2,000.00 to install, a 50 percent increase in spacing equates to a sizable cost reduction per home.