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Firefighters have raised concerns that more than 20,000 commercial buildings have no sprinkler systems.
This revelation comes after a big fire at a Mitre 10 store in Onehunga last week. The fire, which is thought to have been arson, destroyed the store and happened so quickly that customers and staff fled for their lives.
Manukau District Chief Fire Officer Larry Cocker said he had "huge concerns" about similar buildings around the country which could burn down just as quickly.
Fire Service records show that of about 24,000 commercial buildings nationally just 2400 have sprinkler systems.
Commercial buildings include supermarkets, hardware stores, warehouses and smaller businesses such as retail outlets.
The Building Code does not require sprinklers to be installed.
The Fire Service also raised concerns about sprinklers after fires in two other Mitre 10 stores - in Te Irirangi Drive in February this year and in Johnsonville in September 1998.
Mitre 10 chief executive Craig Wilson said the company adhered to all legal requirements.
The company replied to a Herald query on the issue yesterday but did not say why it chose not to install sprinklers.
Rival company Bunnings New Zealand general manager Rod Caust said his company installed sprinkler systems, which were monitored by the Fire Service, in some of the company's larger stores.
"It's to protect the assets, being building and stock, and our people."
