firesprinkler.tv Fire sprinkler |
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firesprinkler.tv Fire sprinkler |
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A strong majority of the International Code Council’s voting members have cast their support for a residential fire sprinkler requirement for all new one- and two-family homes and townhouses. Fire service and building code officials united to approve the requirement and countered opposition Sunday at the ICC final action hearing in Minneapolis. The vote–1,282 in favor, 470 against–represented 73 percent of members in attendance approving the proposal to change the International Residential Code (IRC).
The IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition, an association of more than 100 safety, building code, and fire service organizations representing 45 states, said it assumed a leadership position and secured unified support for the proposal over the past 18 months. The code proposal, RB64, easily overcame a procedural requirement that mandated a super-majority of two-thirds approval, the coalition said.
“Our team worked hard to rally support throughout the United States for a residential fire sprinkler requirement, but our supporters deserve the recognition for showing up en masse in Minneapolis,” said Coalition President Ronny J. Coleman. “They know from experience that sprinklers are the answer to the nation’s fire problem.”
Both the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the International Association of Fire Fighters are members of the coalition. “Although there is still work to do, this precedent-setting vote will change the face of fire safety in America,” said Chief Larry J. Grorud, IAFC president. “The fire service has won a major victory in the fight to make our citizens’ homes safer.”
The goal of the proposal is to make fire sprinklers as common in homes as smoke alarms. According to the coalition, fire deaths in the United States realized a dramatic decline over the past three decades as smoke alarms became common, so that today more than 95 percent of homes have them. But because more than 3,000 people still die each year from fire and a home burns every 80 seconds, the coalition contends that residential sprinklers are the only fire protection technology that works to rapidly contain fire and effective
Fire departments say that like smoke detectors, fire sprinklers save lives. There is a plan to require sprinkler systems in new Indiana homes and across the nation beginning in 2011. It could cost homeowners if fire officials think it’s worth the investment.
Fire sprinklers are used in commercial buildings and stores, but soon, home fire sprinklers may be as common as copper pipes. The international group that sets residential building codes in nearly every state voted to make fire sprinklers mandatory in new homes and townhouses starting in just over three years, a measure long supported by fire officials.
“I think you’ll find that any proactive fire department is going to support this because it will ultimately save lives,” said Captain Ron Lipps, Fishers Fire Department.
Supporters of home fire sprinklers say they increase the amount of time people have to get out of their homes during a fire while preventing a flashover, which is when a room bursts into flames. Fire departments say that new homes use lighter weight materials including plastics that are highly combustible.
“We can have an entire room involved in fire in five minutes. If the average response time for a fire truck is six minutes, by the time we get there, anybody in that room is dead. This sprinkler head can act in less than 2 minutes or less,” said Capt. Lipps.
For the past 15 years, the town of Fishers has required that new home builders offer sprinklers as an option to buyers. According to one major home builder, it’s not a popular option.
“In 15 years, no one’s purchased one,” said Alan Goldsticker, Ryland Homes president.
The National Association of Home Builders is opposed, saying that there isn’t enough evidence to support making sprinklers mandatory which will also increase the cost of the homes - perhaps by as much as $4,000 comparable to the cost of adding granite counter tops.
“It will definitely add costs and maintenance and so forth. It’s really up to the buyers. But if it’s required, we’ll all do it,” said Goldsticker.
Fire officials say adding an extra $1 to $2 per square foot to the cost of a new home reduces fire losses and will drive down insurance costs.
An apartment in building E, also called Tioughnioga Hall, on the college’s campus in Dryden suffered damage estimated to be between $50,000 and $75,000.
The cause of the fire is suspected to be a faulty light fixture in a fourth-floor bathroom, though the investigation is ongoing. The sprinkler system extinguished the fire, which was confined to the bathroom.
The Dryden Fire Department responded to an alarm at 5:44 a.m. The first units on the scene found a
Fire officials in Soldotna are crediting a sprinkler system with saving a busy restaurant that caters to thousands of tourists and residents.
Customers called 911 just before 5:30 Friday morning to report a fire at Sal’s Diner.
Four fire engines responded to the 25,000-square-foot, single-story wooden building.
Damaged was contained to a small section of wall in the rear of the building because a sprinkler head had been activated.
Investigators say a lit cigarette butt likely caused the fire.
Central Emergency Services Fire Marshall Gary Hale says the incident illustrates how efficient sprinklers are at improving safety.
The $2 million building sustained about $500 in damage.
Fire sprinkler proponents and fire departments across New Jersey are putting the heat on the state to approve proposed regulations that require older high-rise apartment buildings to install sprinkler systems.
A Sept. 17 deadline is in place for the Division of Consumer Affairs to either adopt or reject the regulations that, if passed, would impact 470 high rises in the state. Of those buildings, 98 of them are located in Bergen County.