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GMW Fire Protection

Anchorage, AK 99518-1738

SimplexGrinnell LP

Anchorage, AK 99518-1263

EEC Fire Protection Services

Anchorage , AK 99518

SimplexGrinnell LP

Fairbanks, AK 99709-5545

SimplexGrinnell LP

Juneau, AK 99801-7248

International Fire Protection, Inc.

Birmingham, AL 35210

Joiner Fire Sprinkler Co. Inc.

Birmingham, AL 35222

SimplexGrinnell LP

Birmingham, AL 35210-3631

United States Sprinkler Company

Birmingham, AL 35204

Certified Automatic Fire Sprinklers

Decatur, AL 35603

Central Fire Protection

Fort Davis, AL 36031

Brendle Sprinkler Co., Inc.

Huntsville, AL 35802

Fincher Fire Protection Company, Inc.

Irondale, AL 35173

Cease-Fire Automatic Sprinkler, Inc.

Lineville, AL 36266

Fire Pro LLC

Madison, AL 35756-3601

International Fire Protection, Inc.

Madison, AL 35758

Fire Protection Specialists

Mobile, AL 36693

Mechanical Fire Protection

Mobile, AL 36608

S & S Sprinkler Company, L.L.C

Mobile, AL 36617

SimplexGrinnell LP

Mobile, AL 36693-5105

Brendle Sprinkler Co. Inc.

Montgomery, AL 36109

SimplexGrinnell LP

Montgomery, AL 36110

F C Fire Protection

Pelham, AL 35124

SimplexGrinnell LP

Prattville, AL 36066

Triple

By BARBARA S. WILLIAMS

By Gary Ludwig, Firehouse Contributing Editor -

Posted: Thu, 12/17/2009 - 12:03
Updated: Thu, 12/17/2009 - 12:29

When I learned in late October that the International Code Council (ICC) voted at its annual conference in Baltimore to keep residential sprinklers on the book despite strong opposition from the National Association of Home Builders, I could not help but think what the leaders of the home builders group were thinking. The conversation inside their cigar-smoke-filled offices at the home builders group might have gone something like this: “Mr. Moneybags, we have bad news from Baltimore. The International Code Council voted 7-4 to keep residential sprinklers in the International Residential Code. This takes effect on Jan. 1, 2011, and requires sprinkler systems in new single-family homes after this date.”

“What? How could this happen, Daddy Warbucks? You know how much money we’ve paid to fight this. We don’t want residential sprinklers in the new building code for 2012. This is going to cut into our profits, deter people from building homes and make the cost of homes out of reach for first-time buyers.”

“But Mr. Moneybags, there was stiff opposition from the fire service. They argued that residential sprinklers will save lives; hold down the loss on fire and might even save firefighters’ lives. They had statistics that showed that about 79% of all people who die in fires die in their homes. The firefighters also have data that about 77% of all structure fires last year occurred in homes. Mr. Moneybags, it gets worse. Statistics demonstrate that there has never been any multiple loss of life in a fully sprinklered building. Property losses are 85% less in homes with fire sprinklers compared to those without sprinklers. The combination of automatic sprinklers and early-warning systems in all buildings and residences could reduce overall injuries, loss of life and property damage by at least 50%.”

Fitchburg, WI suffered a fire today. What is remarkable about the blaze, or lack thereof, is the fact the apartment fire was a single room of a multiple unit complex.

The complex where the incident occurred, 2201 Post Road in the Fairways Apartments, underwent a residential sprinkler system retrofit in 2007. The fire broke out in a kitchen and extended to a vent, where it was contained by a single sprinkler head, with smoke damage contained to the unit of origin. The unit of origin and the unit below suffered water damage. The cause of this fire is believed to be from a pan of grease on the stove.

The fire was extinguished upon arrival of the fire department, with some residents unaware of the fire.

This fire is in stark contrast to a fire that occurred in July of this year, where an 81-year-old woman lost her life when the apartment complex where she lived caught fire. That complex did not have residential sprinklers, in violation of municipal code.

These two apartment fires dramatically demonstrate the need and efficacy of residential sprinkler systems.

The fire in July cost the life of a resident. The fire today, no one was injured.

The July fire was a 3 alarm fire that lasted for hours. The fire today was out before the first fire units arrived on scene.

The July fire resulted in the entire property deemed uninhabitable. The fire today was contained to single unit, and the damage limited to two units, with the remaining residents returning to their homes within hours.

Whenever the issue of residential fire sprinklers is brought to the front of local politics, this is a simple and profound comparison that occurred within a small Wisconsin city within months. It clearly demonstrates the need for residential sprinklers. It clearly demonstrates the level of safety provided by operating sprinklers.

Support your local fire department

A last-minute amendment to a plumber licensing bill during the latest session of the Texas Legislature is pitting fire chiefs against homebuilders.

And, Gov. Rick Perry is caught right in the middle.

Sealy Fire Chief Joey Schmidt, along with about 25 other Texas fire chiefs, traveled to Austin this week in attempts to draw attention to the amendment, authored by Rep. John Otto, R-Dayton. The amendment would do away with a municipality’s right to require sprinkler systems in single- and two-family homes after Jan. 1, 2009, if signed into law by Perry.

Schmidt and the fire chiefs, including the Austin and Dallas fire chiefs, called on Perry to veto the bill at a news conference Monday, while standing across from the fire-damaged Governor’s Mansion.

“This bill is taking the cities’ rights away in Texas, whether they want to require having the sprinklers in new homes or not,” Schmidt said.

While Sealy does not have a local policy on the books regarding sprinkler systems within new homes, it does usually adopt the International Building Code each year, Schmidt said. The 2009 version requires that all single-family dwellings have a fire sprinkler system in place. If Perry signs the bill into law, any ordinances passed by municipalities this year adopting the building code would be null.

“If this bill is signed into law, the city would not be able to enforce that part of the building code,” Schmidt said. “There are contractors out there that are fighting this. So far, they are winning.”

Otto has said the choice should be left to homeowners. Supporters of the legislation take issue with the additional cost of installing sprinkler systems within homes, not their effectiveness.

Still, Schmidt said safety should prevail.

“Fire sprinkler systems are important. It’s proven that they save lives,” he said. “There’s never been a multiple loss of life in a building with sprinklers.”

Schmidt estimated it costs about $1.65 per square foot to install a sprinkler system during construction. The amendment does allow local governments to require homebuilders offer installing systems to homebuyers for a fee.

The amendment does not affect requirements for commercial establishments.

The last day for Perry to veto the bill is June 21.

A sprinkler system is being credited for quickly extinguishing a small fire Tuesday morning at a 44 Maple St. building that houses three businesses.

Firefighters responded to the scene at around 6:51 a.m. for a report of an extinguished fire. The fire started in the area of a trash can located inside Anderson Architectural Products.

Firefighters determined the cause of the blaze was accidental from improper disposal of wood finishing materials, caused when the materials experienced a slow building spontaneous heating process resulting in the ignition of the fire.

In a statement, firefighters urged that these materials be placed in a sealed, water-filled metal container to prevent spontaneous heating.

“It is believed that without the fire suppression sprinkler system, this building would have sustained major fire damage requiring a lengthy repair, and could have possibly spread to other adjacent buildings,” the statement said.

The building is owned by Dennis Ciotti of Dennis Ciotti Racing Products and was able to remain open on Tuesday.

Firefighters spent 45 minutes on scene assisting in water removal and cleanup.

A bill that has been stalled on Beacon Hill for nearly a decade has finally passed the Massachusetts House and Senate.

The legislation was filed in the wake of a deadly fire in Newton, Massachusetts that claimed the lives of five people in February of 2000. That fire was the focus of the NECN investigative documentary last spring titled The Forgotten Fire.

The bill, if signed, will require owners of commercial buildings larger than 7500 square feet to install automatic sprinkler systems. Representative Ruth Balser first filed the bill in 2001, and has refiled every year since.

Governor Patrick has ten days to sign or veto the bill.

Firefighters from throughout the metropolitan region converged in Anne Arundel to support legislation requiring sprinklers installed in houses there, a bill home builders have openly opposed.