The last hurdle from the Independent Regulatory Review Commission came yesterday, as they recommended to Pennsylvania’s Department of Labor & Industry that the new International Residential Code be placed in effect 1110 WITH NO RESTRICTIONS OMITTING SPRINKLERS.
A lot of people worked very hard to overcome the roadblocks placed by the NAHB. In general, the Fire Service, organized into the PA Residential Sprinkler Coalition co-chaired by John Waters and Tim Knisely from Upper Merion Twp (King of Prussia) and Centre Region Code (State College) led the fight. The sprinkler industry was primarily held back in a support role behind the scenes. Thanks also should go to Senate Advisory Panel members Aus Marberger and John Kampmeyer, from FPI and Triad Engineering, for the time and effort to attend numerous hearings, sometimes with almost no notice or time to prepare.
I’d personally like to also thank Ray Lonabaugh, NFSA Regional Manager, for not only his efforts directly in the political arena, but for his huge help in facilitating side by side burns to sway public opinion. We’d joined the NFSA to help support their Industry Promotion Fund, not realizing we’d be able to have this funding mechanism kick in and provide funding to realize the vision of some interested fire departments and the PennBOC Annual Convention demo.
There are others too numerous to name in any endeavor of this magnitude, and I certainly wasn’t in the middle of the political battle so I cannot know the amount of input from them- just that the end result- safe housing for Pennsylvanians – was realized.
We hope this passage sets the stage for other states to follow. We can afford safety, these systems can be done economically, and the time has now come for us to work with the builders and code officials to make the process work as we move into the implementation phase.
In my wildest dreams I did not ever think residential sprinklers would be required, its too simple and effective. Future generations may read the occasional fire death story and think wow- that must have been an old house to not have sprinklers in it!
Click the following to view Document 2804 from the Pennsylvania Independent Regulatory Review Commission
Thomas Stewart
Thomas Stewart December 14, 2009 at 6:42 am
Good morning. I have heard through the grapevine that PA is adopting this residential fire protection mandate in 2010 for townhouse/condos. Is that true?
john smith
john smith January 22, 2010 at 9:04 am
read above article again
Randall Bordner
Randall Bordner January 28, 2010 at 1:41 pm
This whole addition to the already unconstitutional building code is a crock. There are differences in each geographical area even within the state. Rural areas will suffer from an increase in buliding costs that will skyrocket as this regulation comes into being. Larger pumps and the need for a larger water supply that cannot be maintained by a single well, just for starters. The Dept. of Labor, in Pa run by a bunch of alcholics, does not have the constitutional authority to make law without the participation of the legislature and THE PEOPLE. The entire code needs to be repealed and left to the people in each MUNICIPALITY. I am a firefighter and Paramedic for over 30 years and this crock about firefighters dying wholesale and the safety factor of sprinklers in residential structures saving lives is being blown out of proportion and will not do what it is said to accomplish. I know of 2 firefighter deaths in the last 20 years in central Pa. 1 the firefighter was simply where he should not have been and the other was in a sprinklered commercial structure where he got disoriented from the smoke. Yes water in a small quantity on fire will create an increased smoke condition. Some body is getting paid off here and heaven help the commie bastard when I find out who it is.
Feedup US Citzen
Feedup US Citzen April 25, 2010 at 7:55 am
This country is literally coming apart and the governmental clowns keep creating more and more problems by passing laws and codes, which have some merit, but which are destroying this economic. Lets try to create some jobs, not make it more difficult and expensive to build something. I am NOT a builder, I’m an investor. As an investor, with 40 years experience, I will now only buy companies with 70% of there earning coming from oversea, or Chinese Companies. I want to thank the bought off politicians for destroying this country piece by piece over the past 30 year
Derek
Derek November 30, 2010 at 12:25 pm
And so it goes… we have 6 acres to build a house next year in a rural area in PA.
This law will effectively end that dream as the estimated cost of putting a sprinkler system in a home on land without public water is ridiculous. I am being quoted numbers from 25,000 to 50,000 in additional cost due to storage systems (under pressure), pumps, second well.
So, there goes my dream of building a home out the window because I can’t afford the additional expense to install a sprinkler system.
George Church
George Church November 30, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Derek-
Please don’t beleive propaganda or quotes from those not focused on the market. The tank and pump for a 13D water supply is only $1500 in my store- I have no idea what others are quoting but it does NOT reflect the market.
Feel free to contact us to get realistic pricing on a system for the dream home you CAN have.
Denis Hafer
Denis Hafer February 3, 2011 at 1:30 pm
Thank you for allowing the general public the opportunity to express their opinion on this sensity issue. It is a shame that the general public and potential new homes buyers did not have an opprotunity to voice their opinion before this was pushed through the International Code Council (IRC). Anyone familiar with what took place knows that supporters of sprinkler systems were flown in for the occasion. This is becominig all to typical of how decisions are being made. It is unfortunate so few think they know what best for the masses. They have their own agenda for passing regulation,from ego,to financial to safety. So lets look at the safety issue.Jason Reid from the HBA in Ababama has pointed out that 80% more lives will be saved buy adding sprinkler systems. He also used the same NFPA figures ,that they tend not to mention, which is that you already have a 99.45% chance of surviving a structure fire with just the smoke alarms. Working the math means you now have a 99.89% rate of survival verses a 99.45%.One must question does .5% increase justify the cost?
In my opinion this does merrit adding the $3 to $4 per square ft cost price to the cost of a home. These are the prices I’m getting from installers in SE Pa. It beomes even more expensive when one needs two wells or 2 public water laterals from the street as dictated by local water authorities. I’ve spoken to numerious appraisers and they have said for appraisal purposes this does not add to the sales price only value.
In conclusion I feel there a lot more effective and cost efficient ways of saving lives outside of sprinker systems. With the state of the economy as its is and people having difficulties with getting financing this will be devasting to the already struggling housing industry. I feel people that are making these decisions should take a more comprehensive look before making these decisions to satisfy there own personal agenda.