I’ve debated the difference between offering and requiring automated residential fire sprinklers in single family dwellings with a friend of mine who’s a home builder. And as a republican, I prefer less government in general. I thought having home builders OFFER residential fire sprinklers would be enough.

A couple of Saturdays ago one of our work trucks got sideswiped by a lady crossing over the line, just missing being a head-on collision by inches. She flipped her SUV, both vehicle’s airbags deployed, both vehicles were totaled, both drivers were wearing seat belts, and both drivers were relatively unhurt. After seeing the damage to the vehicles, it is amazing that no one was seriously hurt. Thanks go to the seat belts and airbags.

THAT IS WHEN IT STRUCK ME…this is why home fire sprinklers need to be required…to save us from ourselves. If people had a choice, many would not have airbags installed in their cars. Some folks know someone who died BECAUSE they had a seat belt on and therefore ignore all empirical data supporting the effectiveness of seat belts due to that one incident.

The parallel is obvious. Residential fire sprinklers can save lives…IF they are installed. And the longer it is optional, the more unsprinklered housing inventory is in place…likely forever to be unsprinklered…tick tick tick tick

George has been the President and Co-Owner of Rowe Sprinkler Systems Inc. since 1998 with corporate offices located in Selinsgrove, PA. George has worked in the fire protection industry for over three decades starting as a design trainee in 1974. George currently holds a NICET Level III Certification in Water-Based Fire Protection System Layout. He holds numerous safety certifications and has been a Certified Sprinkler Contractor in the City of Philadelphia since 1989. George is currently President of the Central PA Fire Protection Chapter of the American Society of Certified Engineering Technicians. George is a member of NFPA Technical Committees for NFPA #3 Commissioning of Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems and NFPA #22 Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection, and the Technical Advisory Board of the American Fire Sprinkler Association.