It has been said by some that “if you’re going to speak for residential fire sprinklers in single family homes, it’s imperative that you live in a sprinklered house.” I wish to respond to this claim in order to encourage all supporters of residential fire sprinklers to speak out regardless of the current level of fire protection in their home.
I recently purchased a home which did not have fire sprinklers installed. I have not (yet) installed fire sprinklers in my home; but, I support the passing of residential fire sprinklers in the IRC.
The IRC will only require fire sprinkler installation in NEW single family dwellings (SFDs). It is much more cost effective to install fire sprinklers in new construction when all of the walls are open and all areas of the home are easily accessible. The monetary cost difference for retrofitting a house with sprinklers is sometimes more than double the cost to install them when the house is being constructed.
Take my case for example. The long-term plan for my house is to install fire sprinklers. However, when I do, it is going to be a painful project. There are areas where I am going to have to pull out drywall and (because I have a two-story house) tear up the floor in some areas as well. After all the floor repairs, drywall dust cleanup and painting is done, I will have fire sprinklers in my house. I could see how this would deter your everyday household from retrofitting fire sprinklers into their home.
It is for this reason that the new IRC residential fire sprinkler code requirement IS so important. If the fire sprinklers had been installed when my house was being constructed, then their much lower cost would have been lumped into my 30 year loan. Now, the installation will cost more and would be on a separate loan.
Based on this, I think I am still credible for wanting and supporting residential fire sprinkler requirements to pass even though I do not have them in my existing home. My support of the new requirement is so that future homeowners will not have to wrestle with the retrofit decision versus simply having them installed with the original construction.
Justin Reid is a Project Engineer at RLH Fire Protection out of their Van Nuys, CA office providing fire protection contracting services in California, Nevada and Hawaii. Justin is a registered Professional Engineer in Fire Protection in the State of California. Prior to working at RLH, Justin worked for three years as a consultant at Schirmer Engineering Corporation in their Los Angeles office where he provided building code analysis, performance based design, smoke control third party testing/design and a wide range of other services to numerous clients. Justin graduated from the University of Maryland College Park with a Bachelor of Science degree in Fire Protection Engineering in 2004. While in school, Justin completed an internship at the Schirmer Engineering Washington DC office, worked on Capitol Hill in the Office of Compliance and worked at the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms Fire Research Laboratory in Beltsville, MD. Justin is the current President of the Southern California Chapter of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, is a national SFPE Member, NFPA Member and member of the Salamander Fire Protection Engineering Honor Society, Beta Chapter.
Jake Andersen
Jake Andersen November 13, 2008 at 7:58 am
Justin, I don’t understand? If you bought a new house, why didn’t you install the sprinkler system as an upgrade when you had the chance? Perhaps I misinterpreted your comment and you actually bought a resale. Even so, if it’s that important to you that you have a sprinkler system, why then would you choose to buy a resale and go through the headache/expense of ripping it apart?
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith November 14, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Justin, thanks for your clarification on this subject. I run into this a lot in my efforts since most people don’t have a good sprinklered housing stock to choose from in their area. That only leaves the retrofit option for most,
which causes people, even adamant sprinkler supporters, to rethink the cost-benefit equation.
We certainly need people to be vocal in their support of residential fire sprinkler requirements and not shy away because their current house is not protected. Tackling this concern out in the open is a great way to eliminate it as a significant argument.
mauricev
mauricev December 6, 2008 at 11:43 pm
How much do you think it might cost to retrofit every non-sprinklered home (apartments included) in the entire country?
Ryan Smith
Ryan Smith December 8, 2008 at 6:43 pm
Mauricev, Wow! That’s a big number and would require some good analysis to determine with any degree of accuracy. I don’t retrofitting existing homes will ever take place on a large scale. The cost is much higher than on new construction and it would be very difficult to enforce in people’s private homes. The real key in my opinion is to start building new homes with fire sprinkler systems when it is relatively cost effective and simple to do so. Then, over time, there will be a greater percentage of the housing stock protected.
Americanfire
Americanfire May 25, 2011 at 9:50 pm
I see your point Justin. Fire Sprinkler System installation is a kind of mandatory work to be done at home. Though it is a one time huge investment but it will help in saving ones and near and dear ones lives and hard earned assets.
As per the IRC code, it is required to install Los Angeles fire sprinkler System in new single family dwellings (SFDs). It is good to install the system while constructing building as it may reduce the cost half as the wall are open and hence easy to install.