Olympia Master Builders - Fire Sprinklers May Be Proposed Amendment to IRC

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is once again coordinating a national campaign to defeat a proposed amendment to the International Residential Code (IRC) that would require fire sprinklers in all new single-family homes. Fire officials from across the country and sprinkler manufactures are again pushing for this code change at the ICC final action hearings September 17th - 23rd in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Last year NAHB, working with local and state home builders associations, narrowly defeated a proposal to mandate fire sprinklers in all new homes. Despite the efforts of fire sprinkler proponents to pack the room, the fire sprinkler amendment failed to receive the votes necessary to force it into the IRC.

This year's battle is just as intense. NAHB is requesting that all association members contact their local building officials and ask them to oppose this costly and unnecessary fire sprinkler proposal.

Fire sprinkler proponents are driving homeowners toward sprinklers whether they want them or not. Homeowners should have the final say on fire sprinklers. Fire sprinklers in homes should remain an option - not a mandate. Statistics continue to show that new homes are safe. Between 1980 and 2005, the existing one and two dwelling unit stock grew by 45% while the overall percentage of fires in these homes dropped by over 51%. And, while the population grew during this same time period by 30%, fire fatalities in these residential structures decreased by over 38%.

For those local building officials and/or smaller jurisdictions, who may not be able to afford the trip to Minneapolis, NAHB is providing travel assistance grants of $1,000. To access the travel grant application as well as access all of NAHB's fire sprinkler information, link to www.nahb.org/sprinklers. You can also contact Steve Orlowski at NAHB (800-368-5242, ext. 8303). sorlowski@nahb.com.