Support State Fire Sprinkler Legislation, Says Expert

from parsippanypatch.com

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• By Natalie Davis
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• 11:12 pm

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A 7-year-old boy and his 52-year-old stepfather died tragically in a house fire on the morning of Monday, Feb. 18 on Flanders' Main Street. The boy’s mother and nine year old sister survived the fire but with injuries. Authorities suspect an improperly altered space heater to be the cause of the fire and investigators reported that the home did not have working fire alarms.

The winter months tend to be the most deadly for residential fires with the increased use of fireplaces and home heating systems. I urge families to take the proper precautions to prevent potentially dangerous fire situations.

Currently, there is pending legislation in New Jersey, bill A1570 in the Assembly and Senate bill S2273, which would make it mandatory for all newly constructed one- and two-family homes as well as condominiums and townhomes to be equipped with fire sprinklers.  If passed, this legislation would help to reduce the devastating effects of fires like this one, and help protect New Jersey residents in the places where they should feel safest -- their homes. 

I urge you to check your smoke detectors and to educate yourselves on how fire sprinkler systems can provide your family the time needed to escape and protections against the dangers of fire. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.

David Kurasz, Exec. Director
NJ Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board

About this column: Do you have an opinion to express? Email natalie.davis@patch.com.

Sioux Falls fire officials urge sprinkler requirement

from argusleader.com

But housing director says apartment rental costs will rise

Feb 26, 2013   |  

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Dean Karsky

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The City Council has formed a task force tostudy whether all apartment buildings in Sioux Falls should have fire sprinklers, as recommended by the International Building Code.

An amendment to the building code requires automatic fire-extinguishing systems only in multi-housing buildings with two or more levels or 16 or more units. The code doesn’t cover townhomes or single-family houses.

City staff have recommended passing an ordinance to change that. Proponents say such a change would ensure equal safety for all renters; opponents say the measure would be too costly and deserves more study.

The last fire death in Sioux Falls, in December, happened in an apartment without sprinklers, Fire Chief Jim Sideras said at a recent meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. He urged the committee to pass the sprinkler ordinance.

“You are right now setting the standard for the next 10 to 15 years,” he said.

Ron Bell, the city’s chief building services official, said 3,866 apartment units have been built in Sioux Falls since 2004, when the city adopted the building code minus a new change to require sprinklers in apartments.

Bell’s office reviewed the past three years of permit data and found that only about half of those units had sprinklers, either because they were townhomes or were located in buildings too small to fall under the ordinance, he said.

“You’re just simply increasing the odds that there’s going to be a fire where if there was a sprinkler system in there, (it) could save a life,” he said.

The few fire deaths at buildings with sprinklers in the past 40 years were caused by explosions, not fire or smoke inhalation, city fire marshal Dean Lanier said.

But Dan Siefken, executive director of the South Dakota Multi-Housing Association, worried that the cost of installing sprinkler systems — and paying for inspections — could add $35 to $100 to a typicalapartment rent. This would devastate poorer renters, he said.

“What impact is it going for the public who has chosen — who has no other choice — but to rent?” he said.

If the tenant installs a sprinkler system, Councilor Michelle Erpenbach asked him, what happens to their insurance bill?

Siefken said some have seen their premiums drop and others have seen premiums rise because of water-damage claims when sprinklers break.

Councilor Dean Karsky said renters should be allowed to choose whether to live in an apartment with sprinklers.

“You don’t want to put what I’m going to pay for rent ahead of my family’s safety,” he said, “but sometimes it is a choice you have to make — having a place to live versus having one with a sprinkler system.”

The task force will report its finding to the committee in May.

Task force set to determine if all apartments should have fire sprinklers

from argusleader.com

Feb. 25, 2013 1:33 PM,   |  

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Ervin Dzinic of Total Fire Protection in Brandon installs hangers for fire sprinkler heads Friday at the new Pettigrew Heights Apartments on 11th Street, April 6, 2012. The city has created a task force to determine if all apartments should have fire sprinklers. / Elisha Page / Argus Leader

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Cody Winchester

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• Poll: Do you think all apartment buildings should be required to have sprinkler systems?

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The City Council has formed a task force to study whether all apartment buildings in Sioux Falls should have fire sprinklers, as recommended by the International Building Code.

A local amendment to the building code requires automatic fire-extinguishing systems only in multi-housing buildings with two or more levels or 16 or more units. The code doesn’t cover townhomes or single-family houses.

City staff have recommended passing an ordinance to change this. Proponents say such a change would ensure equal safety for all renters; opponents say the measure would be too costly and deserves more study.

Poll: Do you think all apartment buildings should be required to have sprinkler systems?

The last fire death in Sioux Falls, in December, happened in an apartment without sprinklers, Fire Chief Jim Sideras said at a recent meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee. He urged the committee to pass the sprinkler ordinance.

“You are right now setting the standard for the next 10-15 years,” he said.

Ron Bell, the city’s chief building services official, said 3,866 apartment units have been built in Sioux Falls since 2004, when the city adopted the building code minus a new change to require sprinklers in apartments.

Bell’s office reviewed the past three years of permit data and found that only about half of those units had sprinklers, either because they were townhomes or were located in buildings too small to fall under the ordinance, he said.

“You’re just simply increasing the odds that there’s going to be a fire where if there was a sprinkler system in there, [it] could save a life,” he said.

The few fire deaths at buildings with sprinklers in the past 40 years were caused by explosions, not fire or smoke inhalation, city fire marshal Dean Lanier said.

But Dan Siefken, executive director of the South Dakota Multi-Housing Association, worried that the cost of installing sprinkler systems — and paying for inspections — could add $35 to $100 to a typical apartment rent. This would devastate poorer renters, he said.

“What impact is it going for the public who has chosen — who has no other choice — but to rent?” he said.

If the tenant installs a sprinkler system, Councilor Michelle Erpenbach asked him, what happens to their insurance bill?

It depends, Siefken said. Some have seen their premiums drop; others saw their premiums rise because of water damage claimswhen sprinklers break.

Councilor Dean Karsky said renters should be allowed to choose whether to live in an apartment with sprinklers.

“You don’t want to put what I’m going to pay for rent ahead of my family’s safety,” he said, “but sometimes it is a choice you have to make — having a place to live versus having one with a sprinkler system.”

The task force will report its finding to the committee in May.

from the patch

As Station Nightclub Anniversary Approaches, Langevin Announces Fire Safety Bill

Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act would help with costs of fire prevention.

• February 19, 2013

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Ahead of tomorrow’s tenth anniversary of the Station Night Club fire in West Warwick that killed 100 people and left hundreds more injured, Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) has announced he will reintroduce legislation that would reduce the cost and impact of fires by encouraging the placement of automatic sprinklers in all multi-unit residential and commercial structures.

The Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act was inspired by the 2003 fire and findings that thousands of Americans lose their lives each year because of buildings that lack adequate fire prevention systems. The legislation, which has received support from the American Fire Sprinkler Association and the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs, allows small and medium size property owners to fully deduct the cost of installing sprinkler systems up to $500,000 and would cover most high fire risk properties, such as off campus housing, night clubs, and assisted living facilities.

“The tenth anniversary of the tragic Station Night Club Fire serves as a somber reminder of the devastating consequences that are possible without sufficient fire prevention systems,” said Langevin, who was selected by AFSA as its Fire Sprinkler Advocate of the Year in 2007 for hisleadership on this issue. “As my heart continues to go out to the survivors and families affected by that horrific event, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can recognize that fire sprinklers save lives. We must ensure property owners and small businesses have the ability to protect their buildings and, more importantly, the people who use them.” 

The National Fire Protection Association issued a study in June 2007 that concluded that in buildings with sprinklers, the death rate per fire can be reduced by 57 percent and the property damagedecreased by up to 68 percent. Every year there are more than 3,200 civilian deaths, approximately 100 firefighter line-of-duty deaths, and more 16,000 injuries because of inadequate fire prevention systems in buildings across the country.

Current building codes for newly constructed properties require sprinklers in many of the most vulnerable occupancies like student housing, high rise commercial buildings, entertainment complexes, and high rise residential facilities. However, there are thousands of structures that were built before sprinklers were required, putting those who occupy them at a higher and unnecessary risk. Under current depreciation rules, building owners have a strong disincentive to invest in a sprinkler system given the 39 year depreciation schedule for commercial buildings and 27.5 year schedule for residential structures.

Langevin’s bill includes automated fire sprinkler systems as section 179 property, allowing small and medium sized businesses to fully expense the cost of a sprinkler retrofit for structures as large as 50,000 square feet. High rise buildings will also see their depreciation schedule for installed sprinklers decreased to 15 years. 

Related Topics: Fire Safety, Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, Jim Langevin, and Station Nightclub Fire