Not a new subject, but it’s one step closer. On September 20, the ICC (International Code Council) had a majority vote in favor of installing mandatory sprinkler systems on all new one and two-family dwellings.
For Ohio this wouldn’t come into effect until January 1, 2011. In the meantime it’s expected to get a lot of negative pressure from the BIA and other groups, so it’s not a done deal by any means. But it’s an issue that won’t seem to go away.
If it passes though, it could affect every state. I know there’s some communities that have already adopted this provision. Experiences? Opinions?
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I guess in houses that already have sprinklers installed, this would be covered but I'm curious as to how the insurance companies will address a house that was drenched as opposed to burned out/down. So there wasn't a fire, but all the flooring needs replacement. All the mechanicals would probably be OK, but the DW needs to be replaced thus exposing work that once met code but may not now.
Would there be an extra rider required if sprinklers were installed? Required to buy flood insurance?
edit to fix spelling
Edited 10/1/2008 6:35 pm ET by john7g
Flooding is what i'm wondering about too. A friend of mine had a fire once, and the water damage was worse than the fire damage. Obviously great that the fire wasn't worse. But i wonder what the propensity might be for these to go off accidentally.
it could cause a lot of headaches
Cant give houses away now. I think adding a couple more grand to the price will help.
I really think its overkill. I could see it in a multistory house where it may take a long time (relatively speaking) to get out. But for most houses thats nuts.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
I'm with you. If the community/locality requires it at least people have a choice to build elsewhere. If it is mandated for every new house everywhere we better get into the sprinkler biz. Government wants to dumb down the public even more, now we even have mandatory sensors in our auto and truck wheels to tell us when we need to add air. As John Stossel would say, "give me a break", let people choose if they want the added protection of a sprinkler system in their SFR house.
Good point about house prices.
The people pressing for this are the firemen (firewomen? firepeople?). Fire-related safety is what's behind the majority of the code, in one form or another (i.e., egress, materials, building type and use, etc.). That being said, i think the motion will eventually tank. Unless it poses a risk to other homes (i.e., in dryer climates like southern CA or Arizona), i can't imagine many people supporting this.
there's definitely a lobby pushing it though
I understand why they want it. My point is that especially in a ranch home, (in most cases) i'm thinking you'd have time to get out.
I dont know alot of stats about fires in the home but unless the fire breaks out in the dead of night, you should be able to get out.
Family.....They're always there when they need you.
<a lot of negative pressure from the BIA >
Bureau oF Indian Affairs?
Forrest - not understanding
Board of Immigration AppealsBrick Industry Association brain injury associationbusiness impact analysisBodyboarder International Association Building Industry Association.
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
Sounds stoopit.
I would rather see local municipalities mandating the use of native vegetation that doesn't require constant irrigation. Many regions are suffering from lack of water. More intelligent landscape design choices on a larger scale would reap huge benefits. Requiring sprinkler systems has been tried here by HOAs, and there is a loophole for homeowners that want to xeriscape. But this is turning into a conversation for the efficiency forum. I leave it be now.
Uh....I think they are talking about house/fire sprinklers and not the things used to water the lawn.
You know what, Now I remember reading about that. Now Im stoopit. I'm just in a ranting mood. I will be turning the computer off now. Thank You
We just had a major fire that destroyed ten houses, killed one person, the cause a Power line clamp started a grass fire that ran up a hill to yards where the landscaping was not cut back and a wind storm also did not help. Sprinklers in this fire would of not helped unless they were on the roofs, but even then it still started out to in. the walls of the houses would of still caught fire even with a roof system.read more of on a defendable space.http://www.idahostatesman.com/1404/story/488935.htmlhere is one on the causehttp://www.idahostatesman.com/1404/story/487137.htmlWallyo
Hadn't heard of this one but I'm not surprised. I'm sure the NAHB council up here in Northern Ohio is going to throw a hisssee fit.
This seems to come up every few years and very few communities jump on the bandwagon.
Over in Solon, Ohio they tried to mandate the installation and got hammered. The "compromise" was a requirement to have a dry standpipe installed from the street to the house if it was a certain distance back. That got thrown out fast enough
Should I just run over to the ICC site and see what's up? Worth it?
ciao, ted
I think it sucks. Just more regulation and more costs added to houses.
I thiught I saw it was kitchen and utility/furnace areas.Like someone else said. Water damage will be bad.Chuck Slive, work, build, ...better with wood
My impression was that this was a whole house deal. The kitchen is where most fires start, then living room, then bedroom. Someone falling asleep with a cigarette or kids playing with matches can happen anywhere.