New York State Fire Service

New York State Fire Service Residential Sprinkler Talking Points

For more than a year, the fire service and our partners in code enforcement have been working diligently in support of the adoption of the IRC and the requirement for the installation of residential sprinklers. The IRC code would require that all new one- and two- family homes and townhouses be equipped with residential sprinklers. We have actively supported this for several reasons, the most important of which is that sprinklers save lives – lives of the public and firefighters. At the August meeting of the NYS Code Council, the council voted to remove the sprinkler requirement from the code. The homebuilders and realtors both pushed very hard for the code to exclude sprinklers. They very clearly gave their own profit a much higher value than the lives of firefighters and the public.

We are urging every member of the fire service to join together and write to the Code Council urging them to at least require sprinklers in townhouses. Here are some of the reasons why:

1. Sprinklers in townhouses are even more critical for life safety than in detached residences. We firmly believe that sprinklers in one- and two- family residences would be lifesavers (public and firefighter lives), but getting them in townhouses is a “bare minimum” compromise position. A line MUST be drawn somewhere. 2. Studies by NYS Department of State demonstrate a cost savings to builders by installing sprinkler systems rather than two-hour fire rated separations. 3. New construction burns hotter and faster than older homes. In townhouses, compact living space plus petroleum-based furniture plus higher heat equal more dangerous fire conditions. In addition, limited means of egress for residents and limited ingress, egress, and points of attack for fire suppression results in more dangerous conditions for the fire service. 4. While the number of fires has decreased and the number of line of duty deaths has been reduced or remained relatively steady, the number of LODD per 100,000 fires has increased. This is due in part to flashover and collapse attributed to modern construction methods. 5. Residents of townhouses can suffer fire loss, injury or even death through no fault of their own. A fire may be caused by the actions of a neighbor impacting other victims. 6. Townhouses are generally connected to municipal water eliminating the need for additional pumps or storage tanks.

Write to The NYS Code Council and urge them to require residential sprinklers in townhouses.

Send your letter via e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to Mr. Mark Blanke Division of Code Enforcement NYS Department of State, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave Albany, NY 12231-0001