Posted by Dennis Herrick on January 13, 2010 at 10:49:41:
In Today's Union Leader
Heated debate on sprinkler mandate
By TOM FAHEY
State House Bureau Chief
12 hours, 10 minutes ago
CONCORD – Fire prevention experts squared off against homebuilders yesterday over the need for fire sprinklers in one and two-family homes.
State Fire Marshal William Degnan asked the House Commerce Committee to reject two bills that would prevent a change in building and fire codes. The code changes will require sprinklers in new and heavily renovated homes starting April 2012.
He said the costs of the system are reasonable, just over $3,000 for a new home, and the benefits are clear in that lives will be saved. He was backed by spokesmen from several national groups that work for better fire safety and building codes.
Homebuilders and real estate brokers said Degnan's estimates of costs are vastly understated. They and other opponents argued that a tough economy is no time to push prices higher, when fewer couples can qualify for mortgages in the first place.
House Bill 1191 would bar the state from adopting building codes that require the sprinklers in new one and multi-family homes. HB 1486 would bar municipalities from enacting or enforcing sprinkler requirements.
Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, sponsor of HB 1191, said sprinklers pose additional problems for homes that rely on private wells, since extra pumps or reserve tanks would have to be included.
Sprinkler costs run more than twice what Degnan estimated, McGuire said.
Degnan testified that he has heard estimates that run as high as $4 to $6 for each square foot of space.
"That was price gouging," Degnan said, adding that he knows someone in Peterborough who built a home with sprinklers that ended up costing $1.40 a square foot.
Despite the cost, he said, "It's my obligation to work for the benefit and the safety of citizens of this state." Sprinkler requirements are part of every national model building and fire safety code, he said.
He urged the committee to reject both bills, and allow the debate to ensue next year as the Legislature considers whether to ratify code changes the state building code board adopted last month. Without legislative approval, the changes won't take effect.
Dan Donahue, president of New England Homes in Greenland, said this is the worst recession he has seen in 49 years in the manufactured home business.
"The building industry does not need this put onto them," he said.
NEH vice president, Michael Younus, said his workforce has been cut from 170 in 2008 to 57 today.
He said the new code "will have a devastating impact on an already ravaged industry."
Rep. Andrew White, D-Lebanon, a professional firefighter, opposed the bills, saying that if they pass, "they would require the Fire Marshal to ignore the facts about sprinklers."
Nashua Fire Marshal Richard Wood said HB 1191 needs to be changed, or its wording could be interpreted as barring sprinkler requirements in hotels, motels, dormitories and apartment buildings.
Bill co-sponsor Rep. Warren Groen, R-Rochester, wants the bills to pass, and noted any homeowner can include the system in a new home if they want. "The free market should decide, not the heavy hand of government," he said.
Tom Flanders of Jensen's Inc, which owns mobile home parks in Concord and Hooksett, said the proposed sprinkler code is a "well-meaning but costly mandate."
YOUR COMMENTS
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This is just another way for the fire departments to have a way to justify (jobs) checking everyones homes. This will allow the state government to enact a law after this is passed to have access to each home to inspect the systems. Well how many people have homes the size of the "Station Nightclub" in RI? Please, just leave the people alone I have had enough of people telling me what is good for "ME"! Not only is the state motto getting lost, but the founding principles of this country!! We have made it this far without needing your guidance on every decision-Leave "us" alone!!
- Brett M. Aither, Exeter, NH
If you feel you have to comment on this. Educate yourself properly first, read NFPA13D, (Which I assume is the Code the State of NH Plans to adopt) facts and figures are listed in the document, also take a look at combination systems (Plumbing and Sprinklers systems combined together), you test your sprinkler everytime you open a faucet, these systems need no maintenance,
lets check your education level on sprinklers, one sprinkler goes off they all go off! Right?
Wrong, only in the movies this happens, so please go educate yourself before making uneducated comments on this subject.
Check out this website www.uponor-usa.com it's very informative.
- Darron, Manchester NH
Money always takes precedence over life in the Union Leader / Republican world-view.
- Putney, Manchester
I think the builders aren't the one who should be complaining about this, but consumers who are against it should be.
We were required to have a system installed when our house was built several years ago. I doubt our builder lost money by installing it. It's just another excuse for them to pump up the selling price.
I have no remorse for them, they were the biggest beneficiaries of the banks' relaxed lending plans.
- Dennis, Hooksett
More government regulations put on private sector employees who are getting poorer by the day.
- Chris, Merrimack
So, you order a new home builder to install a sprinkler system, who insures it stays in working order? Are Towns and Cities going to hire people to inspect these systems on a yearly basis or will it end up just like burglar alarms; install them in a house and never turn them on or maintain them?
This is a silly and unenforceable Law, if I do build a house and am forced to install a system I will NEVER be forced to keep it maintained and don't for one minute thing my homeowner's insurance will require I let the Town inspect it!!!
Just another Big Brother Law to make Government rich.
- Harris K., Concord, NH
Not likely going to save a lot of lives, it's just going to line the pockets of the people who stand to profit from this, who I'm sure are behind the lobbying. We don't lose a tremendous amount of people to fires anyway, how about all the people killed on the roads?
Water is going to ruin the house anyway, so what's the difference? Smoke and fire damage, or water damage, all your stuff is destroyed and you end up with a big insurance bill and all your stuff is lost. Not to mention all the property ruined everytime a pipe or sprinkler head fails and leaks a hundred gallons of water in your home.
Let's just make an effort to build with safer materials, there are spray on coatings available now that make woodframes resistant to fire.
Bob in Salem is absolutely right. It's too expensive and unnecessary. Just another way for government to get a little more control.
- Dan, Epping
Duh Bob in Salem, What's the difference between an old house and a new one. I see a lot of new houses being sold for more money because the buyer believes it was built with the latest and greatest. But the buyer should consider that old saying "they don't make them like they used to". At least adding this feature would be a good selling feature. Stop cutting corners!
- Rich, Concord
I guess with these automatic firemen in every home in the state we can cut a lot of firemen's jobs......let's start with William Degnan's job. How's that sound Degnan ? I feel like I'm living in the twilight zone these days, or Massachusetts-north.....same difference.
- Jay Collins, noinfo@aol.com
Live Free or Die.......It should not be mandatory. People should have the choice to move to a safer home or stay where they are. How much money will it take to enforce and do compliance check on this?? What a joke!!
- Jeremy, Manchester
Shouldn't this be more like a suggestion rather than a law?
Sorta like that - 'have a family evacuation plan' suggestion.
- John II, Manchester
Hey Fire Prevention Experts.
Homeowners/Buyers do not have the money.
It is not cost effective.
People do NOT want this.
Can't you listen. Are you hearing impaired?
- Bob, Salem