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Firefighter group pushes for sprinklers in new homes
By Martine Powers | Globe Staff December 14, 2011
http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/12/14/firefighter-group-pushes-for-sprinklers-new-homes/Msux41E3KCBkPoosy9sdRL/story.html
When firefighter Phillip J. Tammaro was 2 years old, he was trapped in a fire caused by a gas explosion that burned more than 35 percent of his body. This year, he underwent his 19th surgery related to the injury.
Tammaro maintains that the burns could have been prevented - or at least reduced - if his house had been equipped with a sprinkler system.
“It’s worth every penny to protect our residents from this kind of experience,’’ said Tammaro, 42, who works as a coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.
Firefighters and home builders argued yesterday at a Board of Building Regulations and Standards hearing on amending the state building code to allow a requirement for sprinklers in newly constructed homes.
At the hearing, held in the State House, much of the debate came down to cost: Officials from fire departments around the state argued that the sprinkler systems, which can cost thousands of dollars to install, would save lives and limit property damage.
But developers and construction managers said that sprinklers have not been proven to be any more effective in saving lives than smoke detectors. The added cost, they continued, would discourage potential homeowners from settling in Massachusetts, and would raise the cost of affordable housing.
“We’d drive a lot of people right out of the ability to get that home,’’ said Doug Pizzi, a spokesman for the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts.
The proposed amendment to the state’s model code would not mandate that sprinklers be installed in every newly constructed one- or two-family home. Instead, it would be part of a “stretch code,’’ which allows cities and towns to adopt such a mandate if they so choose.
So far, California, Maryland, and South Carolina are the only states that have enacted a statewide measure to require fire sprinklers in newly built homes. The Board of Building Regulations and Standards will probably vote on the amendment in January.
At a press conference before the hearing in front of the Massachusetts Firefighter Memorial, James M. Shannon, the president of the National Fire Protection Association, said sprinklers help to extinguish or retard fires, which would allow more time for families to evacuate, and would also reduce risks to firefighters entering burning buildings.
The risk of dying by fire is reduced by 80 percent when a sprinkler system is installed in a home, he said.
“This is really about not only public safety, but it’s also a huge firefighter safety issue,’’ Shannon said.
The hearing came less than a week after a Worcester firefighter was killed when a three-decker home collapsed on him. The death of Jon D. Davies Sr. was at the forefront of many people’s minds during the hearing, as those on both sides of the issue paused for a moment of silence to honor him. Supporters of the amendment said his death may have been prevented by a sprinkler.
“We urge you to take our solemn sacrifice this week to heart as you enact this code,’’ said Edward A. Kelly, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.
Tammaro said the need for sprinklers is even greater now, because new environmentally friendly buildings often use lighter synthetic materials that burn easily.
“It’s along the same lines as, years ago, putting airbags in automobiles. No one really thought much about that,’’ Tammaro said. “Now you wouldn’t really buy a new car today if you didn’t have airbags in it.’’
But developers, construction managers, and homeowners came out in force, arguing that the high costs will hurt, not help, in a less-than-desirable housing market.
Homeowners should have a choice to spend the extra money if they feel it’s necessary, they argued.
Pizzi said the state should focus its fire-safety efforts on ensuring that all homes in the state have working smoke alarms, which would also help keep firefighters safe, since they would not have to enter a burning house if it had been evacuated, he said.
Pizzi pointed to a statistic to bolster his point: In homes with working smoke detectors, residents have a 99.45 percent chance of getting out of the house alive. It’s hard to improve on that figure, he said.
“We really think it’s a solution in search of a problem,’’ he said.
By Martine Powers | Globe Staff December 14, 2011
http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2011/12/14/firefighter-group-pushes-for-sprinklers-new-homes/Msux41E3KCBkPoosy9sdRL/story.html
When firefighter Phillip J. Tammaro was 2 years old, he was trapped in a fire caused by a gas explosion that burned more than 35 percent of his body. This year, he underwent his 19th surgery related to the injury.
Tammaro maintains that the burns could have been prevented - or at least reduced - if his house had been equipped with a sprinkler system.
“It’s worth every penny to protect our residents from this kind of experience,’’ said Tammaro, 42, who works as a coordinator for the International Association of Fire Fighters Burn Foundation.
Firefighters and home builders argued yesterday at a Board of Building Regulations and Standards hearing on amending the state building code to allow a requirement for sprinklers in newly constructed homes.
At the hearing, held in the State House, much of the debate came down to cost: Officials from fire departments around the state argued that the sprinkler systems, which can cost thousands of dollars to install, would save lives and limit property damage.
But developers and construction managers said that sprinklers have not been proven to be any more effective in saving lives than smoke detectors. The added cost, they continued, would discourage potential homeowners from settling in Massachusetts, and would raise the cost of affordable housing.
“We’d drive a lot of people right out of the ability to get that home,’’ said Doug Pizzi, a spokesman for the Home Builders Association of Massachusetts.
The proposed amendment to the state’s model code would not mandate that sprinklers be installed in every newly constructed one- or two-family home. Instead, it would be part of a “stretch code,’’ which allows cities and towns to adopt such a mandate if they so choose.
So far, California, Maryland, and South Carolina are the only states that have enacted a statewide measure to require fire sprinklers in newly built homes. The Board of Building Regulations and Standards will probably vote on the amendment in January.
At a press conference before the hearing in front of the Massachusetts Firefighter Memorial, James M. Shannon, the president of the National Fire Protection Association, said sprinklers help to extinguish or retard fires, which would allow more time for families to evacuate, and would also reduce risks to firefighters entering burning buildings.
The risk of dying by fire is reduced by 80 percent when a sprinkler system is installed in a home, he said.
“This is really about not only public safety, but it’s also a huge firefighter safety issue,’’ Shannon said.
The hearing came less than a week after a Worcester firefighter was killed when a three-decker home collapsed on him. The death of Jon D. Davies Sr. was at the forefront of many people’s minds during the hearing, as those on both sides of the issue paused for a moment of silence to honor him. Supporters of the amendment said his death may have been prevented by a sprinkler.
“We urge you to take our solemn sacrifice this week to heart as you enact this code,’’ said Edward A. Kelly, president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Massachusetts.
Tammaro said the need for sprinklers is even greater now, because new environmentally friendly buildings often use lighter synthetic materials that burn easily.
“It’s along the same lines as, years ago, putting airbags in automobiles. No one really thought much about that,’’ Tammaro said. “Now you wouldn’t really buy a new car today if you didn’t have airbags in it.’’
But developers, construction managers, and homeowners came out in force, arguing that the high costs will hurt, not help, in a less-than-desirable housing market.
Homeowners should have a choice to spend the extra money if they feel it’s necessary, they argued.
Pizzi said the state should focus its fire-safety efforts on ensuring that all homes in the state have working smoke alarms, which would also help keep firefighters safe, since they would not have to enter a burning house if it had been evacuated, he said.
Pizzi pointed to a statistic to bolster his point: In homes with working smoke detectors, residents have a 99.45 percent chance of getting out of the house alive. It’s hard to improve on that figure, he said.
“We really think it’s a solution in search of a problem,’’ he said.
Will the state compensate me when I lose my job due to building inactivity? Don't think so..............
