CHARLESTON — Firefighters from across the country gathered in Charleston to rally support for mandating sprinkler systems in apartment complexes, condos, and homes. They say sprinklers can save property and lives, but others aren’t so fired up about the idea. (more…)
Also on SConFire…
- Fire Destroys 2 Condo’s – February 15, 2011
- Charleston Fire Rolls Out New Command Vehicle – March 4, 2011
- Sprinkler Assists in Nursing Home Fire – March 10, 2011
- State Fire News Roundup – January 20, 2011
My 2 cents from Calif.
I am a student and friend of former Calif. State Fire Marshal and author Ronny Coleman,
who when he was Fire Chief of the City of San Clemente passed a Residential Sprinkler Ordinance.
The demonstration conducted by the Charleston FD speaks for itself.
While Mr. Jeff Meyer is concerned about the slight increase in cost in building a new home, he fails to realize that it is part of the Total Cost and subsequentially;
A) Is paid off over the 30 year life of the Mortage.
B) Will reduce the annual cost in fire insurance to the home owner.
Unfortunately, I find his complaints the:
“Same old stuff” of the building industry.
He fails to realize that a “new” home being constructed today is not the same as the ones built 20-30 years ago.
With the combined changes in building materials, how they are put together and then how the home is content/fire loaded
you would think he would be more in step with the need to protect the occupants first then the contents.
Unfortunately, I see that he along with the South Carolina Legislature are out of step with the citizens of it’s communities
by deferring till 2014 a final vote on adopting the full code.
I do give them credit for the laws that they did pass after the Myrtle Beach and SSS fatal fires, after overriding the Governor’s Veto, but more needs to be done.
The Charleston Demonstration and the Chicago FD Residential Structure Fire studies that are now available at the Underwriters Laboritories website validate the need for Residential Sprinkler systems.
Good luck SFM John Reich in selling this to the State Legislature and the South Carolina Construction Companies. They cry “poor” while building occupancies that will become totally involved in fire before the first arriving engine comes on scene.
And continue in the downward spiral of occupants trapped and firefighter rescue’s that can go bad all to save $4,000-$5,000.00
dollars in initial construction fees.