NYSAFC Endorses Building Code Adoption

At the most recent meeting of its board of directors, the New York State Association of Fire Chiefs (NYSAFC) unanimously passed a resolution calling upon the New York State Code Council to adopt the International Residential Building Code without amendment. A primary mission of NYSAFC is to secure the cooperation of its members, the public, and all interested parties in establishing effective means for the diminution of fire in terms of loss of life and property.

According to Jerry DeLuca, executive director of NYSAFC, "Statistics have shown that approximately 85 percent of all U.S. fire deaths occur in the home. It has also been proven that the installation of residential sprinkler systems in single and multiple family homes is a highly effective way to prevent the loss of life and property from fire."

The New York State Code Council is working to update the residential code and provisions of the International Code, calling for the installation of residential sprinklers in newly constructed homes or those residences that undergo reconstruction of more than 50 percent of the home. The requirement for residential sprinkler systems has been a provision of the International Residential Code since the 2009 edition; however, New York state is operating on the 2006 edition.

NYSAFC 1st Vice President Donald Corkery has stated, "The adoption of the International Residential Code will be a top priority for me and the State Chiefs in 2014 and 2015. Adoption of the code will make the governor and all of our state leaders heroes in the eyes of the fire service. Acting to adopt the code will save lives."