New York State Code Council Fails to Include Sprinkler Requirement While Adopting 2015 IRC Code

At its August 19, 2015, meeting in Albany, NY, the New York State Code Council adopted the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC) for New York state. However, the council chose not to include the portion of the code that would have required the installation of residential fire sprinklers in newly constructed one- and two-family homes. The council opted to continue using the previous version of the code, which only requires sprinklers in wood frame residences that exceed two stories above grade.

Regarding the outcome of the vote, NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca commented, "I am deeply disappointed that in voting to remove residential sprinklers from the statewide building code, members of the Code Council have chosen to put profit ahead of safety."

DeLuca referenced the recent decision by the New York City Council to pass a bill that requires automatic fire sprinklers in city pet stores.

"I find it ironic that just last week the New York City Council required sprinklers in pet stores, yet the state of New York refuses to protect children such as 2-year-old Nora Lamirande in the same way." Lamirande perished in a central New York house fire in May of this year.

NYSAFC will continue to advocate for the installation of residential sprinklers and will seek to increase the awareness of the benefits and affordability of home fire sprinklers, which protect not only citizens, but also emergency services personnel.

Click here to read coverage of the council's meeting by the Times Union.