The Fight for Sprinklers Continues

On January 25, 2016, NYSAFC President Dan Schwertfeger, FASNY President Bob McConville, and AFDSNY 2nd Vice President Tom Rinaldi joined other New York state fire service leaders to deliver more than 2,000 letters to the New York State Department of State. The letters signed by firefighters from across New York called upon the secretary of state to at least take action to require residential fire sprinklers in newly constructed townhouses.

In addition to delivering the letters, NYSAFC Executive Director Jerry DeLuca testified on behalf of the fire service and the New York Fire Sprinkler Initiative calling on the secretary to take action to protect the lives of firefighters and citizens throughout New York by adopting the 2015 IRC with a requirement for sprinklers in townhouses.

While members of the New York Fire Sprinkler Initiative have not given up on the call for the installation of residential fire sprinklers in all newly constructed one- and two-family homes, the difficulty in accomplishing that goal this year has been acknowledged and it is hoped that by starting with townhouses, some progress can be achieved. There is no financial reason for builders to oppose this initiative, as sprinklers will actually save approximately $400 in construction costs in townhouses.

The public comment period for the 2015 IRC closed on February 5, 2016, and the fire service is awaiting a decision by the secretary of state. There is no definite timeline for that decision. In the meantime, NYSAFC and its fire service and building code partners will continue to champion this cause as we head to the next round of code adoption in 2018.

Get involved! Click here to learn more about the New York Fire Sprinkler Initiative.