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of fire protection systems; mortality risks associated with unintentional
fatalities, during transport and non-transport human activity, including
the effectiveness of fire sprinkler systems in Massachusetts; and causes
of residential fire fatalities.
The purpose of the white paper is to,
“[A]ssist the BBRS in meeting its statutory obligation to continually
review the cost of construction and to assure that for all building code
requirements there is commensurate life safety benefit. Onerous and
costly code requirements too often have a negative effect, for example:
the owner will take units out of service which further exacerbates an
already tight housing market; or the owners will do cosmetic touch up
and avoid high cost items that the cost may require. Thus, if the life safety
benefit does not justify the cost then it is the responsibility of the BBRS
to explore alternatives such as reducing or eliminating the requirement.”
Finally, the paper sets forth a series of conclusions and recommendations
for which the BBRS is seeking “widespread public comment” so that it
can protect the interests of consumers and maintain an independent and
reasonable approach to the promulgation of building code requirements.
Accordingly, the Legislature should refrain from enacting any further
mandates relative to fire sprinklers systems until the BBRS has had an
opportunity to evaluate and act on comments to that White Paper.
Other States
The International Code Council, which was established in 1994
as a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a single set of
comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes
and has at either the state or jurisdictional level had their codes
adopted in all 50 states, amended the International Residential Code
(IRC) in 2009 to require the installation of fire sprinklers in one and
two-family homes. Since that time, 36 states have affirmatively taken
action through either legislation or regulation to ensure that residential
sprinklers remain optional for homebuilders and homebuyers. Only
two states – California and Maryland – have adopted the 2009 IRC’s
mandate for fire sprinklers in one and two-family homes. No action
was necessary in the remaining 12 states to maintain the optional
status of sprinklers in one and two-family homes. Consequently,
Massachusetts is not an outlier in regard to sprinklers, but instead
stands with the overwhelming majority of states that agree they should
not be mandated in one and two-family homes.
Fire Data
The tragic death of two Boston firefighters in the fire on Beacon
Street in Boston has been cited by some as a reason to mandate
sprinklers in one and two-family homes. However, that fire was in
a three-unit residence for which fire sprinkler systems have long
been required. The horrific Worcester warehouse fire of several
years ago that took the life of other firefighters was, again, in the
type of structure for which sprinklers have also been required.
Moreover, the proponents of mandating fire sprinklers have been
unable to provide any evidence that where there were deaths or
serious injuries due to a residential fire in Massachusetts, that such
deaths or injuries occurred in a single or two-family home with
working electric hardwired smoke detectors.
A review of the data from the Massachusetts Fire Incident Reporting
System, as well as the U.S. Fire Administrator 2013 Report issued by the
Federal Emergency Management Administration, demonstrate that fire
sprinklers in one and two-family homes are not needed for the protection
of the lives of the occupants of those residences or firefighters. Electric
hardwired smoke detectors save lives and are extremely cost effective.
Thanks to the widespread installation of residential smoke alarm
systems in recent years, communities are safer than they have
ever been. Based on a 2006 U.S. Fire Administration study on the
presence of working smoke alarms in residential fires from 2001-
2004, more than two-thirds of the fatal fires reported to have
occurred in single-family homes that lacked working smoke alarms.
A report from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA)
found that the survival rate in a single-family home increase from
99.62% to 99.82% with fire sprinklers (assuming in both cases
the presence of working smoke detectors). The problem is not
homes without sprinklers; the problem is homes without working
smoke alarms. Fire sprinklers in one and two-family homes are not
justified as a matter of cost or public safety.
Other issues
Buyers of seasonal homes will face additional costs associated with fire
sprinkler systems where utilities, including heat and water, are shut off
for the winter months. G.L. c. 148, §27A requires written permission
from the head of the municipal fire department in order for a homeowner
to shut off, disconnect, obstruct, remove or destroy any part of a fire
sprinkler system. Should a homeowner fail to request such permission
and/or fail to receive such permission, he would be in violation of this
law and be subject to possible imprisonment for not more than one year
or a fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both.
In the alternative to seeking permission to shut off a fire sprinkler
system, a homeowner would either have to incur the ongoing expense
of maintaining electric service and heat to a vacant home or have the
fire sprinkler system winterized by professional in order to operate the
system in their absence. This is a significant issue on Cape Cod with
its many vacation homes.
Finally, fire sprinkler systems are subject to annual inspection by
the local fire department. Where our members have been required
to install fire sprinklers in newly constructed homes, prospective
homebuyers are strongly resistant to the idea that they will be subject
to such annual inspection of their property.
Conclusion
The HBRAMA has consistently supported amendments to the State
Building Code that enhance life-safety in residential structures where
their benefits clearly exceed their costs and their adoption would not
undermine housing affordability. That is why we have endorsed every
amendment to the State Building Code relative to the installation
of smoke detectors. The HBRAMA does not oppose fire sprinkler
technology or the voluntary installation of these fire suppression
systems. However, we oppose the mandatory installation of sprinkler
systems in one- and two-family homes because such systems are
complicated, costly, and of only incremental value in terms of
protecting the life of the occupants of such residences.
2
“White Paper The Cost and Effectiveness for Health, Safety, and Security of Fire Alarm Systems and Fire Spinkler Systems in 3 to 6 Unit Residential Building” Page 41.
Government
A F FA I R S
