By FireRescue1 Staff
| Related Resources: The Residential Sprinklers Debate |
QUINCY, Mass. — A campaign has been launched to aid sprinkler adoptions for new one- and two-family homes on a state and local level.
The NFPA’s “Fire Sprinkler Initiative: Bringing Safety Home” will provide materials and resources to those working to encourage the adoption of requirements for automatic fire sprinklers.
It will include a variety of proven and effective ways that home fire sprinkler advocates can communicate the impact and importance of sprinkler requirements, according to the NFPA.
The initiative follows the International Code Council approving code changes making sprinklers mandatory in new one-family and two-family homes in September.
However, the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition, which helped to secure the vote, said homebuilders are now beginning a move to prevent adoption of the 2009 IRC provisions for sprinklers by introducing state legislation that would block new local adoptions.
Currently, 80 percent of fire deaths occur in the home, killing nearly 3,000 people each year. Homes with automatic fire sprinklers and working smoke alarms reduce the risk of an occupant dying in a fire by 82 percent.
“The Fire Sprinkler Initiative will make available important tools that can be used by people working on the front lines to get sprinkler requirements passed in their communities,” NFPA President James M. Shannon said.
Its Web site – Firesprinklerinitiative.org – contains materials advocates can use when talking to community leaders, elected officials, and others to get home sprinkler requirements in place.
A discussion forum will be also hosted on the site, where advocates from across the country will be able to share information about the home fire sprinkler movement and encourage adoptions in their communities.
“The launch of this campaign could not come at a more critical time,” said William E. Barnard, Maryland state fire marshal.
“We need to bring a higher level of fire safety into new homes – not only for ourselves, but for future generations. This campaign will help spur public safety advocates to make home fire sprinkler adoptions a reality.”