The Top 12 actions on behalf of Home Builders, Number 6: making fire sprinklers optional

Builder Review Daily is reviewing the Top 12 actions on behalf of Home Builders so far this year.

Number 6, keeping automatic fire sprinklers optional:

NAHB remains committed to the effort to maintain fire sprinklers as voluntary elements in new homes nationwide.

With the help of NAHB staff and resources available within the NAHB Fire Sprinkler Action Kit, our state and local HBAs have so far been successful in keeping mandatory sprinklers out of more than 36 states. NAHB is also diligently keeping track of efforts by the fire sprinkler advocates and providing our members with the necessary resources to effectively counter unfounded NFPA claims. 

In Columbia, the S.C. Building Codes Council again included a fire sprinkler mandate in the IRC 2012 proposed for adoption in the state.  However, they lacked the votes to approve the building code with the sprinkler mandate.  Your HBA of South Carolina continues to work diligently to keep sprinklers optional in South Carolina.  Unfortunately, if the sprinkler advocates continue to push for a sprinkler mandate, South Carolina may continue to use the 2006 building code for many years to come.

For more information about residential fire sprinklers or the NAHB code adoption action kits, contact Steve Orlowski (800-368-5242 x8303) or Mark Nix (803-771-7408).