Huge, Important Fire Sprinkler Code Changes
Saturday November 29, 2008
While this will presumably not affect existing structures, the IRC (International Residential Code)/Fire Safety Coalition has announced that fire sprinklers will be mandatory in new buildings beginning in 2011. This will go into the 2009 IRC (the code). It's a major change in fire safety prevention. Fire alarms dramatically cut fire deaths when they first appeared over 30 years ago. Hopefully, fire sprinklers will do the same thing. What's so exciting about this is that fire sprinklers are an active fire prevention device...versus a passive device like fire alarms. Few residences have any kind of active fire prevention device. A fire extinguisher would qualify as "active," but few residences have even this.
Comments
We just bought a condo that was retrofitted with a sprinkler system. While it is nice to know that we have backup in fire, the retrofitting is was covered in an ugly, and poorly fitted, casing. Also, they seem to have gone overboard and put four in some rooms. In the upstairs bathroom, one was placed near the lights, of all places. I would really like to make it less of an eyesore and remove or cover the one in the bathroom as its so close, it can be activated by the heat of the light. Any suggestions?
Good day Kathy,
Speaking as a fire protection professional,I hear these comments often. Although I don’t know what type of sprinkler heads you have, there are concealed sprinkler heads available. They extend only 1/8″ to 3/16″ below the ceiling. The sprinkler heads can be retrofitted if the hydraulic calculations can support it. Only a fire sprinkler contractor is licensed to do this type of work. Depending upon the size of a room, 4 sprinkler heads may be required. Only the design engineer and approving authority can determine this. Last but not least, if your bathroom sprinkler head is 6″ or more from the light and it is a standard bathroom light, then it should not be affected by the heat. Wishing you well in your new condo, True Fire Protection.