This month's article was written by Paul Valentine, based on his recent experiences.
In past articles we have identified the need for residential sprinklers and the critical role they play in supporting fire department operations and improving the level of safety for firefighters. We have also discussed that one of the most critical elements in your local fire prevention program is the ability to build fire safety coalitions in your community. We must continually gain the support of our fire safety endeavors by gaining support of others through education.
We took a huge step last year in Minneapolis towards residential sprinklers by changing the International Residential Code to require sprinklers in all new homes, including townhomes and one- and two-family dwellings, effective January 1, 2011. Our work is not done! We must realize that was only the beginning. We must continually educate our other stakeholders of the benefits of residential sprinklers and how they positively impact our community. The key to our residential sprinkler success is to focus on continual education, not just before we pass our residential sprinkler ordinances, but after as well.
I am very proud to say that Illinois has found the best venue to educate fire and building officials, community leaders, elected officials, and developers. On a very cold, blustery day in a suburb of Chicago, more than 300 fire and building officials from 70 fire departments, 24 fire protection districts and people representing 22 various associations attended the Residential Fire Sprinkler Summit at the Medinah Shriners facility in Addison. Keynote speakers included Jim Shannon, president of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and John Viniello, president, National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) and Fire Team USA. The event was sponsored by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, Illinois Fire Inspectors Association and the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board.
Shannon talked about NFPA's new Fire Sprinkler Initiative website, a resource for the fire service and other sprinkler advocates who want to demonstrate the need for home fire sprinklers in their community. The site contains information to help navigate the legislative process to get sprinkler ordinances introduced and passed in their communities and allow them to come together to share their ideas, successes and tools with other advocates.
Viniello talked about why it's important for the fire sprinkler industry to support the fire service in their efforts to pass ordinances that result in safer communities. He talked about NFSA's history of education programs and presented various examples of how NFSA has worked with the media following major fires that result in news stories that focus on the life-saving value of fire sprinklers. Viniello said it's more common for the media to point out that buildings were not protected with fire sprinklers following a significant fire.
Illinois has 57 communities and fire districts that have adopted home fire sprinkler ordinances. Illinois is second to our friends and colleagues in California. The purpose of the summit is to bring all of the stakeholders together and share from each others experiences. Topics included fire protection priorities and codes, the politics of life safety, mobilizing the community stakeholders, and the various resources available to educate and improve public policy. Speakers also discussed the details behind NFPA 13D, the Standard for the Installation of Fire Sprinklers in One- and Two-Family Homes. A panel including fire safety and code consultants, sprinkler contractors and fire officials answered questions from the audience
Congressman Peter Roskam, Illinois's 6th District, addressed the audience talking about why he believes it's important to support the fire service. He opened his comments talking about his personal experience with a house fire as a child. Congressman Roskam said he has co-sponsored and supports the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act, a bill that reduces the tax depreciation time for retrofitting fire sprinkler systems in buildings from 39 years to five years. He joined the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. As a new member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Congressman Roskam said he would continue to support the fire service at the committee level.
One of the greatest benefits of the summit experience is to have the opportunity to discuss and identify every stakeholders concern. In the fire service, we have seen how fire spreads and the benefits of sprinklers. However, others such as developers, elected officials and some building officials may not. One of the highlights of the summit was to give everyone an opportunity to see the benefits of sprinklers first hand.
At the end of the conference on the first day, those who attended withstood the 20-degree weather to watch a live burn demonstration in the facility parking lot. Two rooms were built and furnished. A fire sprinkler was installed in one room; the other room was not protected. Fires were started in both rooms to show how quickly flash over occurs without fire sprinklers. In the room protected with a fire sprinkler, the smoke alarm sounded at 10 seconds. The sprinkler activated in about 30 seconds and extinguished the fire.
Shortly after the demonstration, I was approached by an individual who introduced himself as a home builder in the community in which I serve. He is in the process of constructing a townhome development and is required by our local ordinance to install sprinklers. He informed me how impressed he was with the activation of residential sprinklers. He said he knows sprinklers are becoming normal in his business and wanted to learn more about them. I can only imagine how many other summit participants experienced the same type of positive learning experience as the developer!
"When we see meetings like this in all 50 states, we will begin to see the success of residential sprinklers" (Jim Shannon, President NFPA, February 4, 2009 Sprinkler Summit keynote address.)
Contributions to the article made by Peg Paul and Associates, Frankfort, IL.
Related LinksBRETT LACEY, a Firehouse.com Contributing Editor, is the Fire Marshal for the Colorado Springs, CO, Fire Department and a professional engineer. He has over 27 years in the fire service and has served on various technical committees including NFPA 1031, IFSTA committee for Inspection practices, and Fire Detection and Suppression Systems and the Colorado Fire Marshal's Association Code Committee. PAUL VALENTINE, a Firehouse.com Contributing Editor, is the Fire Marshal for the Mount Prospect, IL, Fire Department and formerly served as their fire protection engineer. He has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Fire Protection and Safety Engineering Technology from Oklahoma State University and a Master of Science Degree in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University and is a graduate from the National Fire Academy's Executive Fire Officer Program. Brett and Paul co-authored Fire Prevention Applications, published by Fire Protection Publications. To read their complete biographies and view their archived articles, click here. You can reach Paul by e-mail at: [email protected].
