The thought of a home being built in 2017 without complying to national building and fire codes is a hard enough pill to swallow, but a 20-unit apartment complex, a townhouse, a renovated quad-plex or a 4,500-sq-ft. home is unimaginable. The modern fire environment and the backsliding of codes will result in civilian deaths in the future—and let’s hope and pray not firefighter deaths as well.
Backsliding on display
Recently, the state of Wisconsin, even after Governor Scott Walker backed off in January of this year, allegedly decided to stop enforcing fire sprinkler requirements in multi-family dwellings less than 20 units because it wasn’t in statute. Are tempered glass, ground fault indicators, stair riser depth and height, etc., considered statutory?
The state of Minnesota Supreme Court ruled that the state fire marshal couldn't enforce the rule that all homes over 4,500 square feet be protected with fire sprinklers because it was “arbitrary and capricious.” How did they elect to remain on the 2012 Energy Code? Scientifically? Hardly! Let's determine that skipping a cycle and just adopting codes every six years is the best practice. I don’t think so.
The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that a fire chief had to prove renovations to multi-unit residential occupancies had to equal “essentially new construction” prior to requiring compliance with the model code. Doesn’t all this make your position as chief easier and the citizens safer? NO!
The state of Hawaii extended a law that prohibits local governments from adopting fire sprinkler requirements for single-family homes through 2027. The groups that pushed for this “death bill” at least had the decency to cancel their celebratory party following the death of three civilians in a non-sprinklered high-rise. It’s sad to think that it took three fatalities and numerous civilian injuries to modify their plans.
Leadership needed
The changes in the modern fire environment and the modern political environment challenge us all in new ways. What is the compromise? Where is the middle ground that can advance fire and life safety public policy while taking many, many factors into consideration? These are questions that we need to ponder and to which we must seek the answers.
I recently attended a portion of the Mid-Atlantic Life Safety Conference where Ken Bush—chief fire protection engineer of the Office of the State Fire Marshal in Maryland—was presenting on the latest code update. This reminded me how much we have been compromising over the past couple of decades with all the stakeholder groups involved in the codes and standards process.
Are we on a cycle of disaster? I don’t think so, but I do believe we better engage on a codes and standards, rules and regulations, and legislative front. Fire and building official groups have many leaders on this front, but we could always use more.
I would like to share a couple of examples of leaders being engaged. Chief Manuel Neves from Honolulu sits on a panel to ensure that fire and life safety and condo owners’ interests are all considered as part of new public policy that is being considered for his city. This, much like London and surrounding communities, is the result of THE fire.
Another example of leadership is Chief Brian Geraci, the Maryland State Fire Marshal, who plans to meet with stakeholder associations to inform them of the codes adoption process, the modern fire environment, the risks involved and the potential outcomes. Let’s hope this cooperative and proactive approach will clear hurdles and result in a better outcome for all.
Overcome the hurdles
The current political climate is one that encourages a more divided and decisive debate—a climate that isn't good for public policy. I believe the fire service has the current and future leaders to overcome these hurdles and lead the way to improved fire and life safety without compromising the future.
