Fire sprinklers -- what's happened elsewhere

3/03/2009 - State and Local Efforts Come Under Fire: The National Fire Protection Association has begun providing its members with a list of contacts for all states that are attempting to pass legislation that would prohibit the adoption and enforcement of any regulation mandating fire sprinklers in new one- and two- family dwellings. To see if your state is on the list, go to Legislation Alert.

3/27/2009  -  State Legislation Gains Momentum: So far in the 11 States that have introduced legislation that would preemptively nullify the mandatory requirement for residential fire sprinklers, North Dakota and Idaho have succeeded in getting the bill passed in both the Senate and the House. To read more on the sprinkler industries attempts to keep a foothold on the market which was created with the passing of the residential sprinkler requirement in the upcoming International Residential Code©, go to the recent article published in Builder Magazine.

5/8/2009  -  Idaho Becomes the Second State to Approve Legislation: Congratulations to both North Dakota and Idaho on becoming the first states to pass legislation that would prohibit the state building code or building codes adopted at the local level from mandating residential fire sprinklers in one- and two- family dwellings. As written, home buyers will continue to decide for themselves whether or not they need to install residential sprinklers in their newly built residences.

6/22/2009  - Texas Senate Bill Signed into Law: Governor Rick Perry signed the fire sprinkler bill into law today which will prohibit any jurisdiction, city or municipality that adopts the 2009 International Residential Code from requiring home owners to install residential fire sprinklers in one- or two- family dwellings. In addition, the bill would provide any homeowner who elects to install a residential sprinkler system in their home to able to allow plumbers to perform the work.

7/15/2009 - Missouri Home Builders Reach Compromise with State Fire Marshal: Governor Jay Nixon recently signed into law that certain homebuilders will be required to offer to any purchaser of a new home, prior to entering into contract, the option to install or equip their home with a fire sprinkler system at the purchaser's cost. Missouri is the fifth state to reiterate that the decision to require sprinklers in new construction should not be mandated by the state and that it is ultimately the homeowners right to determine for themselves whether or not to install residential sprinklers.