LETTERS: Answering questions about home sprinkler systems

I am compelled to respond to the June 6, 2014 article written by your reporter Susan Vaughn [Sprinkler bill for homes raises questions].

The article cites information from Town Councilor Jim Crocker, who is also a Realtor, and state Rep. Cleon Turner.

HB 2121, An Act relative to enhanced fire protection in new one- and two-family dwellings, is a bill that if passed will require residential fire sprinkler systems in all new one- and two-family homes. The language referring to requiring sprinklers in substantially rehabilitated construction of single- and two-family homes was stricken from the bill by Rep. Ruth Balser at the Joint Committee of Public Safety and Homeland Security public hearing which was held on Nov. 20, 2013.

What needs to be emphasized, however, is that HB 2121 is a local option bill that will allow Massachusetts communities to decide the amount of fire protection for their locality. It is not a mandate. If Town Councilor Jim Crocker, who is also a realtor, does not think it is proper for his community, then that conversation should be held with his professional fire chief.

Sen. Stephen Brewer has been one of several champions in our state government and has advocated tirelessly for the publics safety. The residential sprinkler bill is one piece of legislation that will undoubtedly change the outcome and future of fire and Sen. Brewer understands this.

In Massachusetts, annual homeowners insurance premium discount percentages from Commerce, Andover, Chubb & Son, Travelers and Liberty Mutual range from 5 to 10 percent. Further to the point of insurance companies, the presence of a residential sprinkler system raising concern about the accidental water leakage from the system, the Insurance Service Office, Inc. (ISO) standard Homeowners 3 Special Form policy provides for coverage due to damages from residential fire sprinkler system leakage provided that reasonable care has been taken to maintain heat in the building to prevent freezing of the residential fire sprinkler system. Essentially, residential fire sprinkler piping is treated the same as regular household plumbing as far as coverage and pricing for ISOs standard Homeowners program. Thus, there is no extra charge for the coverage of the peril of fire sprinkler leakage.

The simple solution for areas without water systems such as West Barnstable, which only have wells, is to install a small water tank and pump. The sprinkler systems do not require highly charged water lines for extra water pressure and once installed, residential sprinkler systems do not require more people to inspect them. The homeowner simply checks the system similar to what folks do in their homes now for other utility appliances.

Currently the national average cost for a residential sprinkler system for new one- and two-family homes is $1.35 per square foot. This is 1 to 1.5 percent of the total cost of new construction. A residential sprinkler system is designed primarily for life safety and secondarily for property protection. It allows for up to a 10-minute water supply to prevent the fire from flashing over and allows the homeowners time to get out. Flashover is when all of the combustibles in the room ignite all at once. There is no surviving a flashover.

Modern home furnishings are deadlier than older furnishings under the same fire conditions. Fire burns faster and hotter, emitting thick black poisonous smoke, and flashover happens very quickly as compared to an 18-minute time frame previously. Modern homes are being built with lightweight construction and engineered wood assemblies. This type of construction notably burns quicker and fails faster than its dimensional lumber counterparts, usually with devastating consequences to responding firefighters. If you do an Internet search of lightweight construction and fire you will discover 1.4 million hits of information regarding the dangers of new construction under fire conditions

Massachusetts has opted out of the 2009 International Residential Code for the sprinkler requirement in all new one- and two-family homes and therefore homes being built now are being built to a sub-standard building code and present liability concerns to the homebuilder. The solution is to install home sprinkler systems while the home is under construction.

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LETTERS: Answering questions about home sprinkler systems