City leaders may make fire sprinklers mandatory

By ERIC LINDBERG — August 4, 2009

Santa Barbara city leaders will revisit a proposal today to require fire sprinklers in all new residential and commercial building, as well as structures undergoing major remodels, through an amendment to the city’s fire code.

Fire officials said sprinkler systems have been shown to reduce the risk of dying in a structure fire by 82 percent when paired with smoke detectors, in addition to limiting the amount of water damage.

Some community members questioned aspects of the proposal when it came before city leaders earlier this year, voicing concerns about the added cost of installing sprinklers and wondering aloud whether standard residential water meters would be sufficient to supply a sprinkler system.

The item has returned to the city council after staff compiled a list of frequently asked questions and responses addressing a variety of issues.

If approved, the new code requirement would mandate sprinklers in all new buildings regardless of square footage, with an exception for small utility buildings. The standard would also apply to any commercial structure undergoing a remodel of 50 percent or more of its area, or receiving an addition.

Residential buildings, including single-family homes, would also need to have sprinkler systems installed if undergoing renovations in excess of 75 percent of the floor area.

The cost of installing fire sprinklers in the Santa Barbara area is estimated at approximately $2.50 to $3 per square feet, although fire insurance costs typically drop between 5 and 20 percent after sprinklers are installed.

Acknowledging questions about water meters and adequate flow to a residential sprinkler system, city officials said they could not guarantee the standard 5/8-inch meter would suffice, although it has provided enough water to supply sprinklers in the past.

“In the event that the 5/8-inch meter is not adequate, there may be significant costs associated with upgrading the water meter or installing a dedicated fireline,” according to a staff report.

Upgrading to a larger meter could include one-time costs of between $2,000 and $9,000, city staff estimated, depending on the size of the new meter and other factors.

To bolster support of the proposal, fire officials have highlighted the growing risk of house fires, noting that research shows the time that residents have to escape from a burning home is decreasing dramatically due in part to flammable synthetic materials increasingly used in home furnishings.

“Fire sprinklers save lives and property,” City Fire Marshal Joe Poire wrote in an agenda report, adding later, “We have experienced the effectiveness of residential sprinklers in Santa Barbara with several activations in 2008, one of which saved the life of an unconscious fire victim.”

However, the plan to make sprinklers mandatory for all new construction and major remodels has caught the attention of the Santa Barbara County Taxpayers Association, which fired off a statement opposing the concept yesterday.

“We believe that this proposal would unnecessarily add to the cost of construction, and make housing even more unaffordable in Santa Barbara,” according to the statement.

The city council will take up the matter during its afternoon hearing today, which begins at 2 p.m. at city hall. If approved, the amendment would be brought before the council again next week for adoption and go into effect within a month.

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Its all about the $$$ : 8/6/2009

Of course the City is going to do this, they're facing increasing budget deficits and decreased revenue. Passing this will increase permit fees which are based on the total estimate of the work to be done. They're going to do it and hide behind the safety aspect of fire sprinklers (we're working for your safety!"). They also get to sell more water meters which aren't cheap (new 2" meter for commercial bldg = $70k, yes, I said $70k). Your city at work ladies & gentlemen. Notice they don't have a proposal with how to help homeowners or building owners pay for the insane cost, because they don't care. I have a feeling you're going to see a lot more people trying to make improvements without getting a permit, just because they don't want to deal with this bullsh!t.

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