Residential Sprinkler System Bill Floating in Washington Legislature
On March 9, 2010
By Scott Wolfe Jr
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A bill that would slightly amend RCW 18.160.050, RCW 82.02.100 and RCW 70.119A.180 is floating around in the Washington legislature this session. While not an earth-shattering measure, the bill (sponsored by Representative Simpson), seeks to encourage builders, homeowners and water purveyors to voluntarily install sprinkler systems in private residences.
Read the Washington Votes summary of the bill here (and track it).
Of course, sprinkler systems are all around us in commercial buildings, where they are frequently even mandatory elements of the facility’s construction. While private residences have smoke detectors, they rarely have sprinkler systems…and the question being asked more frequently these days is “why?”
The U.S. Fire Administration through FEMA states as follows on the topic:
It is the official position of the U.S. Fire Administration that all American should be protected against death, injury and property loss resulting from fire in their residences. All homes should be equipped with smoke alarms and automatic fire sprinklers…
(Check out FEMA website for very interesting statistics about residential fires and sprinkler systems).
The bill currently pending in the Washington legislature looks to help push sprinklers in private residences by eradicating barriers that prevent the installation of systems in private residences, by promoting education on the effectiveness of residential systems and by providing financial and regulatory incentives to homeowners, builders and water purveyors for voluntarily installing sprinkler systems.
Check out the digest:
Eradicates barriers that prevent the voluntary installation of sprinkler systems in private residences by promoting education regarding the effectiveness of residential fire sprinklers.
Provides financial and regulatory incentives to homeowners, builders, and water purveyors for voluntarily installing the systems.
Allows expenditures from the fire protection contractor license fund for use in developing and publishing educational materials related to the effectiveness of residential fire sprinklers.
Prohibits a person installing a residential fire sprinkler system in a single-family home from being required to pay the fire operations portion of the impact fee.
Exempts a public water system from liability for damages resulting from shutting off water to a residential home with an installed fire sprinkler system if the shut off is due to routine maintenance, nonpayment by the customer, or water system emergencies.
This article was originally posted on Wolfe Law Group’s topic-specific Northwest Construction Law Blog.
About the Author: Scott Wolfe Jr
Scott Wolfe, Jr. obtained his J.D. degree from Loyola University of New Orleans, and his B.A. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. In 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, Scott was recognized as a Leader in Law by CityBusiness Magazine. The son and grandson of general contractors, Scott is a construction litigator in the Pacific Northwest, and the founding member of the bi-coastal law firm, Wolfe Law Group. Scott is also the founder and CEO of Express Lien, Inc., a legal document preparation service for contractors. In 2008, City Business Magazine recognized Scott as one of its Innovators of the Year for the Express Lien concept. As an entrepreneur himself, Scott has a strong background in business and commercial transactions and laws. He focuses his practice on the legal issues facing the construction industry, and has represented clients in multi-million dollar construction disputes in litigation and alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Scott is a LEED AP.
I feel that a sprinkler system is unnecessary in a residential dwelling. What is a sprinkler system going to do that a smoke alarm cannot do but cause more property damage. And is a sprinkler system going to fight against a grease fire or an electrical fire. I would like to see where a sprinkler system is going to save a life more than a fire alarm. You want the economy to grow but you are asking people to spend more money to build a house because of this pending bill. You need to put more responsibility on the
property owners whether it be home owners or landlords to keep the fire alarms in working order not pay more to have a sprinkler system that is in my opinion will be more costly to install and more costly to repair the damages. Let the American people live their dream instead of making us pay more money which can keep us from having a dream.
Hi Beverly – Thanks for stopping in and for your comment on this. Funny that you commented on this article, as I was about to post a new article about the 2011 bill (virtually identical to the 2009 bill we posted about here). Apparently, the 2009 bill died out in that session, and it has been recently resurrected.
In any event, I have to agree with you in principal. I’m a less-regulation guy.
However, I’m not necessarily opposed to these bills floating around about residential sprinklers. It does not mandate them, but merely makes it easier for people to install them if they are interested in installing them. When the legislature crosses the line and starts to mandate them (and you and I know that eventually they will), I would be against that.