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Sprinkler System Required in a New Texas House? WHAT????

I wrote a post on an outside blog - Susan Hilton - Bryan College Station Real Estate about the new regulation of sprinklers being mandated in all new homes in Texas starting January 1, 2011. Who would have ever though it would cause such an uproar! The comments I received implied I was stupid for not wanting MORE regulation.

I am not in favor of more government regulation which always equals more expense. I know that sprinklers in homes COULD save property and lives. I know that mandating Carbon Monoxide detectors in homes and garages COULD save lives. Breathalizers in all cars before they would start COULD save lives... There are MANY things that COULD save lives.

We are NOT willing to pay the cost nor are we willing to have more regulation - Sprinklers being mandated in all new homes in Texas is another government regulation that should not happen.

See original post below -

What do YOU think?....... How much more regulation are you willing to pay for?

Susan

DId you know that we have a new International Residential Code (minimum standard for the building code followed in Texas) is going to require fire sprinklers in single and two family homes and townhomes for homes built after January 1, 2011?

When I first read this I thought they were referring to the sprinkler systems in the yard - NO WAY! This is talking about the INTERIOR of homes!

What did the National Association of Homebuilders (NAH) think? They were not in favor of the mandate. NAH said the additional cost and maintenance was not justified. Habitat for Humanity agreed! It is too costly!

The National Fire Protection Association sponsored a study and reported this will increase costs from $.38 to $3.66 per square foot - averaging out at $1.61 per square foot increase. There may be some insurance discounts but not enough to cover the expense -

About the only good thing is that it is not retroactive!

Susan Hilton - Realtor & Sales Trainer for Century 21 Beal

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Posted by Susan Hilton Texas Aggie Real Estate College Station Bryan Texas Real Estate on 10/25/2008 04:58 PM

Comments (15)

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Originally posted at: Bryan College Station Real Estate: Sprinkler System Required in a New Texas House? WHAT????

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15 Comments on Sprinkler System Required in a New Texas House? WHAT????

OCT

2008

Susan- Good for you to speak out against more and more regulations. The only winner in regulations are the companies who get to sell the product that will be required. Don't tell me what I can and can not have inside my home! Geez, get out of my life!

California is talking about regulating the thermastats in people's homes! Like auto set their temperatures! My gosh, with my HOT FLASHES, they would have one very angry camper!

Susan, I'm pretty much a person who does his best to keep informed. The article in our Texas Realtor about the home fire sprinkler requirement was the first time I had ever heard about this legislation.

I wonder what participation from real estate professionals was invited before the law was passed?

Faulty sprinklers and those inadvertently set off will be flooding homes right and left.

Interestingly, most people don't die from the fire but from the poisonous vapors that come from smoldering cushions and carpet pad. They're either dead or unable to escape long before a fire will set off a sprinkler.

Why stop at that? Why not make it mandatory to have a fireman live in your house too? So many mandates, it is too hard to keep up with and so expensive! I with Bill on his comment totally!

OCT

2008

i think the timing is just about right.... as this years new realtors exit this industry they can move up to sprinkler installer!

i bet it takes more to get a sprinkler license than a realtor license!

Comments here have been nice (and in my opinion reasonable & funny) yet the comments on my outside blog have been significantly less understanding. It appears that the sprinkler system lobby has decided to take me on there....

OCT

2008

Well Good morning ALL! I just wanted to add a little to this situation that seems to be buring quite violently. As for the seat belt comment, totally different subjects that do not apply to each other in any practical concept. As for govt. regulations making me do something that I should have enough knowledge to do myself; loose them in this case. Govt. mandates and regulations put us in this economic crunch we are in now, so I don't have very much faith in their wisdom when ite comes to this type of minor issue since they can't seem to make a sound major decision.
Fire safety is very important!!! Do not confuse that importance with an individual buyers ability to make a sound decisions whether or not to install a fire sprinkler system in a home they are building. Let the decision be up to the buyer. Every builder should be required to give a price comparison when conducting the interview with the buyer and their Realtor, but for the builder to incur the cost of the installation just because the GOVT. says so is not fair to the builder and the buyer that the cost is passed down to. Let the buyer make an educated decision, Don't force the issue.

Seriously, I can see a really bad cook having a really wet kitchen in the near future.

More government, gotta love it.

OCT

2008

We are seeing sprinklers in new single family homes in this area. Townhome and condo properties have had them required for years.

NOV

2008

Oh, come on now. We need the government to protect us. LOL

NOV

2008

Sprinkler requirements in new homes is not a government regulation. It's code. There is a big, big difference between the two. Codes are developed by the International Code Council, which has absolutely nothing to do with governments or government regulations. The ICC is tasked with making buildings safer and easier to maintain.

Can you imagine technology being available to a builder but he didn't use it because it cost too much? I'm sure he would think that a few thousand dollars for a sprinkler system in a home cost too much when he gets sued for the deaths of a family of five because he didn't use technology that was readily available. It's already happened in several states.

It's not a question of possibly saving lives. Sprinkler systems have been required in commercial buildings for many a decade now, and it's been proven over and over and over again that they not only save lives, they save property. You have many tall buildings there in College Station (the Hilton, I think it is) and on the A&M campus that have had sprinkler systems in them for decades. Would you stay on the top floor of the Hilton if you knew that they didn't have a sprinkler system. How about the 70th floor of a tower there in Houston? I wouldn't.

Why you could possibly be against that is beyond my comprehension.

Would you not have wanted GFCI circuits when that technology became available?

Would you not have wanted AFCI circuits when that technology became available?

Would you not have wanted force reverse on garage doors when that technology became available?

Would you not have wanted photoelectric eye reverse on garage doors when that technology became available?

Would you not have wanted dampers on chimneys when that technology became available?

I can even take this further since you brought up automobiles.

Would you not have wanted run-flat tires or tubeless tires when that technology became available?

Would you not have wanted air bags when that technology became available?

Carbon monoxide detectors have been proven to save lives, not could, do! Ditto with breathylizers. Sometimes we have to sacrifice for the greater good of the community. Lord knows I've sacrificed under the Bush Administration.

I'm now questioning whether you have the safety of your own family and your Clients at heart.

I'd be willing to bet that if your family died in a fire, you would have wished you had something as simple and inexpensive as a fire suppression system.

I'd be willing to bet that if your family died from carbon monoxide poisoning, you would have wished you had something as simple and inexpensive as carbon monoxide detectors.

I must say that I am quite disappointed in this post of yours. Safety should always be a priority for everyone. Being proactive is far, far less expensive than having to live through a disaster, or perhaps not living through it, as the case may be.

Jim - You are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!

If I want to have ...

sprinklers in my house
airbags in my car
carbon monixide detectors
smoke detectors
burglar alarms
burglar bars
armed guards or ANYTHING ELSE

.... I should be able to use my hard earned money and buy them!!!

I know that it is safer for me to have an armed guard follow me around when I shop. I am much safer from muggers that way - should it be mandated that I have to have one if I shop?

This is all about PERSONAL CHOICE and PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY - NOT about government regulations.

And... Jim - do you have government mandated sprinklers in your home?

Have a fabulous day & enjoy those delicious brownies!

Susan

We already have one similar problem . Currently in areas of our county that are newly annexed by College station, even though they are rural locations....the building code requires either a fire hydrant be nearby or you put in a sprinkler system. I know of one potentiaal new home that didn't happen as a result. Many rural water systems simply can't handle fire hydrants.

Trey - Thanks for the comment!

NOV

2008

WOW, this is the first of heard of this. Safety is one thing, but the building codes are getting way out of control.

Here's some o0f the most prominent that I think are not necessary and just drive up the cost of housing.

Each bedroom on one dedicated curcuit with a quick trip breaker. $400? $500? per average house?

The dishwasher on a wall switch. Not sure I've ever understood this one. $150

2 layers of fire resistant drywall in stairwells. $600

7.5" risers and 10.5" treads (as opposed to 8" and 10") on stairs. $800 (especially when you add on the way this alters house plans)

5.5 Sq Ft of clear open window space. Any 300lb person could fit through less space if the house was on fire. OK, they say its so fireman can get in with gear on. I've never seen a fireman that even tried, they take the extra 3 seconds required to stick an ax through the glass and rip the upper and lower panes from their tracks.

This sprinkler thing is WAYY over the top. Building inspectors, planning and zoning admins are out of control and need to be reined i.

Doug -

Did you notice that not everyone agrees with us that people should be able to CHOOSE if they want additional safeguards! I posted a similar post on another blog I have and the comments there were even rougher. You would think I was trying to kill small children! I just want people to choose what THEY want - not what the government wants. Less Regulations!!!

Susan

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