With a few last minute changes Bill No. 4-2010 passed at Tuesday’s commissioners’ meeting with a 2-1 vote. Commissioners Roy Crow and Ron Fithian voted yay, Commissioner William Pickrum voted nay.
The amended bill makes automatic residential sprinkler systems optional for new one- and two-family dwellings “provided said dwelling is not built as a spec house, rental, or as part of a marketing campaign and is built for the owner’s own occupancy.”
According to the new building code, which will go into effect Jan. 1, sellers of newly built one- or two-family homes will offer the initial buyer or owner the option to install a sprinkler system. The real estate sales contract for the construction of a one- or two- family home will disclose the estimated installation cost and maintenance of a sprinkler system. The buyer will sign a Sprinkler Option Notification indicating whether or not they intend to install sprinklers or not and a signed and notarized Sprinkler Option Notification will have to be returned to the Department of Planning, Housing and Zoning before a building permit is issued. If all the provisions and documentation are not met the Department of Planning, Housing and Zoning can withhold a building. One- or two-family homes built as spec houses, rentals, or as part of a marketing campaign are required to have sprinklers. Sprinklers are not required in additions or alterations to existing one- or two-family homes.
Crow, who made the amendment, said it makes automatic fire sprinklers mandatory for developers, but also gives information about sprinklers to the homeowner.
“I agree with the amended version … I think people should have the option,” said Fithian.
Pickrum felt differently. “I really think it would be in the best interest of the citizens of the county if we accepted the state code as written” and made sprinklers mandatory in all new one- and two-family homes, he said. “Yes, it does increase the cost of construction, but the overriding cost of this is it will save lives.”
disappointed says
For shame! Condolences to the fire departments. Your residents appreciate you even if our county government does not.
Jeff Thompson says
Disappointed, Thank you for your support and while the fire service of Kent County is also very disappointed in the outcome, we will continue to strive to provide the best protection of life and property to our citizens. Unfortunately and this was explained at the hearing, giving the option does not work. Howard County once had the option then changed the bill to make sprinklers mandatory. The problem is no one will go into detail with the homeowner the benefits of sprinklers and the cost estimates are often inflated to scare them off. We can only hope some homeowners will opt to install sprinklers and receive the benefit of having a 24 hour firefighter in their home. That 24 hour firefighter will be there for them soon after the fire starts to save lives and reduce property damage, as well as reduce the possibility of one of our firefighters getting injured.
Kevin Shertz says
Mr. Thompson, as an Architect, I can promise you I’ll be explaining the benefits of a residential sprinkler system to my clients in future projects. The cost/benefit proposition is pretty self-evident to anyone looking at the numbers.
Hopefully this decision by our County Commissions is a single misstep towards a future county building code that makes them mandatory. I just hope that we don’t need a horrific fire — involving loss of life — for that to happen.