Sprinklers to be required in all homes

Beginning Jan. 1, 2012, all new one to two family homes built in Kirksville must have residential fire sprinkler systems installed.

The law was scheduled to go into effect Jan. 1, 2011, but Gov. Jay Nixon has delayed it until 2012. As a result, any contractor building a single family home or duplex in 2011 is required to offer sprinkler installation at the contractor's cost. However, the homeowner can accept or deny that offer. The codes for the city of Kirksville state some home insurance companies offer discounts to homeowners with sprinklers installed in their home.

Brad Selby, codes and planning director of Kirksville, said existing homes, apartments and any residence larger than a duplex are exempt from the new law. Anyone doing substantial remodeling also must meet the safety standards, he said.

The cost of plastic pipes has been lowered to approximately $1.00 to $1.50 per square foot, along with the initial cost of installation in new construction, according to the U.S. Fire Administration Web site. The new residential sprinklers by Underwriters Laboratories are more sensitive, respond to fires earlier and use less water than commercial or industrial sprinklers. They also are smaller and can blend in with most decor. San Clemente, Calif., was one of the first cities to require residential fire sprinklers with the adoption of an ordinance May 28, 1969, according to the site.

Any plumber can make the installation, and some installations can be arranged through the home contractor, Selby said. The sprinklers will increase residents' safety because the sprinkler will keep the fire contained longer, allowing residents more time to evacuate, he said.

Randy Behrens, Kirksville fire chief, is supportive of the new law and its benefits.

Residential fire sprinklers are a good safety measure for houses because they go off automatically, putting fires out fast, he said. Because the fires are put out faster, or at least contained longer, property and smoke damage are reduced, Behrens said.

"Sprinklers have been around for over 100 years, and there's study after study showing they do save lives," he said. "Same with a smoke detector - it's just [an] extra little thing that can help."

Selby and Behrens are putting together pamphlets and other resources to inform Kirksville residents and contractors of the upcoming change.

Doug Porter of Four Horizons Realty, Inc., said the new sprinkler law is not necessary. The rental charges of recently built homes and apartments will unfortunately increase, he said.

"We haven't had a test in Kirksville to see what marketing it's going to take, but it's certainly not going to help it any," he said.

He said there are other building codes and ways to build a home that make it safe without a sprinkler system, and the reason Kirksville decided to pass the law wasn't evident, Porter said.

"To have a homeowner out here building a new home, single family, for his family - I don't think they should dictate to them that they have to have a sprinkler system in," Porter said. "I think that's an overkill."