Home fire sprinklers debated in Rifle

Whether to require new homes in Rifle to have fire sprinkler systems as of next year will be taken up by the City Council on Monday.

The issue was discussed by council, developers and a fire official at a Nov. 7 workshop.

The 2009 International Residential Code Rifle adopted a few years ago calls for the sprinkler system requirement to take effect in 2013.

Assistant City Manager Matt Sturgeon said every municipality in Garfield County, except Rifle, has opted out of the fire sprinkler requirement. An ordinance on the Nov. 19 agenda would remove the requirement for fire sprinklers for single- and two-family (duplex) residential units in Rifle. The council is meeting Monday, Nov. 19, since its regular Wednesday meeting is the day before Thanksgiving.

Realtor Glenn Ault said if the city requires sprinklers, new home prices will go up $10,000 to $15,000.

We, as developers, would never break even, he added. Right now, I can sell a 5-year-old home for less than what I can get for a new home. There's no incentive to build.

Real estate agent Jack Pretti of Rifle said while the life safety issues associated with sprinkler systems are not taken lightly, with no demand, there's no need to require the systems.

This should be a consumer choice, not a government mandate, Pretti added.

Sally Brands with JBS Construction said her insurance agent told her she would see a 10 percent reduction in an $800 insurance premium on a house with a system.

So you see it would take a very long time before you'd have enough savings to pay off the system, she said. I don't think there's any real cost benefit to requiring them.

View original post here:
Home fire sprinklers debated in Rifle