Home Sprinkler Systems Could Be Mandatory

CARROLLTOWN, CAMBRIA COUNTY - The State Fire Commissioner says someone in Pennsylvania dies in a fire every three days.

Now some people are looking at an old idea to save lives. Lawmakers are considering making it mandatory for all new homes to have sprinkler systems. Firefighters say it could save lives, but some people think it should be the builder's choice.

Monday night Chief Bob Illig and the Carrolltown Fire Department hosted several other companies from northern Cambria County to listen to a speaker from the National Fire Sprinkler Association. Ray Lonabaugh told the crowd that with modern building materials a house fire can reach flashover, where the flames are shooting out of the windows, in three or four minutes in stead of fifteen. And he thinks a sprinkler system could keep a fire small before it gets out of control.

Jim Brown with the Pennsylvania Builders Association says aspects of new home construction make them safer, and sprinkler systems less important. They'll put them in new homes for people, but they don't think sprinklers should be mandatory.

In 2009, sprinkler systems almost became mandatory for new homes. But now officials are looking at them again for the 2015 building code. And Brown says the Governor is in favor of them. Since they were brought up in 2009, Brown has asked every homebuilder in the design phase if they want a system and no one has said yes.

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Home Sprinkler Systems Could Be Mandatory