Beginning on January 2011, fire sprinklers will be required in all newly built one and two family homes and townhouses under a rule recently approved by the International Code Council. These new requirements will be published in the 2009 International Residential Code.
The mandate’s supporters say it will give residents more time to exit a burning building during a fire. The National Association of Home Builders is concerned about the higher home prices and maintenance costs that will result.
Though costs vary by community, the Fire Protection Research Foundation says sprinkler systems run an average of $1.61 per square foot of space covered.
*Wall Street Journal Anjail Athavaley (09/23/08)
See you next time on the corner
Tags: fire, first time home buyer, home, real estate, real estate st louis mo, realtor, sprinkler, townhome
Loading ...
Leave a Reply