Sprinklers save lives

Thomas Markey, New Hope, Pa.
    I am writing you to voice my strong support for the Pennsylvania Statewide Building Code as it currently exists! As you are aware, this includes my support for the Residential Sprinkler requirements that are consistent with NFPA Guidelines and IRC recommendations.
   My strong support of the sprinkler requirement is grounded squarely on the fact that they will save firefighters, civilians and property! In addition, I am concerned that various “special interests” may be providing inaccurate or misleading information regarding the costs and benefits of residential sprinklers.
   This is particularly true when it comes to the installation of sprinkler systems in rural homes that are on well systems. While it is true that the costs of installing these systems are slightly higher than a “city water” system, the estimates you may have been given are most likely greatly inflated.
   In addition, these are the exact areas that will benefit the most from residential sprinklers in new construction! Rural water supplies are a constant concern for emergency preparedness officials and sprinkler systems save water in rural areas. That is a fact! This technology exists, it’s proven, it does not require a “standby power source” and will help address growing concerns about the availability of water in well developed rural areas!
   You don’t need to listen to my opinion on this topic, there are plenty of objective, federally funded resources that have looked closely at these issues, for example; the US Fire Academy on their website at: www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/home_fire_prev/sprinklers/ and the ‘Fire Safe Home Initiative’ of the Residential Fire Safety Institute: www.firesafehome.org.
   I urge you to educate yourself more about this issue before making any hasty decisions about gutting our building codes. Firefighter’s lives are at risk, but there is so much more at stake. Please do not hesitate to contact me or my department for more information.
   As chief of the New Hope Eagle Fire Company, I ask for your support in keeping sprinklers in the code. Already this year the amount of fire deaths in the Commonwealth is at all time high. Sprinklers would have saved these lives.