N.C. Building Council Rejects Firefighters’ Request for Home Sprinklers

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The North Carolina Building Code Council declined to consider a request that sprinkler systems be required in new large or multistory homes, a setback for firefighters who sought the change following an October beach house fire that killed seven college students.

The council instead told a committee to study whether a residential sprinklers requirement is feasible. Chairman Dan Tingen said he was committed to considering the recommendation. “We want to have a thorough debate,” Tingen said. “There’s more than one side to the issue.”

Fire prevention advocates were disappointed by the 7-6 vote, saying sprinklers would reduce the threat of injury and death as people escape from a big home. They cited specifically the Oct. 28 fire at Ocean Isle Beach that killed seven South Carolina college students.

“I am very disappointed, as all of you are,” Bonnie Woodruff, whose son was killed in a 1996 fraternity house fire in Chapel Hill, told dozens of firefighters during a break in the meeting. “I want America to know that having a sprinkler system is like having a fireman in every room.”

Fire officials wanted sprinklers in new homes of more than 3,600 square feet or structures three or more stories off the ground. They also asked to keep a provision that would allow local governments to require sprinklers in homes.

Tingen said the firefighters’ proposal would have narrowed the discussion because it only applied to certain-sized homes.

“If you’re going to require sprinklers, we should have it across the board,” said Tinger, a Raleigh homebuilder.

The North Carolina Home Builders Association praised the council’s decision, arguing that the change would have increased the cost of a new home by as much as 2 percent.