Residential Fire Sprinklers “ The Maryland Experience”

1. Residential Fire Sprinklers“The Maryland Experience” An Initiative of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maryland State Firemen’s Association

2. The Maryland Experience

3. Residential Fire Sprinklers Two story dwelling with automatic fire sprinkler protection. Damage estimates $20,000. Family not displaced after fire. Without Fire Sprinklers With Fire Sprinklers Two story wood frame dwelling without automatic fire sprinklers. Damage estimates $300,000. Family was displaced for several months due to repairs.

4. Residential Fire Sprinklers in Maryland • June 6, 1984 – The Office of the State Fire Marshal under the leadership of State Fire Marshal Rocco Gabriele sponsored a seminar titled, “Maryland Project Zero.”

5. Residential Fire Sprinklers in Maryland • 1987 - Prince George’s County adopts phased-in residential fire sprinkler requirements for all residential occupancies • 1990 - Statewide Requirements Multi-Family Homes, Hotels, Motels and Dormitories • 1992 - Statewide Requirements Townhouses • 1992 - Prince George’s County One and Two family dwellings

6. Prince George’s County, Maryland • Single-Family Fire Sprinklers Requirements January 1, 1992 • Over 120 fire deaths since 1992 in residential occupancies • Today over 60,000 sprinklered homes • Over 400 fires in sprinklered homes • 0 fire deathsin sprinklered homes

7. Residential Fire Sprinklers in Maryland • 2003 – Interest in Residential Fire Sprinklers Grows in Local Jurisdictions (Towns and Cities) • 2005 - MSFA Residential Sprinkler Committee Established • 2008 – ICC Final Action Hearings for the IRC 2009 Edition • 2009 – ICC Publishes IRC 2009 Edition with Fire Sprinkler Requirements for Townhouses and One and Two Family Dwellings

8. Maryland Building Performance Standards – January 2010 • The Maryland Building Performance Standards and the Model Performance Code are administered the DHCD - Maryland Codes Administration. DHCD adopted by reference the 2009 edition of the International Residential Code • The 2009 edition of the International Residential Code required all new single family dwellings to be protected with automatic fire sprinklers effective January 1, 2011 • Local jurisdictions must adopt MBPS, however, they may amend the MPBS

9. Residential Fire Sprinklers in Maryland • 2010 – Maryland Building Performance Standards and Model Performance Code Adopts IRC 2009 Edition with Fire Sprinkler Requirements • 2010 – Maryland Attorney General’s Opinion permits local jurisdictions to weaken Maryland Building Performance Standards • 2011 – Legislation Proposed to Allow Local Jurisdictions to Amend Fire Sprinkler Requirements Out of the Model Performance Code

10. Maryland Building Performance Standards – January 2012 • The Maryland Building Performance Standards and the Model Performance Code are administered the DHCD - Maryland Codes Administration. DHCD adopted by reference the 2012 edition of the International Residential Code • The 2012 edition of the International Residential Code required all new single family dwellings to be protected with automatic fire sprinklers • Local jurisdictions must adopt MBPS, however, they may amend the MPBS

11. 2012 Legislation House Bill 366 & Senate Bill 602 Public Safety – Building Performance Standards – Fire and Life Safety A local jurisdiction may adopt amendments to the Standards if the local amendments do not: (2) Weaken energy conservation and efficiency provisions contained in the Standards; or (3) Weaken fire or life safety provisions contained in the Standards.

12. 2012 Legislation House Bill 366 & Senate Bill 602 Public Safety – Building Performance Standards – Fire and Life Safety A local jurisdiction may adopt amendments to the Standards if the local amendments do not: (2) Weaken energy conservation and efficiency provisions contained in the Standards; or (3) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, weaken the automatic fire sprinkler systems provisions for townhouses and one-and-two-family dwellings contained in the Standards.

13. Bill Signing CeremonyMay 2, 2012

14. Demonstrate the Need forResidential Fire Sprinklers

15. Residential Fire Timeline

16. Beautiful – Allows Rapid Fire Spread

17. Benefits of Residential Fire Sprinklers • Saves occupants lives • Saves firefighters lives • Help retain Volunteer Fire Service • Reduce fire suppression budgets • Help keep taxes down

18. Benefits of Residential Fire Sprinklers • Compensate for current lightweight building construction and open plan residential designs • Mitigate rapid flashover potential and toxicity of plastics & synthetics used in today’s homes and furnishings • Less water required for fire control and less smoke generation (envirofriendly) • Insurance discount 8 - 13%

19. Costs for NFPA 13D Sprinkler System • (new construction in Maryland) • Average $1.40 per square foot cost in new • construction based upon February 2012 survey • when served by public water • Cost may be 2 – 3 X to retrofit existing homes • Permits/inspections additional (OSFM charges • $75.00 for plan review & inspection) • Variations in price due to cathedral ceilings, • concealed sprinklers, number of homes to be • sprinklered, size of the home, etc.

20. The Town of Frostburg, Maryland Mandates Fire Sprinklers May 17, 2012 • Frostburg’s Mayor and City Council voted 5 – 0 in favor of the residential fire sprinkler mandate. • Incentive Program • $1,000 reduction for water connection fee. • 80% Reduction in property tax for first 3 years. • Combined savings pays for all or most of the residential fire sprinklers installation.

21. The Maryland Experience

22. William E. Barnard, CFPS State Fire Marshal Department of State Police Office of the State Fire Marshal 1201 Reisterstown Road Pikesville, MD 21208-3899 410-653-8980 800-525-3124 william.barnard@maryland.gov