IRC Code Issues

1. IRC Code Issues Ken Isman, Vice President of Engineering Jeff Hugo, North Central Region Manager

2. Overview • I Codes • History of Residential Sprinklers in the Codes • RB114-04/05

3. I Codes • Development of the I Codes • ICC Family • Jurisdictions • Code Change Process

4. International Codes Council (ICC) • Established in 1994 to developing a single set of comprehensive and coordinated national model construction codes • Founding Organizations • Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA) • International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO) • Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI)

5. ICC • First produced 1996 International Plumbing Code and the International Mechanical Code • Followed by the 2000 Building Code and Residential Code

6. ICC Family of Codes • International Building Code • International Energy Conservation Code • International Code Council Electrical Code Administrative Provisions • International Existing Building Code • International Fire Code • International Fuel Gas Code • International Mechanical Code • ICC Performance Code • International Plumbing Code • International Private Sewage Disposal Code • International Property Maintenance Code • International Residential Code • International Urban-Wildland Interface Code • International Zoning Code

7. States Using the IRC Uses own Code Adopted by Local Governments 2000 IRC – May contain State Amendments 2003 IRC – May contain State Amendments 2006 IRC – May contain State Amendments

8. Code Changes Submitted Code Changes Printed & Distributed Supplement Or New Edition Published Code Development Hearing I-CODE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE Final Action Hearing Public Hearing Results Printed & Distributed Public Comments Printed & Distributed Public Comments Sought on Public Hearing Results

9. 2006/2007 “I” Code Development Cycle

10. ICC Membership • The ICC has over 50,000 members in the United States with the majority being voting members. • The ICC is divided into 7 regions • The 7 regions has approximately 203 chapters. • Attached is a handout of local chapters

11. Voting Governmental Member • Designate 4 to 12 voting representatives • Number of representatives is based on population • Employees or officials of that governmental member • Actively engaged full or part-time in the administration, formulation or enforcement of laws, regulations or ordinances relating to public health, safety and welfare

12. Voting Based on Government Population • 0 – 50,000:4 total, 1 primary + 3 addt’l • 50,001 – 150,000:8 total, 1 primary + 7 addt’l • 150,001 +:12 total, 1 primary + 11 addt’l Voting members must be listed on the ICC application prior to meeting!

13. IRC Code and Sprinklers • History • Orlando • Rochester, NY

14. History • Prior to the formation of the ICC, the CABO One and Two Family Dwelling Code was the document used • The IRC has been the model code since 2000 • Any attempts to modify the CABO or IRC code to require sprinklers were blocked by the NAHB • Jurisdictions passed sprinkler requirements at the local level • To date: more than150 local jurisdictions • 17 different states

15. IRC Recent Activity • Mandatory residential sprinklers made it into the 2006 IRC in the form of Appendix P. • At the initial hearing, the committee disapproved adopting Appendix P, but their decision was overturned at the FAH by a 2/3 vote. • We are at this same point with mandatory sprinkler requirements (RB-114). • Building and fire officials must perform the same action.

16. Why Change the 2006 IRC Appendix P? • The appendices in the “I” codes must be specifically adopted by the jurisdiction. • This brings the argument to the local level, where opponents can influence local political leaders. • If RB-114 can be inserted into text on the national level, then removal at the local becomes more difficult. • Many jurisdictions when looking at the code for local adoption regret taking specific nationally approved text out.

17. In September of 2006, the following (along with supporting text) was submitted as a code change in Orlando, FL.:

18. After long testimony by the Home Builders and fire sprinkler and safety advocates , including NFSA presence, the committee decided to turn down this proposed change for the following reasons:

19. Public Comment

20. Anti-Sprinkler Testimony & Rebuttal • Freezing pipes • Cost of tap fees • Impact on affordable housing/Cost of housing • Public does not want residential sprinklers • Homes are safe enough • Fire Department really does not need sprinklers • Smoke alarms are enough • Rural homes can’t install sprinklers efficiently • Impact on public and private water supplies • Wait for more cost effective devices • Maintenance is a problem • Mold • Appendix P is good enough

21. Systems freeze in cold climates Opponents of residential sprinklers assert that system freeze-ups will cause lots of problems in cold climates Response: • Sprinklers pose no greater risk of freezing than domestic plumbing • System must be properly designed and installed • Sprinkler systems in cold climates are not predisposed to freezing.

22. Systems freeze in cold climates • Many jurisdictions in severely freezing climates (New York to Alaska) have adopted residential sprinkler ordinances • Ordinances would have been repealed if freezing problems were widespread • Occasional anecdotal stories about freeze-ups caused by faulty installations • Options are available • Use sidewall sprinklers with pipes in warm walls, soffits, closets and crawl spaces • Properly install piping beneath the insulation in attics • Install dry-pipe or preaction systems in unheated spaces (a new technology)

23. Systems freeze in cold climates • Sprinkler systems are required in all residential occupancies governed by the IBC, which include group homes and townhouses exceeding 3-stories in height • Residential sprinkler systems have been installed in homes located in freezing climates for many years • If freeze concerns are being addressed in these cases, then homes sprinklered in accordance with the IRC can and will be handled in the same manner.

24. Cost impact of inflated tap fees Opponents of residential sprinklers argue that sprinklers costs will skyrocket in jurisdictions where local water purveyors inflate the cost of larger water taps Response: • This is not a building code issue • Local fees should not serve as an impediment to an IRC requirement • Can sometimes avoid the use of a larger meter, by applying alternative design approaches already permitted by NFPA 13D

25. Cost impact of inflated tap fees Alternate Design Approach • Use reduced sprinkler spacing (9 gpm per sprinkler) for rooms with more than 1 sprinkler • Total demand of 18 gpm • Can be supplied by many municipal systems using a standard 5/8-inch meter • Sprinklers with larger spacing can still be used in rooms requiring only a single sprinkler • Not the best choice for every case, but good for smaller homes at the entry/affordable housing level

26. Cost impact of inflated tap fees • If the tap fees for larger supplies are substantially out of line, install a small pump/tank system • There is an associated cost • Provides an upper limit to the potential impact of high tap fees • Fight unfair high tap fees • Fees should be reduced when meters are for fire sprinkler systems • Mandating sprinklers puts builders and code officials on the same side of this issue

27. Cost impact of inflated tap fees • Increasing meter/tap sizes for sprinklers does not increase the demand on a public water system • Residential sprinklers actually reduce demand • Sprinklers only flow water when a fire occurs • Water used by sprinklers is only a fraction of what firefighters use to extinguish fires in unsprinklered properties

28. Impact on affordable housing/Cost of Housing Opponents of residential sprinklers argue that the cost of sprinklers is not justified and that it eliminates the possibility of affordable housing for a segment of the population Response: • Construction costs do not drive the price of homes in most markets • Prices are established based on an analysis of what the market will bear • Sales prices continue to rise as long as there are buyers who are willing to pay the asking price

29. Costs • A competitive market place greatly reduces sprinkler system costs • Scottsdale Example • Required residential sprinklers roughly 20 years ago • Costs recently quoted as $0.55 to $0.75 per square foot • Well over 40,000 sprinklered homes in the city. • Not every jurisdiction will match Scottsdale’s cost structure, but Scottsdale’s experience clearly demonstrates that a competitive marketplace greatly reduces sprinkler costs

30. Costs • Technology, creative design approaches and labor charges also impact costs • Use of combined plumbing-sprinkler systems is being pursued in some jurisdictions as a way to minimize the cost • Multipurpose systems (already permitted by NFPA 13D) may be particularly well suited in affordable housing/entry-level homes • Recent surveys of sprinkler costs for affordable homes of 1,000 to 1,200 sq ft showed that the added cost of materials related to sprinkler protection was $0.25 to 0.30 per sq ft, and the sprinkler installation required less than 8 hours of additional labor • Sprinklers only add about $4/month to a 30-year mortgage, not including any insurance or tax credit

31. Costs • Cost of sprinklers in larger homes • Hypothetical $3,000 sprinkler system in a $300,000 home • 6.5% mortgage • 5% credit on a $2,000/year insurance bill • Combined Federal/State income tax rate of 33% • Net cost of fire sprinklers, after mortgage related tax deductions, would be $4.37 per month • A 0.23% increase in the monthly payment • Roughly equates to the cost of a premium beverage at Starbucks

32. Costs • NFSA Study proves that sprinklering all one and two family dwellings provides a net savings to society • See Sprinkler Quarterly article on the subject in the handouts

33. Costs • The true impact on the housing market associated with requiring residential sprinklers will be far less than what opponents of residential sprinklers would like code officials to believe. • Where residential sprinklers are required now, the housing market is not affected by fire sprinklers. • Once the IRC requires residential sprinklers • Home building will continue as it always has • Home prices will fluctuate based on the law of supply and demand • Home buyers will continue to buy homes.

34. Public Desire for Sprinklers? Opponents of residential sprinklers suggested that the general public would oppose residential sprinklers Response: • A recent national survey of over 1000 adults indicates this is not true • 45% of homeowners said that a sprinklered home is more desirable than an unsprinklered home • 69% of homeowners said that having a fire sprinkler system increases the value of a home • 38% of homeowners said that they would be more likely to purchase a home with fire sprinklers than without • There appears to be an unfounded fear of water damage. 48% of homeowners cited water damage as the reason they would not want a sprinkler system

35. Correlation between a home’s age and fire risk…aren’t homes built to the IRC already safe enough?: Opponents of residential sprinklers would like to convince us that residential fire deaths are a function of a home’s age and that new homes, built in accordance with the IRC, are safe. Many people buy these arguments because, on the surface, they seem to make sense

36. Correlation between a home’s age and fire risk…aren’t homes built to the IRC already safe enough?: Response: • Most fires are caused by people • Compliance with the IRC doesn’t prevent these types of fires • Once a fire starts, compliance with the IRC will not slow its spread • The speed by which a fire spreads in a home is a function of contents and room geometry

37. Age of Home Response • A simplistic correlation of residential fire deaths with the age of homes ignores several variables • Socioeconomic status of the occupants, • Density of occupants, • Age of occupants • Presence of smoke detectors (discussed separately) • These factors are far more likely to be contributory factors in fire deaths than the age of a structure • If more fire deaths do occur in “older” homes it may be related to the fact that the median age of homes in the U.S., according to a recent HUD study, is 32 years • Many people live in older homes

38. Since only a small percentage of fire department responses are for actual structure fires, does the fire service really need residential sprinklers? Response: • The statistics submitted with Proposal RB114 clearly demonstrate the scope and magnitude of the residential fire problem in the United States • Residential structure fires are a small fraction of overall fire department responses • 45% of firefighter deaths occur at 1- and 2-family dwelling fires

39. Fire Department Need for Sprinklers • Dwelling fires have three characteristics that present disproportionate risks as compared to fires in other occupancies: • Well developed, post-flashover fires by the time the fire department arrives. • Often occur at night. • Often involve a real or perceived need to perform search and rescue operations. • Dwelling fires represent a small percentage of emergency responses but account for a very large percentage of firefighters who are killed in the line of duty.

40. FD Need for Sprinklers • The ability of the fire service to respond to residential fires has declined significantly in recent years, and the situation isn’t getting better • The public has a relatively simple expectation with respect to the fire department when a fire happens • They call 911 • The FD responds to rescue trapped occupants • The FD puts out the fire • Unfortunately, that expectation isn’t being effectively met in many parts of the country because of dwindling resources.

41. FD Need for Sprinklers • Nationally, volunteer firefighters • Comprise 73% of the American fire service • Protect the vast majority of the geographic area of the United States • Are becoming harder and harder to retain • In New York alone • Volunteer firefighters have declined from 110,000 in the early 1990s to approximately 85,000 today • All-volunteer fire departments protect 95% of NY communities with a population of less than 10,000 • What will happen when there are no longer enough firefighters to respond to 911 calls?

42. Aren’t smoke alarms enough? Opponents of sprinklers suggest that smoke alarms are good enough to protect the public and that residential sprinklers aren’t justified. Response: • Agree that smoke alarms save lives • On their own, they do nothing to stop the spread of fire, protect property or protect firefighters

43. Smoke Alarms • As smoke alarms age, their reliability declines • Expiration date on each unit indicates a 10-year life • How many alarms will be replaced in 10 years? • What happens to the alarms that are not replaced? • An estimated 96% of U.S. homes with telephones have at least one smoke alarm • In ¼ of reported fires in smoke alarm equipped homes, the devices didn’t work • In contrast, residential sprinkler systems • Have a life expectancy of 50-years • Require little maintenance

44. Smoke Alarm Studies • In a study that was just completed in 2006 • Only 58% of a test group of children ages 6-12 awakened when a standard smoke alarm sounded • Only 38% of the test group successfully evacuated • The median time to awaken was 3 minutes • The median time to escape was the maximum allowed 5 minutes • Way too late in a house fire! • Another study revealed that a surprising 34% of fire deaths in one- and two-family dwellings during the 2000-2004 period occurred in homes with a working smoke detector

45. What about homes without a public water supply? Opponents of residential sprinklers have suggested that it is impractical and too expensive to require sprinklers in homes that will use a well as the water supply Response: • Design options are available that make wells a viable water supply

46. Wells as Water Supplies • Recharge Rate • Wells may not be capable of keeping up with the demand of a sprinkler system, which may be 20 gpm or more. • Many automatically assume that a tank and a secondary pump are necessary in these cases, but a lesser known yet simple approach called “developing the well” is a much better solution. • Creates an underground cistern that replaces the need for a tank • Dig the well substantially below the water table • Allow the hole to fill with water • Retain the needed capacity underground

47. Wells as Water Supplies • For deeper wells, there are two options • Use a well pump that can meet system demand (capacity of well will need to hold duration) • Use a tank and pump • Common arrangement utilized for deep wells supplying domestic service • Tank generally needs about 300 gal to meet system demand

48. Wells as Water Supplies • Some have suggested that the IRC should not require homes on wells to have fire sprinklers • But homes in rural areas, usually corresponding to homes served by wells, are the homes that are least likely to survive a fire because of long or inadequate responses by the fire service • The solution is instead educating contractors on cost-efficient design options for well systems.

49. Impact of residential sprinklers on public and private water systems: It was suggested by one builder during testimony at the Orlando hearing that operation of residential sprinklers connected to a small water system in a Michigan jurisdiction resulted in the jurisdiction having to drain and decontaminate the entire water system

50. Impact of residential sprinklers on public and private water systems: Response: • The event occurred on a private system • The event was linked to the use of fire hydrants during suppression activities, not the sprinkler system • The fire actually started outside of this building, spread to the interior, and sprinklers still helped to stop the fire’s progress