City Council Minutes 2014 01 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes January 21, 2014 Page 14 of 30 sprinkler product for residential homes. A major supplier in Germany will have a cost effective product for residential homes in one year. He noted the majority of the contractors install multi-family or commercial sprinkling systems. One item addressed by the BCBOA is the tap size that waives increasing the water tap fees to enable anyone who wants to install a fire sprinkling system in a residential home to not be penalized. Fire Chief Tim Parker, 895 W. Via Appia, Louisville, CO stated fire sprinkling single family residences has been a goal of the Louisville Fire Protection District since the adoption of their 2005 Comprehensive Plan. They redeveloped their Comprehensive Plan based on the City's latest Comprehensive Plan's projection for the next twenty years. The District's number one goal for pre-emergency events is moving forward with residential sprinklers. He stated this is not a new concept for fire services. Last year 101 fire fighters lost their lives in residential fires. Regardless of how good a fire department is the problem lies in the types of building construction materials used today, which are primarily synthetic and, combustible materials. He felt sprinklers would provide early warning to the residents and allow them to get their families away from the burning structure. The initial investment of fire sprinkling will be paid back in reduced insurance premiums. State Farm Insurance projects a 4% reduction in premiums with the fire sprinkling of residential homes. There may be fire sprinkling leaks, but the insurance companies do not see fire sprinkling any different from any other plumbing fixture. The District's goal is to not have a fire over 5,000 SF in the City. COUNCIL COMMENTS Mayor Muckle asked if there was a higher rate of failure in single family homes. Chief Parker stated compared with commercial, fire sprinkling of residential homes is a new industry and they are changing products to make it more cost effective. He explained fire sprinkling is not new and happens throughout Colorado and the United States. Council member Jasiak spoke with a local builder with respect to residential sprinkling and was told it would require a certified sprinkler installer. She asked if there was such a certification. Chief Parker stated there is certification required for commercial, but not for residential. A plumbing inspector could inspect a residential sprinkling system. Planning Director Russ addressed the Fire Lane Access - Section 15.12.090 Appendices as follows: A. The following appendices of the International Fire Code are hereby specifically adopted; any appendices not listed are not adopted: Appendix B, Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings, and Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads. B. Design alternatives to Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads, may be