October 2000

NFPA Accepting Proposals for NFPA 13 Changes (10/11/00)
Is there a paragraph in NFPA 13 that you feel is incorrect or you are have problems with due to multiple interpretations from AHJs? If the answer is yes, now is your chance to try and correct these paragraphs. NFPA is accepting proposals for changes to NFPA 13 until Nov 3, 2000. You do NOT have to be a member of NFPA to submit a proposal. It's only a one page form which can be downloaded from the NFPA web site. They will not accept a proposal to simply fix something. You have to identify the section and what you think should be done, such as deleting words or adding new text. Don't get hung-up by perfecting the wording since the committee will probably modify it anyway. The most critical aspect is to clearly identify a problem and WHY it's a problem.

AFSA Presents Residential Water Supplies Virtual Seminar (10/20/00)
AFSA presented a 60-minute virtual seminar on residential water supplies on Friday, October 20. The seminar addressed water supplies for both 13D and 13R systems. The primary focus was application issues for which there is little guidance. The next virtual seminar is scheduled for January 12, 2001 at 1:00 PM Eastern. The topic will be Seismic Bracing and will be presented by Kraig Kirschner, AFCON & Roland Huggins, AFSA. For more information on AFSA's Virtual Seminars or other training contact Marlene Garrett.

Change to International Fire Code Passes (10/23/00)
Proposed change F45-00 to the International Fire Code passed by a vote of 53% for and 47% against. F45 changes 903.2.7 to require an automatic sprinkler system to be installed throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area. This means that all Group R Occupancies (i.e. hotels, motels, etc.) will be sprinklered, regardless of height. The requirement for all R occupancies to be sprinklered under the International Fire Code (IFC) only applies to commercial properties and not 1 and 2 family dwellings. 1 and 2 family dwellings are covered by the International Residential Code (IRC).

USFA Head Proposes 'Partial' Sprinkler Systems (10/31/00)
In an article on the web page of Fire Chief Magazine Kenneth Burris, Administrator of the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) has endorsed 'partial' fire sprinkler systems. "Referring to funding of programs Burris said, "If we could get the National Association of Home Builders to sign off on a program approving residential sprinkler installation in kitchens," he said, "the funding allocated to the program would have been spent effectively." Burris said the fire administration and the fire service must think "out of the box" on this issue. "In the past," he explained, "we have been preaching to the choir Ð the fire service. Now, we must preach to a whole different group of organizations, like the home builders, architects, local elected officials and others."In a letter to Burris, AFSA President Steve Muncy expressed shock and dismay that such statements came from the administrator of USFA. "While many fires begin in kitchens, that is not where the fatalities occur. Anyone knowledgeable in fire protection and NFPA standards is aware that NFPA 13-D residential systems are designed to save lives, while property protection only a secondary consideration" Muncy says. "The most effective way to save lives and property is a properly installed, complete fire sprinkler system. Burris' proposal put lives at risk."AFSA remains opposed to 'partial' sprinkler systems because they are unreliable, of unproven value, and give a false sense of security to homeowners.