An Initiative of the Maryland State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Maryland State Firemen’s Association

Residential Fire Sprinklers

“The Maryland Experience”

The Maryland Experience

Residential Fire Sprinklers

Two story wood frame dwelling without automatic fire sprinklers. Damage estimates $300,000. Family was displaced for several months due to repairs.

Two story dwelling with automatic fire sprinkler protection. Damage estimates $20,000. Family not displaced after fire.

With Fire Sprinklers

Without Fire Sprinklers

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.”

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

Prince George’s County, MarylandSingle-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 deaths in sprinklered homes

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

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

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

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

2012 Legislation

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.

House Bill 366 & Senate Bill 602

2012 Legislation

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.

House Bill 366 & Senate Bill 602

Bill Signing CeremonyMay 2, 2012

Demonstrate the Need forResidential Fire Sprinklers

Residential Fire Timeline

Beautiful – Allows Rapid Fire Spread

Benefits of Residential Fire Sprinklers

• Saves occupants lives

• Saves firefighters lives

• Help retain Volunteer Fire Service

• Reduce fire suppression budgets

• Help keep taxes down

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%

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.

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.

The Maryland Experience

William E. Barnard, CFPSState Fire Marshal

Department of State PoliceOffice of the State Fire Marshal

1201 Reisterstown RoadPikesville, MD 21208-3899

410-653-8980800-525-3124

william.barnard@maryland.gov