FIRE S PRINKLER TIMES

Transcription

1 F O R T H E P R E E R V A T I O N O F L I F E A N D P R O P E R T Y FIRE S PRINKLER TIMES Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board December 2006 Edition I N S I D E : NIFSAB Updates NFSA Midwest Notes Successful Activations Schools Expand Safely With Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Libertyville High School Retrofit Half-Way Done Students and Community Must Cope After High School Without Fire Sprinklers Is Destroyed Area Colleges Retrofit Campus Buildings Lake Zurich Fire/Rescue Earns 2005 Life Safety Achievement Award I Have Fire Sprinklers in My Home NIFSAB Donates Sprinkler System To Firefighter Who Had A House Fire FEMA Grant Allows First Area Habitat for Humanity Fire Sprinkler Installation CMS Proposes Nursing Home Sprinkler Installation Requirement Across America Burning Issues: What You Need to Know... the 2006 I-Codes Grant Used to Reach 9.6 Million Radio Listeners To increase awareness about the lifesaving benefits of residential fire sprinklers, NIFSAB is utilizing funds from its FEMA Fire Act Grant to spread the word through radio testimonials. A homebuilder and three fire chiefs visited top Chicago radio stations to record their messages. Homebuilder Sean O Malley,President, O Malley Builders Inc. recorded his 60- second testimonial at the WLS studios. O Malley told listeners he was proud to offer home fire sprinklers in the homes they build, that each sprinkler is individually activated, sprinklers can be mounted flush with ceilings and, most importantly, they protect families and firefighters. O Malley was invited to record the spot because he participated in the builder education program also funded through the grant. A fire sprinkler system was installed in a home he built in New Lenox. Local fire, building and elected officials were invited to learn about the NFPA 13D systems after the sprinklers were installed in the home, before the drywall was installed. Three fire chiefs also recorded testimonials. Chief Lindsay Laycoax, Oak Forest Fire Department and Chief Kevin Welsh, Glenwood Fire Department said they were proud that their municipalities were among the 38 communities in the Chicago area that require fire sprinklers in all new homes. They informed listeners that 8 out of 10 fire deaths occur in homes and that fire sprinklers prevent deadly flashover,allowing everyone to escape.they Homebuilder Sean O Malley, President, O Malley Builders, records a 60-second testimonial at WLS studios. O Malley said he was proud to offer sprinklers in the homes he builds. ended their spots informing listeners that homes protected with sprinklers are like having a firefighter protecting your family 24-hours a day, 7 days a week. Chief Laycoax recorded his message atwgn. Chief Welsh recorded his spot at WBBM. Retired Countryside Fire Protection District Chief Jim Spiegel visited the WNUA studios. He reminded listeners that everyday firefighters see needless fire tragedies firsthand. Fire sprinklers prevent deadly flashover, allowing everyone to escape.whether listeners live in a high-rise apartment or single-family home, fire sprinklers are the ultimate protection. The spots are running through January and will reach more than 9.6 million radio listeners. Radio schedule shown on page 5 Support Our Troops Oak Forest Chief, Lindsay Laycoax (right), records his message in the WGN studios. His spot runs during the Spike O Dell show between 5 and 9 am. weekdays. Retired Countryside Fire Protection District Chief, Jim Spiegel, recorded his radio spot on WNUA. It airs between 5:50 and 6 pm every weekday. Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( )

2 Fire Sprinkler Times December 2006 T wenty-six communities utilized the mobile fire sprinkler demo trailers owned by the Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, Illinois Fire Inspectors Association, and Mokena Fire Protection District. The burn demos were conducted at city halls, fire stations, and other public locations as part of their open houses. In addition, a record number (41) side-byside fire sprinkler burn demonstrations were also conducted. The roll-off unit from Gurnee in Lake County was used 11 times by mostly north suburban fire departments. Thirty were built from scratch by NIFSAB. NFSA Midwest Notes By Dan Gengler, NFSA Midwest Regional Manager (IL,WI) Contact Dan at or dannfsa@aol.com NBC Today Show Features Home Fire Sprinkler Demonstration NFSA is very pleased to report that in recognition of National Fire Prevention Week, NBC s Today Show, which aired October 11, 2006, featured a live home fire sprinkler demo. As a feature on-thescene guest reporter, Meri-K Appy, President of the Home Safety Council, did a masterful job of bringing professional commentary to millions of television viewers on the benefits of home fire sprinkler systems. The side-by-side burn demonstration comparing fire results in sprinklered and unsprinklered rooms showed sprinklers preventative benefits in contrast to destruction caused by uncontrolled flames. NFSA is proud to be a Keystone Sponsor of the Home Safety Coalition. Green Bay Fire Department Lost One of Its Own As a retired member of the fire service, it s always devastating when a fellow firefighter dies in the line of duty. This summer, Lt. Arnie Wolff, Green Bay Fire Department,responded to a fire in a home. He and his partner entered the house with existing smoke conditions. Those conditions escalated and caused a first floor collapse with both firefighters falling through the floor into the basement. Arnie s partner was able to escape. According to new data released from the NFPA, fireground fire deaths in oneand two-family dwellings account for 84% of all residential firefighter deaths. If the home had a fire sprinkler system, Lt. Wolff would be here with us today and Arnie s wife and three children as well as the Green Bay community would have been spared the emotional loss of a loved one and a courageous firefighter. This is another reminder that fire sprinklers protect the people who live inside the buildings and the firefighters who fight the fire. Contact Tom at: 866-2NIFSAB ( ) or sprinktoml@aol.com Burn Demos Break Record During Fire Safety Month 2006 Need fire sprinkler training or resource material? Go to According to NIFSAB s Tom Lia, there is no better way to demonstrate the speed of flashover using furniture of ordinary combustible material than conducting a side-byside demonstration. In turn, there s no better way to show the speed of a residential quick response fire sprinkler (4 times faster than a commercial sprinkler) than viewing the side protected with a sprinkler. Congratulations to all fire officials who educated their citizens and elected officials about the benefits of fire sprinklers in their building and fire codes, ultimately protecting the community, its citizens, visitors and firefighters! NIFSAB SIDE-BY-SIDE UNITS Bourbonnais FPD Illiana/NFPA Lemont FPD Industrial Section Manhattan Countryside Galena/IFIA Riverside Aurora DesPlaines Wonder Lake Orland FPD Bridgeview Burlington Berwyn Lemont Countryside- Elmhurst Fire Team USA Downers Grove Pleasantview FPD/ Alsip Hodgkins Prospect Heights FPD Palatine Rural FPD Highland, IN Oak Forest Harvey Mount Prospect Lansing Local #281/Alsip Hampshire FPD Lake Ridge, IN GURNEE ROLL-OFF UNIT Nunda FPD NIPET Lake County Fair Round Lake Gurnee Long Grove Knollwood Lake Forest Deerfield Bannockburn Round Lake Beach Lake County Chiefs FIRE SPRINKLER TRAILER USAGE Local #281 New Lenox FPD Rockford Illiana/NFPA Glencoe Niles Aurora Pleasantview Bridgeview Peotone Illinois State Fair Mokena Elgin Clarendon Hills Oak Forest River Forest Buffalo Grove Western Springs North Maine FPD Warrenville North Riverside Winnetka Grayslake FPD Carol Stream Members of the community, including the media, get a close-up view of the side-by-side demonstration at the Lemont Fire Prevention District. 2 Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( )

3 December 2006 Fire Sprinkler Times Fire Sprinklers at Work: S U C C E S S F U L A C T I V A T I O N S OCTOBER 2006 Townhouse Mount Prospect Fire Department Materials left near each other from a household project spontaneously combusted in a garage. When firefighters arrived, one sprinkler had put the flames out. There was no fire loss, because of the building s automatic sprinkler system, said Paul Valentine, Mt. Prospect Fire Marshal. The flames were already out because the sprinkler overhead activated and doused the area. There was no smoke damage inside the house. Mount Prospect has required sprinkler systems to be built into all new homes since A common fear among residents living in those houses is that a small fire would activate every sprinkler, but the systems are designed to operate as this one did. Paul Valentine, Fire Marshal, Mount Prospect Fire Department Fire Station North Aurora Fire Department A fire in the cab of a technical response vehicle caused two air tanks, used as part of the firefighters breathing apparatus, to explode. The building s sprinklers knocked 90 percent of the fire out, said Chief Steve Miller, North Aurora Fire Department. The village requires any new commercial buildings to have a sprinkler system. We have a strict commercial code for sprinklers, and this is the reason why, Miller said. The fire caused $95,000 in damage to the cab of the vehicle. No one was injured in the fire and tank explosion and the fire was contained to the truck s cab. Steve Miller, Fire Chief, North Aurora Fire Department OCTOBER 2006 (continued) Building Bridgeview Fire Department Fire sprinklers held a dumpster fire in check until firefighters arrived. The fire involved the dumpster as well as a compacter and part of the building. Four sprinklers activated holding the fire in place until the source could be extinguished, said Mark Kraft, Bridgeview Fire Safety Officer. Mark Kraft, Fire Safety Officer, Bridgeview Fire Department Executive Plaza Pleasantview Fire Protection District One sprinkler activated in a second floor office where a portable air conditioner had ignited. Water damage was confined to that office and one office below. Hundreds of thousands of dollars were estimated to be saved by the activation. Joseph Lyons, Fire Inspector, Pleasantview Fire Protection District Independent Living Facility Glenview Fire Department A sprinkler extinguished a fire caused by a cigarette discarded in a wastebasket. Three hundred fifty residents were able to return to their units after a brief evacuation. Bernie Arends, Fire Marshal, Glenview Fire Department NEW EDITION GET YOURS TODAY! Use the Fax Back form on page 8 to order your copy of Successful Activations. NOVEMBER 2006 Holmstad Retirement Center Batavia Fire Department The sprinkler system extinguished a mattress fire. Six residents were evacuated. Damage was estimated at $10,000. Tom Springer, Fire Marshal, Batavia Fire Department Victory Independent Living Center Park Forest Fire Department A stove fire was held in check by one sprinkler allowing a wheelchair bound resident time to escape thereby saving her from potentially serious injury. Damage was limited to the kitchen cabinets and the range hood. In the absence of the sprinkler system, the outcome could have been significantly different as this property is four stories in height, has 90 units for senior living, many of whom have limited mobility, said Chief Robert Wilcox. Robert Wilcox, Fire Chief, Park Forest Fire Department ACTIVATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY Manufacturing Plant Wisconsin The Fiskars manufacturing plant in Wausau could have suffered serious damage from a fire caused by an overheated compressor if not for the sprinkler system. Apartment Complex California Sprinklers slowed the spread of a kitchen fire in a San Leandro apartment complex. There were no injuries and no structural damage from the fire. Water damage was estimated at $12,000. SAVE-A-DAY Visit and download a copy of the Save-A-Day successful activation form, or a complete copy of saves collected over the last four years. Questions on basic building code? Go to Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( ) 3

4 Fire Sprinkler Times December 2006 Schools Expand Safely With Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Located 17 miles southwest of Chicago, Orland School District 135 recently expanded three of its 10 schools to provide additional capacity and services to The Orland School Board decided to protect all if its schools with fire sprinklers because it was in the District s comprehensive safety curricula. the District s 6,000 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. According to Superintendent Dennis C. Soustek, the $17.4 million renovation project encompassed roughly 46,000-square feet of new space at the District s Prairie Elementary, Liberty Middle and Jerling Jr. High schools. Our goal was to build physical capacity to accommodate planned population growth, update our facilities to provide more equal learning environments across all of our schools and incorporate fiber optic technology throughout our District, explains Soustek,a 38-year veteran educator. The local elected school board worked closely with District 135 school administrators with retrofitting fire sprinklers throughout all three schools. Since we were incorporating sprinklers into the new sections already, and much of the infrastructure would be exposed, the board decided to take advantage of the construction project and improve the safety of our schools by adding fire sprinklers throughout, recalls Soustek, who notes that six of the district s 10 schools have fire sprinkler protection. He estimates that although sprinklers added roughly $950,000 to the three projects, the life safety devices were consistent with the District s comprehensive safety curricula as well as its Safe Schools Vision. All three expansion projects were completed in time for the start of the 2006 school year this past August.Jerling Jr.High School increased its student capacity by 20% and Liberty Middle School received a new gymnasium,art room, technology room, and four third grade classrooms. Moreover, Soustek notes that the District s proactive maintenance staff shaved $1.5 million from the project budget by removing ceiling tiles and performing much of the necessary prep work themselves. Our staff was very involved in these projects, providing 24/7 construction access, questioning construction practices, and refusing to accept cost overruns as a normal practice of doing business, he said. Libertyville High School Retrofit Half-Way Done When new additions, including fire sprinklers, were planned for Libertyville High School, concerned parents questioned why older unsprinklered school sections could not be retrofit as well. With strong support from the Libertyville Fire Department and supportive citizens, retrofitting the Libertyville High School original building is now half-way to completion. According to Robert Kleinheinz, Assistant Chief, Libertyville Fire Department, the first step was to identify areas that were most at risk of fire such as storage and mechanical Students and Community Must Cope After High School Without Fire Sprinklers Is Destroyed More than 1,000 Eastern Guilford High School students and their families are still reeling from a devastating fire in North Carolina that destroyed their school on November 1. Administrators, who are scrambling to find suitable replacement space, plan to split the school population into two divisions: freshman and sophomore students attending classes in one location; and junior and senior students bound for another location at a local community college. Fire officials believe that if the building, built in 1974, was required to have a sprinkler system, students would have returned to school the following day. Typically with a fire in the room, similar to a classroom, you ll have a fire in its incipient, early state, one to five sprinklers activated, said Alan Perdue, director of Guilford County Emergency Services. Typically that damage can be cleaned up fairly quickly and [students will] normally be back in school the next day. Instead, the 4,600-resident community, located 15 miles east of Greensboro, N.C., is coping with the uncertainty that accompanies improvised facilities, transportation and schedules (school hours will vary according rooms and areas where the incoming water supply for the new additions were located. Half of the older building section have already been retrofitted with sprinklers; and plans call for the remainder of the original structure to receive the same fire safety protection. Kleinheinz said the retrofit resulted from never-ending support of parents like Beverly Dybel, who worked tireless hours to convince elected officials that students deserved lifesaving protection systems like fire sprinklers at school. Fire officials believe if sprinklers were present in this school building 1,000 students would not have to cope with improvised facilities. to space availability). Students are also concerned about how this tragedy will affect entering college with the loss of transcripts in the fire, athletic seasons and extracurricular activities. These students and faculty have lost more than just a building, said North Carolina Grasshoppers (minor league baseball team) President Donald Moore, upon donating $100,000 toward relief efforts. Books, computers and music instruments are the physical items we can quickly name, but things like a school dance or a senior year can never be replaced. Essentially, they have lost the very things we all fondly remember about our high school experiences. 4 Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( )

5 Radio Spots continued from page 1 TIME SLOT STATION SHOW BROAD FREQ ARBITRON #s FREQUENCY 6:00-6:15 pm WBBM World News 780 AM 653,000 1x day, 5x week Round-Up 5:00-9:00 am WLS Don & Roma 890 AM 120,400 1x day, 2x week 5:00-9:00 am WGN Spike O Dell 720 AM 502,400 1x day, 4x week 5:50-6:00 pm WNUA Danae Alexander 95.5 FM 241,500 1x day, 5x week Area Colleges Retrofit Campus Buildings Pictured are a few northern Illinois colleges that are continuing to retrofit their dorms and college buildings in compliance with the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act. Colleges and universities generally use the summer months to bring the buildings up to code. Glenwood Fire Chief, Kevin Welsh (right), recorded his message at WBBM. It airs during the 6 pm World News Round-Up. December 2006 Fire Sprinkler Times Lake Zurich Fire/Rescue Earns 2005 Life Safety Achievement Award The Lake Zurich Fire/Rescue Department was the recipient of the Life Safety Achievement Award for the year 2005 by the Residential Fire Safety Institute (RFSI), announced Roy L. Marshall, Director of the RFSI. This is the department s eighth time receiving the award. For 13 years, RFSI has recognized local fire prevention activities that have contributed to reducing the number of lives lost in residential fires with the Life Safety Achievement Award. The Lake Zurich Fire/Rescue Department qualified for this award because it recorded zero fire deaths in structures during Although residential fires in the U.S. account for 20% of all fires, they result in 80 percent of all fire deaths. RFSI is committed to reducing that number. A total of 769 fire departments in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Japan and Greece received the 2005 Life Safety Achievement Award. Experience tells us that fire prevention activity and public education can significantly reduce life and property loss from residential fires, Marshall said. Prevention and education are cost effective compared to the traditional approach of relying on fire suppression. The Life Safety Achievement Award recognizes fire departments for their fire prevention efforts and encourages them to continually improve those efforts. RFSI is a public interest group whose mission is to reduce residential fire deaths and injuries. RFSI advocates the use of residential fire sprinklers, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and teaching people fire-safe behavior. Its members include the U.S. Fire Administration, The National Association of State Fire Marshals and private industry/associations with an interest in and commitment to residential fire safety. Clockwise from upper right: DePaul University in the City of Chicago has a retrofit program for all of its buildings; Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills; Olivet Nazzarine University in Bourbonais; Kimmel Hall at North Central College in Naperville; Concordia University in River Forest. Need fire sprinkler training or resource material? Go to Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( ) 5

6 Fire Sprinkler Times December 2006 I Have Fire Sprinklers in My Home Cathy Stashak, Office of State Fire Marshal Ken Nelson, Elgin Fire Dept. Dave Danley, Retired Barrington Fire Dept. Brian Martin, Orland Fire Prot. Dist. Mark Krizik, Homer Fire Prot. Dist. Chris Ganz, Lockport Fire Dept. Bob Buhs,IFCA Monee,IL Mike Figolah, Mount Prospect Fire Dept. IFSA Kevin Plach, Niles Fire Dept. Rick Bergstrom, Wadsworth Fire Dept. Bob Wilcox, Park Forest Fire Dept. Jim Spiegel, Retired Countryside Fire Prot. Dist. Dan Smits, Calumet City Fire Dept. Jeff Swanson, New Lenox Fire Dept. Bob Tinucci, Darien Woodridge Fire Prot. Dist. Al Hall,FPE, East Dundee Fire Dept. Dave Zalesiak, Tri-State Fire Prot.Dist. Did we miss your name? Please let us know. NIFSAB Donates Sprinkler System To Firefighter Who Had A House Fire Park Ridge firefighter Kevin Plach and his family experienced a fire firsthand after an aerosol can fell and the vapors were ignited by a pilot light in the basement of their home. Luckily, his wife and children who were home at the time of the fire were able to escape. The house sustained over $200,000 in structural damage and over $100,000 in contents. The Plach family installed a fire sprinkler system in their renovated home. After the system was installed, before the drywall was hung, NIFSAB conducted an education program inviting elected officials, builders, members of the fire service, build- Firefighter Kevin Plach and his family, along with NIFSAB s Tom Lia, in front of their home. After experiencing a fire, the Plach s now live in the first home protected with fire sprinklers in Niles. ing inspectors, planning and zoning, water department and public works officials to learn more about residential fire sprinkler systems, NFPA 13D and to see the first home in Niles protected with fire sprinklers. THIS HABITAT HOME IS EXTRA SPECIAL FEMA Grant Allows First Area Habitat for Humanity Fire Sprinkler Installation By BY PAUL CZAPKOWICZ, Northwest Indiana Times Correspondent This Habitat for Humanity Home is the first home in Harvey protected with a fire sprinkler system. From left: Bob Gastreich, Habitat; homeowner, Michelle Coleman; Public Safety Fire Administrator, Jason Bell; Oak Forest Fire Chief, Lindsay Laycoax; and Director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, Tom Lia. Officials present 13D book to homeowner. HARVEY, IL The house at Marshfield Ave. is special for a couple of reasons. It s the eighth house Habitat for Humanity has built in Harvey since 1988 and the first in the area to include a residential fire sprinkler system. David Tracy, executive director for Habitat in the south suburbs, said the sprinkler installation was made possible by a FEMA grant received by the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. Firefighters and volunteers gathered at the home Saturday, where a sidewalk demonstration was to be held to show how the sprinkler system works. A fire was to be set in a structure containing two chairs and a table so that those gathered could see how the sprinklers activate once the temperature reaches 155 degrees. Oak Forest Fire Chief Lindsay Laycoax was on hand for the demonstration and explained how his city has made it mandatory for all new residences to have fire sprinkler systems. Laycoax said the systems are not only important because of their effectiveness in extinguishing fires and for saving the lives of residents, but also to protect firefighters. We re putting firefighters into buildings that are two-, three-thousand degrees, Laycoax said. Thomas Lia, executive director for the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, said the cost of installing a sprinkler system is generally equated to the cost of installing carpeting, which he said is about $2.00 a square foot. Harvey Alderman Daryl Crudup presents homeowner, Michelle Coleman, with a certified copy of her house plans. 6 Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( )

7 If you are updating your local code to the 2006 Edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), keep in mind that more than 80 percent of fire deaths occur in homes. You might want to review America Burning and FEMA s Firefighter Life Safety Summit reports before you make your decision. The International Code Council (ICC) made history with this latest edition of the IRC, placing an unprecedented requirement in the optional Appendix for fire sprinklers in new singlefamily homes. Be advised: An IRC Appendix requirement is only enforceable when a jurisdiction specifically adopts it. So if your community adopts the IRC and you want to require fire sprinkler protection for new homes, you must additionally adopt that part of the Appendix. Requirements for residential fire sprinklers in new construction of homes is now in the main text of new editions of NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code and NFPA 101, Life Safety Code. When updating the International Building Code (IBC), remember B is for Business occupancies. You need to include business occupancies along with A, B, E, F, H, I, M, S, etc. When you do, you ll be joining 38 other communities that have already done so. Concerned about loopholes that allow a building to be added on (and on and on) without fire protection? Add Total Area Definition to your new or existing code to ensure the integrity of fire protection requirements. DEFINITIONS TOTAL AREA: For purposes of calculating total square feet and fire areas, the total floor area includes mezzanines and basements contained within the surrounding exterior walls of the building on all floors and levels, which are added together. The area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building includes roof overhangs, extensions, and all enclosed extensions, which are also added to the calculation. Areas of a building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included within the building area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. Interior walls, including fire walls and party walls, shall not be considered as walls which divide a structure into two or more separate buildings, but a structure containing such interior walls shall be considered as one building for the purposes of this section. BURNING ISSUES is a feature of the Fire Sprinkler Times that highlights a special legislative issue. Contact Tom Lia to submit your special issues. December 2006 Medicare and Medicaid pay $70 billion annually for nursing home care. The proposed rule would cover all nursing homes that accept Medicare and Medicaid, or nearly 90% of facilities. The centers will take public comment before implementing the rule. Fire Sprinkler Times CMS Proposes Nursing Home Sprinkler Installation Requirement Across America By Peter Eisler, USA TODAY WASHINGTON The federal government wants to fill a gap in fire safety at nursing homes by requiring that about 3,500 older homes install sprinkler systems. A rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would end an exemption in existing law that mandates sprinklers for new nursing homes but not older facilities. The exemption has left about one in five facilities nationwide without full sprinkler coverage, federal data show. Patient advocacy groups and fire officials, including the National Association of State Fire Marshals, have increased their calls for a universal sprinkler requirement since 2003, when 31 patients died in two fires at nursing homes without sprinklers in Hartford, Conn., and Nashville. Since then, at least a dozen other patients have died in nursing home fires around the country, according to a USA TODAY analysis of federal statistics. In an investigation last year, the newspaper reported that about 2,300 fires are reported in nursing homes annually. Of the 18 worst nursing home fires since 1970, every one happened in a facility that lacked sprinklers in patient rooms and corridors, USA TODAY found. Those fires killed more than 200 patients. Sprinkler systems are integral to increasing fire safety in nursing homes, said Leslie Norwalk, acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. What You Need to Know if You are Adopting the 2006 Editions of the I-Codes All of the 18 worst nursing home fires since 1970 occured in a facility that lacked sprinklers in patient rooms and corridors. USA TODAY As proposed, the rule could take effect as early as 2008, and it would be phased in so older nursing homes would have three to 10 years to comply. Janet Wells, policy director for the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Reform, welcomed the rule but said, It should have been done 30 years ago. Wells said congressional studies first recognized the risks of not having sprinklers in nursing homes in the mid-1970s. The (USA TODAY) stories really exposed the problem to a wider audience and put a lot of pressure on (regulators), she said. Wells and others said that previous efforts to require sprinklers have derailed out of concern for bankrupting older, less-profitable nursing homes. Congress has considered bills to help facilities pay those costs, which can top $200,000 for a typical nursing home. None passed. Norwalk said that the 2003 fires highlighted the risks at nursing homes without sprinklers. And she hailed recent collaboration between the industry, fire safety groups and patient advocates in helping put a regulation in place. Bruce Yarwood, president of the American Health Care Association, a nursing home trade group, supported the rule and said the phase-in is critical to making it work. We re pleased, Yarwood said. Fire prevention remains a top priority for our members. Questions on codes and standards? Go to or Fire Prevention Week Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB ( ) 7

8 Standard PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit #170 Plainfield, IL Orland Square Drive, Suite 201 Orland Park, IL For more information about fire sprinklers, contact Tom Lia, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, 866-2NIFSAB ( ) You can also contact Tom via Please print legibly in ink NIFSAB INFORMATION & MATERIAL REQUEST NAME TITLE COMPANY Residential Brochure (Adobe Acrobat.pdf) Successful Activation Brochure Sprinkler Guide to Code Tradeoffs HFSC Built for Life Education Video and Kit ADDRESS This form can be faxed to: CITY STATE ZIP PHONE FAX If you don t have access to a FAX, return form to: Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board Mr.Tom Lia 62 Orland Square Drive, Suite 201 Orland Park, IL SPRINKTOML@aol.com