Code Threat

As reported in the March issue of EOC Perspectives, NAHB is at a critical point in its campaign to fight fire sprinkler mandates in single family homes in the International Residential Code (IRC). Your help is essential to the success of this effort. 

Although NAHB was successful in defeating these mandates at the IRC code hearings this past fall, fire sprinkler advocates are conducting an aggressive campaign to overturn the defeated proposals at the International Code Council (ICC) Final Action Hearings, May 21-26 in Rochester, NY.

To prevent this from happening, we need to make sure there are enough ICC voting code officials attending the ICC Final Action Hearings in Rochester to vote against fire sprinkler mandates. 

It is the state and local building and fire code officials from your area that will make the decision in Rochester. The only way to reach them is through you and your members.

If you want to prevent sprinklers from being mandated in your jurisdiction through the IRC, there are three critical actions that you and your members can take:

1. Identify ICC voting representatives from your area.

2. Contact them and lobby their support in opposing sprinkler mandates in the IRC.

3. Encourage them to attend the hearings in Rochester and vote against the proposed sprinkler mandates (proposal RB-114).

Attached are two PDF documents containing all of the information you need to take each of these actions, including: guidance on identifying ICC voting reps, talking points, NAHB's offer to cover the cost of a temporary ICC membership for any EO (which is necessary to access ICC voting represntative information), and NAHB's travel grant program to assist building code officials with travel expenses, if permitted.

Additional information to assist you is available on www.nahb.org/sprinklers.

We realize this is not an easy effort to make, but it is extremely important to all of concerned about affordable housing and unjustified building codes. Advocates for mandatory sprinkler requirements in all new single family home construction are not relenting. Aggressively fighting this issue now, by getting building officials from local jurisdictions to vote at the national level, will stop these provisions from being written into the IRC and ultimately having to battle this issue at the state and local level all across the country.

Again, your actions are crucial to the success of this campaign. Any effort you are able to make is greatly appreciated and benefits the industry as a whole.

If you have any questions or would like further guidance, please reply to this e-mail or contact Steve Orlowski at 800-368-5242 x8303.

PLEASE NOTE: The attached pdf named "EO Sprinkler Info" contains several documents we've compiled into one pdf for your convenience. Please read the pdf "Table of Contents" which distinguishes them. The attached pdf named "Travel grant app" contains the travel grant program information and application.