How Can We Get More New Homes Sprinklered?

Despite overwhelming proof that home fire sprinklers save lives, fewer than 10 percent of all new homes being built in the United States today are equipped with sprinklers, and most states refuse to mandate their use. However, fire marshals and others are finding creative ways to incentivize developers to include fire sprinklers in new housing projects, leading to thousands more protected homes. Today on the podcast, we talk to Thomas Poirier, a fire prevention officer and chair of the Massachusetts Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, about developer incentives and tradeoffs, and what tips he has for other advocates looking to increase the number of sprinklered homes in their communities (2:02).  Then, on a new Code Corner, Shawn Mahoney talks about the NFPA code guidance on water supply for fire sprinkler systems in one- and- two-family dwellings (23:33). LINKS:  Check out the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Get Resources, Stats, and Other Information from NFPA About Home Fire Sprinklers Read an NFPA Journal Feature on Home Fire Sprinkler Incentives Read a the recent NFPA report: "U.S. Experience With Sprinklers"