[12.28.00]
An article appeared in the Daily Item about the installation of fire sprinklers in Pennsylvania state schools. To read the actual articles click here.
[10.31.00]
Change to International Fire Code Passes. 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).
news clip obtained from AFSA
[09.06.00]
NFPA has just released its latest findings on fire deaths for the year 1999. On the positive side, fire deaths decreased 11% from the previous year. The total was 3,570. This breaks down to a civilian fire death every 2.5 hours. Fire injuries occur every 24 minutes. Property damage from fires was over $10 billion, an increase of 16% from last year. Residential fires occurred every 85 seconds, comprising 15% of all fires reported. However, residential fire deaths make up 80% of all fire deaths. One of the primary reasons for this imbalance is the lack of sprinklers in residential occupancies. Most other occupancies are required by code to install sprinklers. As can be borne out by NFPA's statistics, while 85% of fires occur in these [primarily sprinklered] areas, they account for only 20% of fire deaths. It is one of the great pardox's of the fire protection industry that we don't protect the one occupancy that needs fire protection the most. Sprinklers are on call 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week and will suppress fires without any input from building occupants. All statistics taken from a press release issued by NFPA.
[05.05.00]
The National Advisory Council of the Congressional Fire Services Institute (CFSI) has unanimously approved a resolution submitted by AFSA endorsing U.S. Senate Bill S2100, the College Fire Prevention Act. The National Advisory Council (NAC) of CFSI is comprised of 45 organizations with an interest in the fire services and fire issues. CFSI serves as an independent, nonpartisan resource to the Congressional Fire Caucus, the largest caucus on Capitol Hill. AFSA President Steve Muncy, representative to the NAC, said, "The unanimous endorsement by the National Advisory Council represents a very significant step for S 2100. CFSI is one of the most respected groups in Washington, DC; and adding the College Fire Prevention Act to the legislative agenda assures that our opinions will be considered. Much remains to be done, but this endorsement is an important first step."S 2100 calls for $500 million investment in federal matching funds to be spent over five years ($100 million/year) to retrofit dorms with automatic fire sprinklers. In another action, the CFSI-NAC also passed a resolution submitted by NFPA endorsing S 2108, the Campus Fire Safety Right to Know Act.
news clip obtained from AFSA