#665 NLR-NIFSAB 2003-03_v3 - Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler ...

F O R T H E P R 

FIRE E S 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 

PRINKLER TIMES 

Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board • December 2005 Edition 

Fire Ignites Homeowners’ Sprinkler Faith 

I N S I D E : 

Bridgeview Passes Ordinance 

Requiring Fire Sprinklers 

NIFSAB Updates 

NFSA Midwest Notes 

Successful Activations 

Battle Over Residential Fire 

Safety 

ICC Adds Residential Sprinkler 

Requirements 

NFPA Report - Reliability of Fire 

Sprinklers 

Burning Issues 

Retro Section 

Why Pass this Law 

2005 Fire Prevention Week 

Activities 

Fire Sprinkler Demonstrations 

NFSA Donates to Katrina Fund 

Support Our Troops! 

“You have to get the hell out of 

the house before it turns into Hell 

during a fire.” 

Those were the visceral sentiments 

of Cindy Kuehn after experiencing 

a tragic fire last 

Christmas in her Tinley Park home 

that endangered the lives of her 

family including a daughter and 

two autistic sons. 

In this situation, it was likely a 

wood burning stove spitting sparks 

onto a blanket thrown across a 

nearby chair that ignited the fire. 

You always think a fire is something 

that happens to someone 

else,” she said. “And, when it happens 

to you, it’s your gut reaction to 

try to put the fire out yourself.” 

“We ‘re the ‘poster children’ of 

what not to do in a fire,” Kuehn 

admitted of that assumption.“We 

did everything wrong from not getting 

low in smoke to not getting out 

of the house fast. Instead we tried 

to turn into firefighters with a fire 

extinguisher and hose.” 

In the brief time it took her to retrieve the garden 

hose and return inside, the smoke had 

increased so significantly that she couldn’t even 

get down the hallway to her children. 

Resolve to Get Involved! 

Here’s a New Year’s Resolution Your Community Can Live with: Support Residential Sprinkler Requirements in 2006 

By now you know that NFPA issued 2006 editions 

of three of its model codes with residential sprinkler 

requirements. But do you know what this has 

to do with you, or with your community 

Without you, the historic provisions written 

into NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code; NFPA 101, Life 

Safety Code®; and NFPA 5000, Building Construction 

and Safety Code®; could remain just that – 

words on paper. These new requirements, and 

those in all model codes, need to be brought to 

life at the local level by the people who know public 

safety best. That’s where you come in. 

“The new NFPA code requirements finally recognize 

the reality of the national fire problem in 

residential occupancies,” said NIFSAB Executive 

Sparks from a wood burning stove caused a fire in the Kuehn's home. 

Their 13-year-old daughter and 10-year-old son escaped. Firefighters had 

to rescue their 11-year-old son. 

Fortunately, her husband, Howard, had used a 

golf club to break a window and pull their 10 yearold 

autistic son, Ron, to safety with the assistance 

of arriving firefighters. Daughter, Juliet, 13, had 

summoned help with a 911 call. 

continued on page 4 

Director Tom Lia. “But there’s no guarantee that 

these sprinkler provisions will make their way into 

local and state codes. Elected officials now have 

the real decision before them to make a positive 

fire safe future for their community.” 

Prior to NFPA’s action, every time a code was 

updated local sprinkler advocates had to work 

hard just to get sprinklers put on the table for discussion. 

“Now we’re starting with the advantage 

of having sprinklers in the model codes from the 

start,” said Russ Sanders, NFPA Central Regional 

Manager. “The national standard for residential 

sprinklers has been established. 

continued on page 10 

Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) • www.firesprinklerassoc.org

Fire Sprinkler Times December 2005 

Contact Tom at 866-264-3722 or e-mail: sprinktoml@aol.com 

Code Progress Requires Your Leadership 

What’s the bottom line on progressive code 

changes It’s simple. Smart Leadership! 

As smart leaders, mayors, managers, 

trustees, aldermen and alderwomen, and 

fire chiefs have two important steps they 

must act upon: 

First, question where your community 

stands in regards to upgraded fire codes 

and residential protection. 

Second, act on it! 

Ask yourself if it makes more safety 

sense to wait for the three-year model 

code upgrade period, or, is it better to ask 

your fire chief and/or building department 

director for a life safety comparison 

report of your community. (If you don’t 

know the answer, check out the 

“Municipal/Fire District Fire Sprinkler 

NFSA Midwest Notes 

Code Ranking” link at www.firesprinklerassoc.org.) 

Motivation to act now might come from 

such facts as 82% of the nation’s fire deaths 

occur in residential occupancies, yet these are 

the very occupancies that codes protect the 

least. (See “America Burning Report” for its 

recommendation.) 

Now consider the safety of your fire 

district/fire department personnel. Most of 

the firefighter injuries and deaths occur in 

those residential fires. (See “Firefighter Life 

Safety Summit” by going to www.firesprinklerassoc.org 

and clicking on “Elected 

Officials” for reports and data.) 

Finally, think about your leadership legacy 

as an elected official or fire chief. Make it your 

personal goal to be known as the “smart 

leader” who accomplished life and property 

By Dan Gengler, NFSA Midwest Regional Manager (IL,WI) 

Contact Dan at 262-245-5255 or e-mail: DanNFSA@aol.com • www.nfsawi.org 

The Fire Sprinkler Tax Incentive Act H.R. 1131 Needs 

Your Help! 

This Bill will amend the International 

Revenue Code of 1986 resulting in a substantial 

tax incentive for building owners. 

Automatic fire sprinkler systems will be 

classified as a 5-year property for purpose of 

depreciation with 30% the first year. Currently, 

sprinkler systems depreciated at a 

39-year schedule. 

By passing a tax incentive act, Congress 

can have a critical role in making the places 

that our citizens live, work and play dramatically 

safer, protecting the infrastructures 

and acting as an economic stimulate. 

Currently, the bill has 137 co-sponsors. 

Thirteen of them are members of the 

House Ways and Means Committee where 

the bill resides.The Senate version has 13 cosponsors. 

Four of the co-sponsors are members 

of the Senate Finance Committee 

where the bill resides in the Senate. 

Representative Melissa Bean (IL-8), Repre- 

sentative. Danny Davis (IL-7), Representative 

Rahm Emanuel (IL-5), Representative 

J. Dennis Hastert (IL-14), Representative Jesse 

Jackson,Jr.(IL-2),Representative Mark Kirk (IL-10), 

Representative Don Manzullo (IL-16), Representative 

Jan Schakowsky (IL-9), Senators Richard 

Durbin, and Senator Barack Obama still have 

not signed on.They need to hear from you. 

The offices of Representative Weldon and 

Senator Santorum along with the lobbying 

firm of Fierce, Isakowitz and Blalock and Jim 

Dalton of NFSA are continually monitoring 

legislative activity in search of an appropriate 

opportunity to attach the bill to tax 

related legislation. 

To support the bill, go to www.firesprinklerassoc.org 

and click under 

“60;Legislation61;,” then NFSA Fire 

Sprinkler Incentive Legislation Initiative, 

follow the CapWiz directions for your 

Representative and Senator. 

saving objectives by helping to prevent 

residential fire destruction and death. 

Adopt the latest International Building 

Code (IBC) 2006 including the appendix, 

and/or NFPA 101 (2006 Edition) or NFPA 5000 

(2006 Edition). 

While you are protecting the citizens of 

your community, you are also helping save 

your firefighters from the danger of flashover. 

Join the 35 Chicago area communities that 

have already asked these questions and 

decided to protect their new citizens and firefighters 

by adopting residential fire sprinklers 

for new single-family homes. 

Provide the “smart leadership” it takes to 

be a progressive elected official or fire chief 

who stands up for safety when it comes 

to protecting the lives and property in 

your community. 

NIFSAB Wants Your Successful 

Activation Photos 

Chief Timothy Sashko and Deputy Fire Marshal 

George Michehl sent NIFSAB this 

photo following a successful activation 

where a single sprinkler extinguished a 

kitchen fire on the third floor at the Extended 

Stay America hotel. 

Send your photos of a successful activation 

to sprinktoml@aol.com. We'll post 

them on the NIFSAB Web site. Some photos 

will be displayed in the Fire Sprinkler Times 

newsletter. 

2 


December 2005 

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 

JULY 2005 

Industrial Facility, Wauconda 

Wauconda Fire Department 

Firefighters responded to an alarm at an 

industrial facility to find a fire near an electric 

heater situated on a chemical holding 

tank used for nickel plating. Eight sprinklers 

activated due to heat in the ventilation system. 

“Instead of arriving to a large commercial 

building fire, crews only needed to 

extinguish the remaining fire in the room of 

origin. Smoke damage was contained to the 

room of origin,” said Joseph Schwarz. 

Joseph Schwarz, Fire Marshal 

Wauconda Fire Department 

SEPTEMBER 2005 

Multi-Family Townhouse, Bartlett 

Bartlett Fire Protection District 

Fire companies arrived on the scene to find 

light smoke in a hallway and a fire in a laundry 

room that was extinguished by one 

sprinkler. There was minimal water damage 

to the unit. 

"This is the second incident of this type that 

has occurred in this townhouse complex 

where both fires were extinguished with 

one sprinkler activated," said Bill Anderson. 

"Without the sprinklers, several attached residential 

units may have been damaged." 

Bill Anderson, Assistant Fire Chief 

Bartlett Fire Protection District 

INX International, West Chicago 

West Chicago Fire Protection District 

According to Deputy Fire Chief Joseph Buenrostro,“Two 

sprinkler heads under a canopy 

activated and kept the fire from extending to 

the combustible outside storage which was 

only 5 feet away. There was minor clean up 

and no loss of business thanks to the sprinkler 

system.” 

Joseph Buenrostro, Deputy Fire Chief 

West Chicago Fire Protection District 

SEPTEMBER 2005 

Fairview Village Apartments, 

Downers Grove 

Downers Grove Fire Department 

Books ignited when an electric stove 

was accidentally turned on. One sprinkler 

activated and contained the fire. All residents 

were evacuated and damage was confined 

to the corner next to the stove. “You 

just can’t put a price on lives saved or injuries 

prevented,” said Richard Mikel. 

Richard Mikel, Fire Marshal 

Downers Grove Fire Department 

Nursing Home, Robbins 

Robbins Fire Department 

A quick response sidewall sprinkler held a 

fire in check until firefighters arrived. An 

unattended candle lit combustible materials 

in a four story nursing home tenant space. 

All residents moved back later that day. 

Charles Lloyd, Sr., Fire Chief 

Robbins Fire Department 

OCTOBER 2005 

Metcalf Federal Building, High-Rise 

77 W. Jackson, Chicago, Illinois 

On Friday, October 14, a chair ignited in the 

HUD office on the 24th floor of the Metcalf 

Federal Building. A single sprinkler extinguished 

the fire by the time firefighters 

arrived. This successful activation occurred 

almost 2 years after the unsprinklered Cook 

County Building fire that killed 6 people. 

North American Paper, Glenview 

Glenview Fire Department 

Firefighters responded to a 3 AM alarm at a 

200,000 sq. ft. paper product facility. A pallet 

fire had been contained by a single sprinkler. 

Excess water was cleaned up and the 

facility was back in service in 3 hours. 

Bernie Arends, Fire Marshal 

Glenview Fire Department 

Extended Stay America Hotel, 

Buffalo Grove 

Buffalo Grove Fire Department 

Firefighters responded to a grease fire on the 

3rd floor of the 3 story hotel. A quick 

response sidewall sprinkler activated and 

extinguished the fire. Firefighters were able 

to immediately begin property conservation 

to minimize water damage. Fire was contained 

to the stove and cabinet areas. 

George K. Michehl, Deputy Fire Marshal 


OCTOBER 2005 

Apartment Building, Rock Falls 

Rock Falls/Sterling Fire Department 

Firefighters responded to an automatic 

alarm to find a single sprinkler had extinguished 

a fire in the entrance vestibule. A 

combustible Halloween decoration had 

ignited. 

Deputy Chief Gary Cook 

Rock Falls Fire Department 

Apartment Building, Buffalo Grove 


Discarded incense ashes that had ignited in 

a wastebasket were extinguished by a single 

sprinkler in a first floor apartment. 

George K. Michehl, Deputy Fire Marshal 


Warehouse, Romeoville 

Romeoville Fire Department 

A single sprinkler extinguished a fire involving 

packing materials in a secured area of a 

warehouse containing high valued electronic 

equipment. Estimated loss was less than 

$5,000. 

Tony Ponzi, Fire Marshal 

Romeoville Fire Department 

Exton Metal Products, 

Elk Grove Village 

Elk Grove Village Fire Department 

A fire in a dust collection exhaust system 

was contained by the sprinklers. “A sprinkler 

head inside the unit suppressed the fire. 

One sprinkler head did the job!” said 

Al Vrshek, Deputy Fire Chief. 

Al Vrshek, Deputy Fire Chief 

Elk Grove Village Fire Department 

CONGRATULATIONS WHITE SOX! 

A World Champion team that 

plays in a sprinklered stadium 

that had a successful activation 

last year. A single sprinkler kept 

a fire from spreading in a utility 

closet. 

Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) • www.firesprinklerassoc.org 3


Fire Ignites Homeowners Sprinkler Faith continued from page 1 

“But we lost our other son, 

(Nathan, 11) in the smoke,” Kuehn 

recounted.“He wouldn’t come when 

we called, and we couldn’t find him.” 

Eventually Nathan was discovered 

and rescued. He was treated at the 

scene by a neighboring doctor, and 

then rushed to the hospital. He still 

suffers from tracheal scarring after a 

required operation due to the fire. 

For quite a while after the disaster, 

the boy was afraid to go near the 

fire-ravaged home. He would repeat 

the phrase,“Go away fire, go away.” 

Thankfully, those fears have subsided 

with time. 

“It was amazing he even survived 

because the heat was so intense,” 

Kuehn said, adding the child still 

needs to use oxygen on some nights 

to breathe properly. “It could have 

been even more tragic.” 

Although the Kuehns were aware of family 

fire safety measures, she said all that knowledge 

disappeared in the virtual heat of the 

moment. To compound the situation, she 

acknowledged that their two autistic sons 

wouldn’t be able to comprehend a fire exit 

strategy anyway. 

“It was so surreal and I lost all my senses 

and turned into a bowl of jelly,” Kuehn 

remembered of the fire experience.“All the 

training and fire drills went completely out 

the window. I couldn’t even remember by 

own sons’ names.” 

“It’s amazing how quickly your house goes 

up in flames, and I shutter every time I think 

about it,”she added.“And nobody ever thinks 

about what the firefighters do when they go 

into a complete stranger’s home without 

even knowing the layout of the house to save 

someone’s life and put out the fire.“ 

Although the house was equipped with 

lighted smoke detectors, the illumination provided 

little help. 

“Those lights don’t work in smoke,” Kuehn 

said. “In the 

Questions on residential 

fire sprinklers 

Go to www.firesprinkler.org 

midst of the 

thick smoke, we 

couldn’t see anything 

and it didn’t 

matter 

whether that 

light was on or 

not.” 

When John Zubricks, President, Sprinkler 

Fitters Local 281 read about the fire and the 

Kuehns in the local newspaper, he wanted to 

help the family. 

The fire was especially 

challenging for the Kuehn's 

family because both their 

sons have autism. Elevenyear-old 

Nathan was 

trapped in the home.Tinley 

Park figherfighters rescued 

him.Today, Nathan suffers 

from tracheal scarring. He 

was afraid to go near the 

home after the fire. 

"I've lived in Tinley Park for more than 30 

years. When I saw that this happened to a 

family in my own community and they 

planned to rebuild their home, I wanted to 

help them," said Zubricks who also lives in a 

home protected with a fire sprinkler system. 

Zubricks contacted NIFSAB's Tom Lia who 

helped find the resources to donate the 

material for the sprinkler system. 

Viking SupplyNet donated the sprinkler 

heads,Noveon donated the CPVC pipe,NIFSAB 

purchased the pump from SPD and covered 

other miscellaneous expenses.The plans were 

drawn by Rich Ray, P.E. of Cybor Fire Protection 

Co. Sprinkler fitters from Local 281 donated 

their time as a training exercise. 

Although the house was equipped with lighted smoke detectors, the 

illumination provided little help. 

“If we had a sprinkler system, it might have 

ended up in just a little bit of a mess,”Kuehns realized.“But 

people don’t think about sprinkler systems, 

or think they’re out of their price range. 

However, from my situation, it’s hard to not justify 

sprinklers in a home.” 

“Even after the fire, I didn’t think about fire 

sprinklers in homes until Tom brought it up,” 

Kuehn admitted. “You think about sprinklers in 

commercial businesses and hospitals, but I’ve 

read in the (NIFSAB) newsletter that there’s lots of 

towns requiring people to put sprinklers in new 

homes. And, I think that’s great!” 

“I love our sprinklers because I know that if a fire 

does start again,it will be put out,”Kuehn said.“It’s 

our security . . . it’s our protection.” 

4 


December 2005 


Battle Over Residential Fire Safety is Heating Up 

Lew Sichelman, Published September 25, 

2005, Chicago Tribune 

The clash between builders and safety 

experts over the need for home fire sprinkler 

systems has raged for years. But now a new 

fire safety debate is picking up steam, based 

on the distance between houses. 

Next week in Detroit, the International 

Code Council will consider a red-hot proposal 

to rescind a change to the International Residential 

Code it adopted only last year endorsing 

an increase in the space between 

neighboring detached houses from 6 to 10 

feet, or 5 feet on each side of the property line. 

The submission to reverse the long-standing 

3-foot requirement maintains that there 

is no technical justification for last year’s 

change. And even though the switch to 5 feet 

isn’t mandatory and few localities have actually 

adopted it, the National Association of 

Home Builders is squarely behind the move 

to go back to the old rule. 

Three feet“has been the standard since the 

1970s, and nothing’s 

any different now,” 

says Edgar Sutton,staff 

vice president for construction 

codes and 

standards at the home 

builders trade group. 

“No technical data has 

been presented to justify 

the change. Until it 

can be shown that the 

distance between 

houses needs to be 

increased, we don’t 

support the change.” 

The squabble over the distance between 

houses comes at a time when more and 

more builders are squeezing homes closer 

together in an effort to offset the rising cost 

of land. And they are backed by research that 

shows buyers would rather give up lot size 

than big kitchens, splashy baths and other 

such features. 

While builders talk about the financial 

impact of fewer homes per acre, fire officials 

talk in terms of saving lives. After all, 70 percent 

of the 2,735 civilian deaths in the U.S. 

caused by fires in 2003 were in residential 

dwellings, according to the Insurance Information 

Institute. 

This is not a battle between good and evil,as 

some have characterized it.Rather,it is an honest 

disagreement that runs pretty much along 

the same lines as the debate over fire sprinklers. 

And more kindling was thrown on that 

long-smoldering spat last month when the 

National Fire Protection Association’s Standards 

Council voted to require sprinkler systems in all 

new one- and two-family houses. 

The International Code Council’s code development 

committee is also considering an amendment 

that would make fire sprinklers mandatory, 

which, if adopted at its meeting Wednesday 

through Monday, would become effective in the 

2006 edition of the International Building Code, 

International Residential Code and the International 

Energy Conservation Codes. 

All this could be an exercise in futility, of course, 

because, like the Standard Council’s Life Safety 

and Building Construction and Safety Codes, the 

Code Council’s codes aren’t enforceable until they 

are adopted by local jurisdictions. And, except for 

just a handful of places, supporters have had little 

success against a localized but well-funded, 

well-organized housing lobby. 

Not that builders don’t make a strong economic 

case. They maintain that the added protection 

isn’t justified by the cost,which normally runs from 

$1 to $2 per square foot of house,but can be as high 

as $4 per foot in 

Home buyers don't opt for sprinklers when 

they are available because "they don't truly 

understand the benefits.They think they can 

get out, but we know from experience that 

doesn't always occur.They either wake up too 

late to get out—half of all home fire deaths 

result from fires reported between 10 p.m. 

and 6 a.m.—or they don't wake up at all." 

Alan Perdue, director of Fuilford (N.C) 

Emergency Services and chairman of the 

NFPA Fire and Life Safety section. 

some places. For 

every extra $1,000 in 

cost, they say, nearly 

a quarter-million 

potential home buyers 

are pushed to the 

sidelines. 

The home 

builders’Sutton says 

manufacturers are 

working on lowercost 

systems that 

would, among other 

ideas, combine the 

sprinkler system feeds with drinking supply lines 

in a single loop.“Once they are developed, sprinkler 

systems may become economical,” he says. 

“But at this point, they are not there yet.” 

Sutton also points out that whenever builders 

offer sprinkler systems as an option, there are few 

takers. “Most consumers are just not willing to 

pay $2,000 to $4,000,” he says. 

“Our policy has always been to support costeffective 

safety systems, and you get the biggest 

bang for the buck with hard-wired smoke 

alarms,” the home builders’ spokesman says. 

“There’s a 73.6 percent chance of survival when 

you have an operating smoke detector and only a 

10 percent better chance with a fire sprinkler.” 

However, Alan Perdue, director of Guilford (N.C.) 

Emergency Services and chairman of the National 

Fire Protection Agency’s Fire and Life Safety section, 

argues that economics is only part of the 

equation. 

“Builders typically look at this as a cost 

issue,”he says,“but what is the cost of a life” 

Perdue says that“for the amount of money 

some people spend” on upgraded carpet or 

hardwood floors, they can put in a life-saving 

sprinkler system. 

He also ventures that home buyers don’t 

opt for sprinklers when they are available 

because “they don’t truly understand the 

benefits. They think they can get out, but we 

know from experience that doesn’t always 

occur. They either wake up too late to get 

out — half of all home fire deaths result from 

fires reported between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. — 

or they don’t wake up at all.” 

To educate consumers and builders about 

the benefits of sprinklers, the Home Fire 

Sprinkler Coalition is using a $600,000 grant 

from the Federal Emergency Management 

Administration to, among other things, dispel 

what it believes are some of the most popular 

misconceptions about what has long been 

standard in public and commercial buildings. 

Here’s what the sprinkler coalition — 

a group of manufacturers, the Fire Protection 

Agency and State Farm Insurance — has 

to say: 

• Sprinklers do not operate all at 

once. Only the sprinkler closest to 

the fire will activate. 

• Some people believe the cure is 

worse than the cause; that is, water 

damage is worse then fire damage. 

But a sprinkler controls a fire with 

10 to 26 gallons a minute while each 

fire department hose puts out 125 

gallons a minute. In 90 percent 

of house fires, moreover, a single 

sprinkler controls the fire. 

• Sprinkler mishaps are less likely and 

less severe than most plumbing 

problems. 

• Sprinkler heads are no longer ugly 

and obtrusive. Nowadays they are 

practically inconspicuous 

©Housing Scene 2005 United Feature 

Syndicate, Inc. 

Need fire sprinkler training 

or resource material 

Go to www.nfsa.org 



ICC Adds Residential 

Sprinkler Requirements 

to Appendix 

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) 

is pleased to report that history was made at 

the 2005 International Code Council (ICC) Final 

Action Hearing in Detroit,Michigan,when the 

ICC voting membership voted to place fire 

sprinkler systems in all new one- and twofamily 

dwellings and townhouses by placing 

the requirement in the Appendix of the International 

Residential Code (IRC). The voting 

members had to overturn the IRC committee, 

that previously denied the code change. An 

appendix in the IRC is only enforceable if a 

local jurisdiction adopts the new appendix 

requirements. The new appendix will be 

included in the 2006 edition of the IRC. 

NFSA President John Viniello commented, 

“A special thanks goes out to all the organizations 

and those individuals who worked with 

NFSA for many years on this residential sprinkler 

requirement. It is becoming more obvious 

by this action that as a Nation we are 

now ready to require residential sprinklers 

where we live, work and play.” 

Questions on basic 

building code 

NFPA Report Finds Higher Estimated Reliability of Fire Sprinklers 

and Reaffirms their Life-Saving Impact, Especially in Homes 

The National Fire Protection Association 

(NFPA) released an updated report with new 

evidence on the tremendous value of automatic 

fire sprinkler systems. The report finds 

sprinklers to be even more reliable than previously 

estimated in reducing U.S. fire deaths. 

But the “U.S. Experience with Sprinklers 

and Other Fire Extinguishing Equipment” 

report also confirms that the century-old 

technology remains underused, especially in 

the place where the risk of fire death is greatest, 

the American home. 

The report states that when sprinklers are 

installed, the chances of dying in a fire are 

reduced by one-half to three-fourths, compared 

to fires where sprinklers are not present. 

Sprinklers are now estimated to operate 

in 93 percent of fires large enough to activate 

them. And for the first time, it is possible to 

document that nearly all sprinkler failures 

involve errors of human judgment, including 

65 percent that occurred because the systems 

had been shut off prior to the fire. 

Sprinklers appear to be present in most 

health care facilities, high-rise hotels and 

high-rise office buildings and, to a lesser 

extent, in department stores and manufacturing 

facilities. 

But most fires still occur in properties 

without sprinklers, says the report, and the 

systems remain especially rare in homes. 

NFPA estimates sprinklers are present in 

less than 1 percent of the reported fires that 

occur in one- and two-family dwellings and 

in less than 8 percent of reported fires in 

apartments.Where sprinklers are present in 

homes, their impact on life safety is as large 

as it has been in other properties where 

sprinklers have been long-established. 

With most of the small number of home 

sprinkler installations still occurring as a result 

of ordinances and other mandates rather 

than owner preference,NFPA has taken a lead 

role in raising awareness of residential sprinkler 

availability among homeowners. 

The home sprinkler installation tide may 

be beginning to turn. A historic floor action 

by NFPA’s membership in June established 

provisions requiring sprinklers in new oneand 

two-family dwellings in the 2006 editions 

of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, NFPA 

5000®, Building Construction and Safety 

Code® and NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code. The 

codes,issued by the NFPA Standards Council 

in August 2005, also require fire sprinklers in 

all nursing homes, among other properties. 

Go to www.iccsafe.org/training 

Residential Fires and Older Adult Casualties 

U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Data Center 

June 2005 Volume 5, Issue 3 Findings 

• In 2002, an estimated 2,320 older adults 

were injured or killed in residential fires. 

• Smoking was the leading cause of residential 

structure fires (25%) that resulted in 

older adult fatalities. 

• Upholstered furniture and bedding were 

the primary items ignited in smoking fires 

with older adult fatalities. 

• Cooking was the leading cause of fires 

resulting in older adult fire injuries. 

• Thirty-nine percent of older adults killed in 

residential structure fires were asleep when 

the fire started; 32% of older adults were 

trying to escape when they died. 

All fire and building departments should be 

aware of this significant state legislation: 

Public Act 94-386 Conversion of Apartments. 

The text of which reads: 

Conversion of apartments. In the case of 

the conversion of an apartment building into 

condominium units, a municipality shall have 

the right to inspect the apartment building 

prior to the conversion to condominium units 

and may require that each new proposed 

condominium unit comply with the current 

life safety, building and zoning code of the 

municipality. 

Thus, if your code requires fire sprinklers, 

fire alarms for new construction, you can 

require their installation on an apartment to 

condo conversion. 

EXAMPLE: 

International Building Code 2000 Edition, 

Section 903.2.8 use group R-2 

An automatic sprinkler system shall be 

provided throughout all buildings with a 

Group R-2 fire area where more than two 

stories in height, including basement or 

where having more than 16 dwelling units. 

Thus, do not pass up this opportunity to 

follow state law and upgrade the fire safety 

of your community when an apartment 

building goes condo for sprinklers, fire alarms, 

exit signs, egress, etc. 

BURNING ISSUES is a feature of the Fire Sprinkler Times that highlights a special 

legislative issue. Contact Tom Lia to submit your special issues. 

6 


RETROs e c t i o n 

Insurance Giant Allstate Takes 

Protection Advice 

Allstate, one of the largest insurance protectors 

in the United States, is protecting itself 

against fire. 

The Company recently completed a 10-year 

long retrofit program at its two million 

square foot campus in Northbrook, IL. 

Bernie Arends, President of the Illinois Fire 

Inspectors Association and Fire Prevention 

Director with the Glenview Fire Department, 

said Allstate phased in sprinklers during the 

decade to coincide with new construction 

and remodeling of its established buildings. 

He estimated the retrofit cost at about $25 

million over the time period. 

Those improvement costs included not 

only the sprinkler systems, but also installation 

of a fire hydrant loop around the complex 

with two feeds to each building and an 

electric fire pump on generated power and a 

diesel backup fire pump. 

In addition, Allstate standardized all emergency 

exit signs, synchronized all fire horns 

and strobes, installed standpipes in stairwells 

and upgraded elevators with smoke detectors 

and call back features. 

When the 12-story buildings were first constructed, 

the Allstate campus was located in 

unincorporated Cook County during a period 

when commercial fire sprinklers were not 

mandated. Even at the time of incorporation 

into the municipality, an ordinance existed 

that exempted businesses with campuses in 

excess of 60 acres, leaving Allstate to decide 

on its own to provide sprinkler protection for 

its employees and buildings. 

Arends explained the reason for the 

decade-long timeframe that it took for the 

complete retrofit. 

"The cost was one factor that they wanted 

to amortize over a longer period of time," he 

said. "And because of the disruption to their 

employees and facilities, they took sections of 

buildings that were due for renovation and 

incorporated the sprinklers in those areas. A 

lot of sprinkler retrofitting was done in conjunction 

with interior remodeling and reconfiguration 

of their office spaces." 

"The driving force was the total life safety 

upgrade to include the major portion of fire 

sprinklers," Arends added. "They didn't just 

throw pipe in ceilings … they went way 

beyond that for fire safety." 

"They voluntarily decided to retrofit every 

single property because of the number of 

people there and the risk," Arends concluded. 

"We presented Allstate with the Illinois Fire 

Inspectors Fire Safety Achievement Award for 

outstanding corporate achievement in fire 

prevention and safety directly related to this 

project … and because of their corporate 

responsibility." 

December 2005 

Why Pass this Law 

by Tom Lia, NIFSAB Executive Director. 


On August 19,2005, the State of Illinois Legislature 

passed SB46. The law calls for a stairway 

door re-entry system in reaction to the fire at 

69 West Washington in Chicago.It was a noble 

gesture,but toally unnecessary since the State 

Fire Marshal adopted Life Safety Code 101 2000 

Edition that calls for this requirement for buildings 

of four stories or more. 

Exceptation 1. Not less that 2 levels where it is 

possible to leave the stairway enclosed. 

Exceptation 2. Not more than 4 stories intervening 

between levels where re-entry is allowed. 

Exceptation 3. Re-entry must be permitted on 

the top or next to the top story that allows 

access to another exit. 

Exceptation 4. Doors allowing re-entry must be 

identified as such on the stairway side of the door. 

Exceptation 5. Doors not allowing re-entry 

must be identified as such on the stairway 

side of the door. 

Exceptation 6. Stair enclosures serving a building 

permitted to have a single exit or can lock 

all of the doors if there is an automatic release. 

In addition, there was no need to pass a 

high-rise ordinance in Chicago. Only a 

timetable was needed to be assigned as 

again the Life Safety Code 101 2000 Edition 

applies to Chicago’s existing buildings. (See 

James Lee Witt Report) Requiring the commercial 

building to retrofit was appropriate 

with a reasonable 12 year planned deadline. 

But, it does not require residential high-rises 

to retrofit and it allows residential high-rise 

building owners and managers to pass a 

watered down “Life Safety Evaluation.”That 

will result in future injuries, deaths and major 

property damage. Why compromise when 

you have a statewide model code in place 

This Life Safety Evaluation is also unnecessary 

because the State Fire Marshal Life Safety Code 

has an existing building evaluation procedure. 

This is one issue that Chicago’s Law Office 

division, State’s Attorney Lisa Madigan, and 

the law firm of Robert Clifford and Associates 

should prepare for now so there are no surprises 

after the next high-rise tragedy. 

Chicago High-Rise retrofit deadlines: 

April 1, 2005: Life Safety Data Sheet due. 

Questions include: (1) Is your building a highrise; 

(2) Does the building have sprinklers; (3) 

Contact information and more. 

September 1, 2005: Commercial building 

compliance plan for fire sprinklers must be submitted 

to the Chicago Fire Prevention Bureau 

January 1, 2006: The Life Safety Evaluation 

(LSE) Report or the Life Safety Compliance 

Plan must be submitted to the Chicago Fire 

Prevention Bureau. 



2005 Fire Prevention Week Activities 

Fire Sprinkler Demonstrations Featured in Dozens of 

Northern Illinois Fire Prevention Programs 

During 2005, 48 fire departments and fire prevention districts included side-byside 

burn or fire sprinkler trailer demonstrations to educate members of their 

communities about the life- and property-saving benefits of fire sprinkler systems. 

SIDE-BY-SIDES 

Lake Zurich Fire/Rescue Dept. 

Skokie FD 

Villa Park FD 

Orland Park FD 

Bourbonnais FPD 

St. Charles 

West Chicago 

Lemont FPD 

Bedford Park FD 

Rockford FD 

Downers Grove FD 

Navy Pier-Chicago 

Prospect Heights FD 

Greater Round Lake FPD 

Elgin FD 

Alsip FD 

Pleasantivew FPD 

Lake Forest FD 

Grayslake FPD 

Elk Grove Village FD 

St. Charles FD 

Lisle-Woodridge FPD 

Elmhurst FD 

FIRE SPRINKLER TRAILER 

Guy Trayling, Chief Terry Mastandrea 

Chief Martin Oscarson, D/C Jim Walters 

Chief Robert Wilson, D/C Mark Duski 

Chief Bettenhausen, Nancy Mulvihill 

Chief Ed St. Louis 

Chief Alan Schullo 

Chief Ron Ackerman 

Chief Carl Churulo, Jeff Hawthorne 

Chief Sean Maloy 

Chief William Roberson 

Chief Phil Ruscetti, FM Rick Mikel 

Lorin Tomaszewski 

Chief Donald Gould, D/C Tim Jones 

Chief Paul Maplethorpe 

Chief Mike Falese, Lt. Scott Heinreich 

Chief Joe Schmitt 

Chief Dan Hermes 

D/C Robert Grum 

Deane Walker, FM 

Chief Don Mobley, FM Al Vrshek 

Chief Al Schullo 

Chief Tom Freeman 

Chief Michael Kopp 

ILLINOIS FIRE INSPECTORS ASSOCIATION TRAILER DEMOS 

Roberts Park/Justice FD 

FM Joe Duffy 

Galena 

IFIA 

Elwood FPD 

Chief Bill Offerman 

Frankfort FPD 

FM Larry Rauch 

State Fair, Springfield 

Arnie Witzke 

Oak Lawn FD 

FPB Gary Patrick 

Hometown FPD 

FPB Gary Dolan 

Pleasantview FPD 

Chief Dan Heim 

Elk Grove Village FD 

FPB Michael Nelson 

Darien-Woodridge FPD 

FM Robert Morris 

LaGrange Park FD 

Chief Dean Maggos 

Bourbonnais promotes the 

sprinkler demo at their 

station. 

PROTECTED 

Sprinklered 

NIFSAB's Tom Lia stands by during a fire in a side-by-side 

demonstration in Alsip at Local #281. 

The fire sprinkler 

demonstration 

was scheduled 

every 15 minutes 

in North Riverside. 

UNPROTECTED 

Non-Sprinklered 

Firefighters 

extinguish a fire in 

the side-by-side 

room that did not 

have sprinklers 

after spectators 

watched flashover 

occur at Lemont. 

NORTHERN ILLINOIS FIRE INSPECTOR ASSOCIATION TRAILER DEMOS 

Norwood Park 

Chief Dennis Stefanowicz 

Oak Park 

Chief Gerald Beeson, Cpt. Pilafas 

Spring Grove 

FPB Julie Tobiasz 

Rockford 

FM Frank Schmit 

Mundelein 

D/C Craig Adams 

Lake County Fair 

Northern Illinois Fire Inspectors 

North Maine 

FM Arnie Witzke 

Warrenville 

FPB Tom Hackert 

Oak Park 

FPB Tom Ebsen 

Western Springs 

FPB Mike Horn 

Countryside 

FM Mike McNally 

Grayslake 

FM Deane Walker 

Spectators watch a side-by-side at Downers Grove.These demonstrations are 

a dramatic way to educate the community about the life-saving benefits of 

fire sprinklers, especially in the home. 

8 


December 2005 


Bridgeview Passes Ordinance Requiring Fire Sprinklers In All New Homes 

Tops Fire Safety List in Illinois 

In an effort to increase fire safety and protect 

its citizens, the Bridgeview Village 

Board unanimously approved an ordinance 

requiring the installation of fire sprinkler 

systems in all new residential and commercial 

buildings making it the safest municipality 

in Illinois because of it’s fire codes. 

The new ordinance requires fire sprinkler 

systems to be installed in all new singlefamily 

homes according to NFPA 13D. 

Bridgeview is the 35th municipality in the 

Chicago area to require residential fire 

sprinklers. The ordinance also requires fire 

sprinklers in manufactured homes, apartments 

converted to condominiums and 

existing residential when 50% or more is 

being renovated. In addition, all commercial 

buildings must be retrofit with a sprinkler 

system before 2010. 

According to Mayor Steven Landek, safety 

is extremely important to members of the 

board. “Our board was very supportive of 

this ordinance because we care about the safety 

of the people who live and do business here in 

Bridgeview,” he said.“We are proud to be at the 

top of the list when it comes to life-safety issues. 

It’s important for the future of our town.” 

The Bridgeview Village Hall and the Community 

Center are currently being extrofitted with fire 

sprinkler systems.The Village Hall will be finished 

before deadline. 

Bridgeview Fire Chief Terry Lipinski agrees with 

the mayor when it comes to safety.“There were a 

few issues we needed to address.We are becoming 

a “tear down” community where old structures 

are being replaced with new structures that 

are much larger. This ordinance will protect the 

neighboring structures,”Lipinski said.“Access was 

a concern, when we looked at manufactured 

homes. That's why we included them in the ordinance,” 

he added. 

Bridgeview also has a history of successful activations. 

Fire sprinklers extinguished fires in several 

Number of 13D Ordinances Passed Each Year 

buildings, including the Bridgeview branch of 

the Cook County Circuit Court and a nursing 

home. Both buildings were back in business in 

24- hours. 

Lipinski said the key to gaining support for 

the ordinance was proper education. He said 

NIFSAB played an important role as a 

resource. 

NIFSAB provided Bridgeview with background 

information and resources about 

NFPA 13D including essential fire report data, 

cost comparisons, insurance research and 

copies of the America Burning Recommissioned 

and Firefighter Life Safety Summit 

reports from the Federal Emergency Management 

Agency (FEMA). 

For a copy of the presentation materials 

and ordinance used in Bridgeview, contact 

NIFSAB at (708) 403-4468 or email sprinktoml@aol.com. 

5 

CITY 

DATE 

Long Grove (Municipality) April, 1988 

Barrington Fire Protection District September, 1997 

Lake Barrington December, 1997 

Wheeling July, 2000 

Clarendon Hills August, 2000 

Park Ridge March, 2001 

West Dundee August, 2001 

Hoffman Estates January, 2002 

Glen Ellyn March, 2002 

Round Lake Beach March, 2002 

Streamwood June, 2002 

LaGrange Park July, 2002 

Mount Prospect June, 2003 

Berkeley November, 2003 

Matteson Fire Department January, 2004 

Countryside Fire Protection District March, 2004 

Huntley Fire Protection District July, 2004 

North Maine Fire Protection District July, 2004 

CITY 

DATE 

Indian Creek (Countryside FPD) August, 2004 

Skokie October, 2004 

Long Grove Fire Protection District November, 2004 

Hickory Hills January, 2005 

Justice February, 2005 

Des Plaines March, 2005 

Libertyville (Municipality) March, 2005 

Huntley (Municipality) May, 2005 

Sunnycrest FPD (Flossmoor) January, 2005 

Bedford Park Fire Department July, 2005 

St.Charles Countryside Fire Protection District August,2005 

Oak Forest August, 2005 

Lincolnwood October, 2005 

Libertyville Fire Protection District November, 2005 

Green Oaks November, 2005 

Mettawa November, 2005 

Bridgeview November, 2005 



NFSA Donates $25,000 

to American Red Cross 

Hurricane Katrina 

Relief Fund 

Hurricane Katrina has been documented as 

the most expensive natural disaster in U.S. 

history. By killing over 1000 people and displacing 

more than 1,000,000, it caused a 

humanitarian crisis on a scale not seen in 

the U.S. since the Great Depression. As a 

result, rescue and relief efforts were 

strained beyond limits. 

Immediately after Hurricane Katrina dissipated 

and the havoc it had wreaked was obvious, 

NFSA President John Viniello announced 

that the association had formed a Hurricane 

Katrina Relief Fund to seek funds from the fire 

sprinkler industry to help victims. 

NFSA announced that as a result of those 

donations, it made a lump sum donation on 

behalf of NFSA’s membership to the American 

Red Cross in the amount of $25,000.00. 

NFSA thanks each and every member who 

contributed to the relief effort and is 

extremely grateful for their dedication and 

continued support. 

Visit NFSA.org 

NIFSAB recognized members of the fire service 

who responded to the Katrina disaster by 

displaying this poster during the Illinois Fire 

Chiefs Association conference. 

Resolve to Get Involved continued from page 1 

Instead of having to work sprinklers into 

local code updates, the opponents will have 

to justify why they want to take sprinklers 

out of them. That’s a huge change and one of 

the most promising public safety opportunities 

I’ve seen in my career.” 

While no one expects to see sprinkler 

requirements fall into place overnight, Lia 

believes that early and steady action will be 

key to continued progress in Illinois communities. 

“It would be a mistake to assume that 

the success the Chicago area has had in 35 

municipalities that have passed residential 

sprinkler ordinances will carry the state forward,” 

he said. “Every fire chief in every 

municipality will need to get up to speed and 

begin the educational process with their 

elected officials. The earlier you do that, the 

greater chance you’ll have of seeing sprinkler 

requirements in the codes when they are 

updated.” 

You need a strategy, and you need it now! 

Lia sees the fire service as the central player 

in this debate. “The public trusts the fire 

service as the voice of authority on all fire 

safety topics. Now is the time to develop a 

strategy for members of the fire service to 

join forces with building services. Together, 

they can provide a valuable service to their 

elected decision makers who are going to 

need help getting up to speed.” 

The NFSA Guide, “Residential Fire Sprinklers: 

A Step by Step Approach for Communities,” 

is a good place to start. “We recognize 

NFSA’s Guide as the foundation for NIFSAB 

support of local sprinkler ordinances. It’s a 

sensible place to start when developing a 

strategy because it breaks the process down,” 

Lia explained. The guide addresses the basics 

of planning and research; preparation, presentation 

and adoption; customer service 

and maintenance; and challenges and 

appeals. It also helps users identify obstacles 

and assets, prepare effective presentations, 

create useful and professional materials, and 

strategize for success. (The NFSA Guide can 

be downloaded at no charge at 

www.nfsa.org.) 

According to Sanders, the strategy needs to 

start at the ground floor. “You don’t want to 

wait until the public hearing. That’s too late. 

Sprinkler advocates had better get involved at 

the initial draft stage, meeting with the local 

code body early on, or they’ll be lagging 

behind the process.” 

Lia urges those not familiar with the 

process to contact NIFSAB for help. “We’re a 

free resource for fire departments and dis- 

tricts going through the code update process. 

We’re here to help – take advantage of that!” 

NIFSAB has long supported this process 

with educational outreach. “These folks need 

all the facts so they can make sound decisions,” 

Lia said. “We provide them with reliable 

statistics and high quality educational 

materials that not only help them understand 

the fire problem and appreciate the 

role of fire sprinklers, but also help them carry 

those messages beyond the code body.” 

Lia expects the anti-sprinkler forces to step 

up their efforts in light of the new model 

code requirements. “Now, more than ever, we 

need to present a unified front. We’ve seen 

the kind of damage that myths and misinformation 

can have on the debate and on ordinance 

adoption around the country. We need 

to prepare for a harder line from opponents. 

We can’t afford to let our guard down.” 

In addition to the NFSA Guide, Lia strongly 

recommends utilizing the free materials provided 

by the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition 

(HFSC) as part of your local strategy. 

Although the Coalition does not work in support 

of sprinkler ordinances, its materials and 

information are widely used in ordinance battles, 

and for good reason. “HFSC has been 

around for 10 years and it has an outstanding 

reputation,” Lia said. “In addition to accuracy 

and credibility, HFSC is non-commercial. Its 

sole purpose is to educate people about 

sprinklers. HFSC is an objective resource.” 

HFSC materials range from national and local 

data to helpful educational tools and animated 

presentation materials. Visit the HFSC 

Web site at (www.homefiresprinkler.org). 

“The communities around Chicago are 

gaining notice for their progressive stance in 

favor of residential fire sprinkler protection,” 

noted Sanders, referring to the large number 

of municipalities in the state that now 

require sprinklers in one- and two-family 

dwellings. “Local code-making bodies around 

the country are going to be looking at that 

success and future experience here in Illinois 

as codes begin to be updated elsewhere.” 

But there’s no rest for the weary, Lia 

warned. “These new sprinkler requirements 

made national news, but the real story is 

going to be at the grassroots level. With the 

national standard we’ve been waiting so long 

for finally at hand, fire officials have to take 

full advantage now to ensure they keep the 

momentum going.” 

10 


December 2005 


Congratulations to La Salle Bank Chicago 

NIFSAB and Local #281 

Donate Valves to 

Moraine Valley 

Community College 

Congratulations to La Salle Bank, 135 S. LaSalle Street, for continual progress towards the retrofit 

installation of fire sprinklers in their high-rise after the fire of December 12, 2004. 

Installation is being completed by Great Lakes Fire Protection joined by U.S. Fire Protection. 

According to Brian Conway, from Great Lakes Fire Protection the job will be 100% completed by 

December 5th, the one year anniversary of the fire. 

This follows the fire sprinkler retrofit of the Cook County Administration Building at 69 West 

Washington installed by United States Fire Protection. 

Rep. Burke & Sen. Sandavol Honored by Fire 

Sprinkler Industy 

Andy Hufnagle Fire Science Program Coordinator 

for Moraine Valley Community College 

and Tom Lia, NIFSAB Executive Director check 

out the wet and dry fire sprinkler valves 

donated by NIFSAB and the Fire Sprinkler 

Fitters Local #281. Valves donated by Viking 

and Tyco 

RESOURCES 

w ww.homefiresprinkler.org 

www.nfpa.org 

www.iccsafe.org/training 

Springfield, IL – State Representative Dan Burke (D-Chicago) and State Senator Martin Sandoval 

(D-Cicero) were honored by the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) at a 

special reception held recently in Springfield. Burke and Sandoval sponsored legislation this 

session to improve the implementation of the Fire Sprinkler Contractor Licensing Act. 

“Rep. Burke and Sen. Sandoval have been strong advocates for fire safety issues and it is our 

pleasure to recognize their achievements tonight,” said Dan Gengler, Midwest Regional Manager 

for the National Fire Sprinkler Association. 

Pictured above left to right is Dan Gengler, Midwest Regional Manager for the National Fire 

Sprinkler Association, Rep. Dan Burke, Margaret Vaughn (NIFSAB Lobbyist), Sen. Sandoval, Rich 

Ray, Cybor Fire Protection and Tom Collins, Business Manager of Sprinkler Fitters Local #281. 

www.nfsa.org 

www.firesprinklerassoc.org 


Standard 

PRSRT STD 

U.S. POSTAGE PAID 

Plainfield, IL 

Permit #170 

62 Orland Square Drive, Suite 201 

Orland Park, IL 60462 

For more information about fire sprinklers, contact Tom Lia, Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) 

You can also contact Tom via e-mail: sprinktoml@aol.com 

Please print legibly in ink 

NAME 

TITLE 

COMPANY 

ADDRESS 

CITY STATE ZIP 

 

 

 

 

 

NIFSAB INFORMATION & MATERIAL REQUEST 

Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition “Built for Life Kit” 

NIFSAB Tri-fold Residential Brochure 

Ready Made Art Work and Ad Slick for 

Newsletters/Websites 

ISO-Insurance Service Office Municipal Water 

Supply & Fire Sprinkler Credits 

2006 Directory 

This form can be faxed to: 708-403-4771 

PHONE 

FAX 

E-MAIL 

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 60462 

866-264-3722 

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SPRINKTOML@aol.com

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