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

December 2005
Fire Sprinkler Times
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
Toll-Free: 866-2NIFSAB (866-264-3722) • www.firesprinklerassoc.org 9