Laws Changing Re: Residential SprinklersBeginning in January 2011, a change in the Pennsylvania building codegoes into effect that mandates sprinklers be installed in all newlyconstructed single family homes. This has been a hotly contested subjectand has fueled many litigation battles over the past months. On one sideof the debate is the Professional Builders Association (PBA), who claimthat making sprinklers mandatory will drive up the cost of newconstruction and may persuade many to not build new homes and thushurt their business. The PBA maintains that with the housing marketstruggling to regain its footing during these challenging economic times,new regulations that may hurt new housing starts is hardly a good way toattempt a recovery from a tough period.On the other side of the fight is the fire service in Pennsylvania, bothcareer and volunteer. The fire service insists the sprinkler requirement willsave the lives of citizens, firefighters, and property from the devastatingeffects of residential fires. There is no doubt that adding sprinklers willincrease the cost of building a new home. Both sides will throw out variousfigures as to how much. I have been told that many upgrades to kitchenand bathroom items will exceed the cost per square foot that thesprinklers will add to the final cost of the home. There is also a very realpossibility that homeowners who have sprinklers will see a decrease intheir homeowners’ insurance premiums.Some may ask why do this now? Firefighters who have witnessed firsthand the damage a fire can bring might ask, what took you so long? Hereis a firefighter’s take on this subject. I have no intention of listingnumerous statistics to confuse the issue. However, there is one statistic Iwant to share. In a letter to state senators in October, state FireCommissioner Ed Mann wrote, “please consider that since the late 1980s,when sprinklers became law in Prince George County, Maryland not oneperson has died in (a) home protected by automatic sprinklers. On theother hand, at least 100 people have died in the same time period inresidential fires where no sprinklers existed.”Another reason why firefighters feel this change is needed is that newconstruction and the items that fill our homes these days are much moredangerous than ever. Most of the items in our homes are made of plastic orother materials that, when they ignite, give off poison gas that can kill quickly.The sprinklers will quickly extinguish or at least keep fires contained, thuslimiting an occupant’s exposure to the hazardous, deadly smoke, giving themthe time they need to escape. Many new homes are built with pre-engineeredand lightweight structural components. When exposed to fire these itemsbecome compromised and are prone to fail in as little as five to eightminutes, just about the time the first fire truck is pulling up to the scene. Theunknowing fire fighters walk or crawl into the zero visibility and the floorunder them gives way sending them into the fire below.It used to be that a firefighting crew had time to mount an interior attack ona fire before collapse became a concern. Unfortunately, with fires in newhomes, the battle may be lost before the firefight begins, sometimes with avery tragic result. Will sprinklers increase the cost of building your dreamhome? Yes, they will, but what price can you put on your families safety orthat of the firefighters who come to help?For those who have watched a movie or TV show where a sprinkler headactivates and suddenly all of the sprinklers in the room are flowing, that isjust Hollywood theatrics. It does work like that in the real world. Surely thecourt battles will begin anew in January as the builders try to repeal thesprinkler requirements. I hope our newly elected or re-elected officials inHarrisburg do what is right to keep a measure in place that is meant to makeus all safe and protect our property. After all, “our home is our castle,” andwe all want our castle and those who live in it to be there for many years tocome.Heritage Valley NewsHeritage Valley Signature BusinessCare was recently recertified as aNationally Accredited for Administration of Drug and Alcohol TestingPrograms (NAADATP) by the Drug & Alcohol Testing IndustryAssociation (DATIA). Achieving NAADATP status indicates that HeritageValley Signature BusinessCare’s facility, operations and personnel meetthe highest standards in the drug and alcohol testing industry.Heritage Valley Signature BusinessCare partners with 560 activeemployer clients in the Heritage Valley service area to promote thehealth, wellness and safety of their employees. In addition to drug andalcohol testing, Signature BusinessCare provides a host of services tolocal employers including physical exams, injury care, immunizations,laboratory, radiology, and rehabilitation services.Heritage Valley Sewickley Foundation is pleased to welcome Rich Archer toits board of directors. Heritage Valley Health System is pleased to welcomeDavid Motley to its board of directors.The annual Unique Boutique event to benefit the Childhood ObesityPrevention Program of Heritage Valley Health System brought out 441shoppers this year, noted Terri Tunick, coordinator. The event also providedan opportunity to promote the businesses of several local women-ownedbusinesses.Next year’s Unique Boutique date is November 10, 2011.Monthly Pregnancy and Infant Loss SupportGroupMeets at Heritage Valley-Sewickley the second Monday of each month from7 to 8:30 p.m. in the small dining room.58 <strong>Allegheny</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>December</strong> <strong>2010</strong>
<strong>December</strong> <strong>2010</strong> <strong>Allegheny</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> 59