TUSTIN : Council Votes Down Fire Sprinkler Plan

The City Council has declined to join other Orange County cities in requiring fire sprinklers in all new homes, despite statistics that show they save lives.

Councilwoman Ursula E. Kennedy had suggested that the city at least encourage builders to offer fire sprinklers as an option, much like upgraded tile or other amenities, but other council members balked at the idea.

Kennedy’s suggestion ended in a 2-2 stalemate with Councilmen John Kelly and Earl J. Prescott in opposition.

Tom Daly, a spokesman for the Orange County Building Industry Assn. and an Anaheim councilman, told the council that requiring sprinklers in all new residences would price some people out of homes. He said it costs $2,000 to $4,000 to install a sprinkler system in a new home.

The sprinklers were discussed during the council’s update of its city fire and building codes. Kelly voted against the new codes because he said that several requirements were too stringent.

Seven cities in Orange County--Anaheim, San Clemente, Stanton, Seal Beach, Placentia, Cypress and Dana Point--require fire sprinklers in all new residences, said Chief Will Wright, fire marshal for the Orange County Fire Department. Five of them have instituted this requirement within the past three months, he said.

Tustin does require fire sprinklers in apartment buildings, condominiums, and commercial and industrial buildings.

Daly said that fire prevention efforts should focus on getting smoke detectors into the one-third of the county’s houses that do not have them.

“We recognize the value of a smoke detector, but it’s a limited value,” Wright said. “All it does is tell you of your impending doom.”

Wright said that 80% of deaths in fires occur in residential buildings. Nationwide, residential fires result in 6,000 deaths annually and more than $3.5 billion in property damage, he said.