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City Of Sparta amended its city ordinance to clarify sprinkler requirements for residential dwellings.
Codes Officer Mike O’Neal said the actual rules required sprinklers in all residential dwellings, but city officials had waived that for single family dwellings. The revision codifies that clarification.
“But anything above that, from a duplex to townhomes and apartments, would be sprinkled,” O’Neal said. “This is just a safety issue. It’s life safety issue. I think it’ll benefit us. It’s supposed to benefit your insurance over time, and it’s a great asset for the fire department. We’re not saving structures, but we are saving lives.”
O’Neal said neighboring governmental bodies have changed their rules to clarity that sprinklers are not required in a single family home. In larger facilities, O’Neal said the sprinklers can be the difference.
“The sprinkler system will allow them time, people, time to get out,” O’Neal said. “We just had an incident weekend before last. Our sprinkler system would have been very handy.”
The National Fire Protection Association estimates the risk of dying in a reported home fire is 85 percent lower if sprinklers are present.
Sparta Board of Aldermen approved the change unanimously Thursday night.
