Sprinklers Will Not Be Required In New GC Homes

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Jul. 29, 2010

One- and two-family homes built in Garrett County after Jan. 1, 2011, will not have to have automatic sprinkler systems. The 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) requires the systems, but the county commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to the local code on Tuesday morning that deletes that section of the IRC.

"We have a received a number of correspondence relative to this matter, an almost overwhelming majority asking us opt out of the sprinkler system [requirement] for the stick built homes," said Commission chair Ernie Gregg.

The commissioners and Department of Planning and Land Development's Permits and Inspections Division held a pubic hearing two weeks ago to receive comments on possible changes to the local building ordinance, based on new IRC requirements. Only two possible IRC changes were proposed: a new, less steep stair geometry and sprinklers.

Local officials at the hearing indicated they would most likely adopt the stair regulation into the county code and, perhaps, the sprinkler requirement. The commissioners held the record open for two weeks following the hearing to allow for more comments.

"As you know, there was strong opposition to this (sprinklers) in the public hearing, and numerous written comments received during the past two weeks opposing the requirement as well," Permits and Inspections chief Jim Torrington told the commissioners prior to their voting on the matter. "Therefore, we propose to delete this section (Chapter 3, Section R313.2) from the 2009 IRC."

As a result of the amendment deleting the requirement, one-family and two-family homes will not be required to have automatic sprinkler systems.

Torrington stressed that systems will still be required for multiple family homes (i.e. townhouses) and modular homes. The county tried to include modular homes in the amendment, but this type of stick-built structure falls under state regulations.

The state, however, does not require sprinkler systems in singlewide and doublewide mobile homes.

"We went so far as to contact Secretary Skinner, Department of Housing and Community Development, about getting the modular homes exempted, but he said we cannot override the Maryland code this comes under," Commissioner Fred Holliday explained.

Gregg said the commissioners adamantly opposed the issue of requiring that stick-built homes have sprinklers because of the additional cost to homeowners and the infringement on their personal property rights.

"We certainly are concerned about public safety," Gregg said. "We are also concerned about having what we consider unnecessary costs."

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