Gurnee Passes Progressive Residential Fire Sprinkler Ordinance

ORLAND PARK, Ill., June 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Last night, officials from the Village of Gurnee passed a residential fire sprinkler ordinance by adopting the 2012 International Residential Code (IRC), which will require fire sprinkler systems in all new one- and two-family homes and townhomes effective immediately.

The International Code Council's IRC began requiring fire sprinklers in the 2009 edition and has since been adopted as a statewide measure in California and among numerous local jurisdictions nationwide. NFPA 1 and NFPA 101 are model residential codes from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that have required fire sprinklers since the 2006 editions and are also widely used by local jurisdictions across the nation.

According to the nonprofit Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB), Gurnee now joins 77 other municipalities and fire protection districts in Illinois that require fire sprinklers in one- and two-family homes through the adoption of the model codes provided by the International Code Council and NFPA. Gurnee is the fourth jurisdiction in Illinois to pass residential fire sprinkler requirements this year.

According to NFPA, 85% of fire deaths in 2010 occurred in the home, where people feel the most comfortable. Fire Chief Fred Friedl, Fire Marshal Tom Keefe, and the Gurnee Fire Department, as well as Community Development Director David Ziegler, were instrumental in the adoption of the IRC and its fire sprinkler requirements in order to avoid Gurnee residents from becoming part of the residential fire death statistics.

"As a measure leading up the vote last night, these individuals from the fire and building departments worked strenuously to educate their fellow peers and the Village Board about the benefits of fire sprinklers and help dispel the myths and misinformation about fire sprinklers," says NIFSAB Executive Director Tom Lia.

In fact, the Village Board took a few extra months to make sure that they fully understood residential fire sprinklers so that they were fully aware of all factors involved in making such an important decision.

"In the end, the Village Board understood the importance of the life-safety protection that fire sprinklers provide in homes," Lia notes. "With this fire sprinkler ordinance, Gurnee has become a model community for fire safety. Congratulations to Mayor Kristina Kovarik and all of the Village Board for recognizing the important role that fire sprinklers play in protecting the lives of Gurnee residents."

About the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board
The Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting progressive legislation, raising public awareness, and educating code officials and governmental policy makers by demonstrating the proven performance of fire sprinklers in saving both lives and property. For more info, visit www.firesprinklerassoc.org.

SOURCE Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board