We've just had car and truck crashes here in CT
At 03:05 PM 11/8/2007, you wrote:
It has been a bad few weeks here in the Carolinas when it comes to
fires.
Beach House fire Ocean Isle Beach, NC, house destroyed, 7 occupants
perish
Lumber Mill in Spartanburg, SC burned to the ground, (2nd time)
Furniture Store in Asheville, NC burned to the ground
Apartment fire in Mauldin,SC (south of Greenville) damages 7 apartments
Elderly man found dead in house fire, Spartanburg, SC
Trash fire grows out of control and destroys mobile home, Inman, SC
And one that is still kind of unbelievable and unexplainable:
Man Catches fire while burning trash and dies: Spartanburg, SC
The link: http://www.wyff4.com/news/14534600/detail.html?taf=gs
One thing that hasn't been brought to light is that unprotected
buildings like the lumber mill and furniture warehouse took an enormous
amount of water to contain and extinguish the fire. Sprinklers probably
would have controlled the fire before they grew out of control and used
much less water overall, especially important in a time and place where
water supplies are drying up.
Craig L. Prahl, CET
Fire Protection Group
Mechanical Department
CH2MHILL
Lockwood Greene
1500 International Drive
PO Box 491, Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491
Direct - 864.599.4102
Fax - 864.599.8439
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.lg.com
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Todd
Williams - FPDC
Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 2:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Some potential good news
This is from the Charleston Regional Business Journal:
The state may offer tax credits to businesses that install sprinklers
By Scott Miller , Staff Writer
Responding to the Sofa Super Store blaze that killed nine Charleston
firefighters in June, S.C. House Speaker Bobby Harrell said he intends
to introduce legislation in the upcoming session to encourage businesses
and possibly home developers to boost fire safety, but the state
business community said it wouldn't back any legislated requirements.
Specifics of the legislation, such as the value of the credits, the
eligibility requirements or the cost to the state, haven't been hammered
out.
"We think it's a commendable idea, but we would like to see more of
the specifics," said Joel Sawyer, spokesman for Gov. Mark Sanford.
Harrell, R-Charleston, was unavailable for comment Thursday morning.
Fire-related deaths are lowered by 57 % when sprinklers are present,
and property damage is lessened by at least 34 %, despite water
damage, according to figures from the National Fire Protection
Association.
But the incentives would need to be pretty hefty to entice businesses
to invest in sprinkler systems, particularly if they had to retrofit
older buildings.
Installing sprinklers during construction costs $1 to $1.50 per
square foot or more, while retrofitting sprinklers in existing
buildings cost about 50% more, according to the National Fire
Sprinkler Association. In a much higher estimate, the Home Builders
Association of South Carolina said fire sprinklers could add about $6
per square foot to the cost of constructing new homes.
Because of the cost, the business community will not support a state
mandate, said Jay Ragley, state director of the National Federation
of Independent Business. For businesses to invest in sprinkler
systems, the legislation likely would need to include mandatory
discounts from insurers, reductions in local water fees and an
accelerated depreciation level, he said.
"Small businesses operate on very small margins, and a lot of small
businesses just don't have the money to do this, especially to
retrofit an older building," Ragley said.
If approved, South Carolina would be the first state to offer tax
credits for sprinkler installation. Some cities and states, however,
have enacted ordinances and statutes requiring sprinklers in nursing
homes, high rises, university dormitories and residences, according
to the National Fire Sprinkler Association.
In Illinois, for example, the state requires dorms to install
sprinklers by 2013 and offers low-interest loans to help cover the cost.
Since 1988, Connecticut has required sprinklers in all hotels and
motels with more than four stories. Florida and Virginia have enacted
similar legislation, as have several other states and municipalities.
Todd G. Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, Connecticut
www.fpdc.com
860.535.2080
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Todd G. Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, Connecticut
www.fpdc.com
860.535.2080
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