Ron, I've only had a non-speaking support role in this one- the kudos go to the fire service for carrying the lead.
I do want to observe a quantum change, however, in a relatively short period of time. PA was mired in something like the 1981 BOCA as a building code in 2000. Movement to adopt the I-codes started, but it ended up waiting until the 2003 IBC as a basis and went into effect April 2004. So up until 2004 we've got a 20 year old building code- no references to ESFR, 13R, let alone small things like the QR in light hazard in 1996. Used the phrase "equal or better" pretty often when using QR heads and 40% MRA reduction - when applicable standard was 1978 or 1981 #13! In 5 years and 9 months we've gone from a 20+ year old code to being the first state in the USA to have the '09 IRC residential requirements apply state-wide. That is a quantum jump and I'd sure rather be the first domino to fall, setting the standard for others to follow, than be the laughingstock with a dinosaur building code. We probably leapfrogged all 49 other states. My local Senator, John Gordner, happens to be a great guy and chair of the L&I oversight committee; this happened on his watch and he'll continue to get my vote and support. As the article notes, Tim and John did a great job with a lot of help from members of the fire service organized as the Pennsylvania Residential Coalition; some help from PA native and now our southern neighbor Dennis Gentzel, Chief FPE in MD; other residential sprinkler coalitions; Ed Mann, PA fire commissioner; Ray Lonabaugh and the NFSA lobbyists and Industry Promotion Fund, etc., etc., etc. Membership in Associations pays big dividends, and several of us offering a little support in running seminars, donating some side by side burn materials and installation, and pounding out letters of support, requests for support, all can add up to a huge accomplishment. We all just have to do our part. I'm sure there will be those who didn't lift a finger to help and will parasitically benefit from this. But this is a great industry because most of us do help when asked, and become part of the solution instead of just bitchin and being part of the problem. Best of luck to all the others in states where you still have obstacles to overcome. Keep pushing! Write letters! Help with a local FD's side by side! Do Something! George Church Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Greenman Sent: Friday, December 11, 2009 3:27 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Pennsylvania first state to adopt one- and two-family home fire sprinkler requirement Pennsylvania first state to adopt one- and two-family home fire sprinkler requirement. http://nfpa.typepad.com/firesprinklerinitiative/2009/12/pennsylvania-first-s tate-to-adopt-one-and-twofamily-home-fire-sprinkler-requirement.html Hooray for George, et. al. -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Bates Technical College Tacoma, WA Member: SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA AFAA, WSAFM _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
