Committee leans toward requiring whole-house sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes

The Community Economic Development Committee on May 7 directed staff to proceed toward adopting the 2015 International Building Code with a requirement for whole-house fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family construction.

Staff framed the proposal as part of a code-update process and noted that Palatine had previously exempted residential sprinklers when adopting earlier codes. Staff and fire-department representatives described the life-safety benefits and costs: staff said residential sprinkler systems are commonly estimated at about 1 percent of construction costs; fire staff emphasized that sprinklers help extinguish fires quickly and limit smoke damage. "We haven't once said the word life safety," the fire representative said during the discussion to underscore safety considerations. Committee members asked technical questions about piping materials, freeze risks, insurance savings and where sprinklers would be required within a house; staff said the proposal would apply only to new ground-up construction and recommended townhomes be included first, with single-family homes to be considered as well.

Several residents spoke during public comment with concerns about freeze-related failures and flooding if systems are not properly winterized. Kat Chauhan testified that she had "witnessed some real problems with these sprinklers in homes" including freeze-related plumbing breaks; staff responded that the village's plan would apply only to heated occupancies and that staff would return in June with a full code package and an anticipated fall implementation date for permits filed after the go-live date.

Following discussion, the committee registered majority direction for whole-house sprinkler requirements and instructed staff to bring the full code adoption package back to council in June for formal action.