All new residences must have sprinklers

‘If there are sprinklers in homes ... people will have a better chance of surviving [fires],’ Mayor Tim Rogers said.

The Village Board has adopted a local law that requires sprinkler systems in all new residential buildings.

Mayor Tim Rogers said the law was adopted with saving lives in mind.

“The belief is that if there are sprinklers in homes ... then people will have a better chance of surviving [fires],” he said.

Though the law covers all new residences, it notes an increased “demand for rental housing in the community, and an increase in residential construction, which is often accomplished using materials that are highly toxic when burning.”

“It’s a pretty straightforward law, where any new [residential] construction, regardless of the size ... has to put the sprinklers in,” Rogers said. “The studies show that’s incredibly important for property and safety and saving lives. It makes common sense when you have a volunteer fire department, too.”

The text of the new law notes construction changes have lead to fires that spread faster because of the materials used.

“Today’s fires burn hotter and faster than fires in the past, and escaping a burning structure must be done expeditiously,” it states. “A fire sprinkler system protecting ingress and egress areas of residential structures provides occupants more time to safely exit a burning building while also protecting firefighters from the inherent dangers associated with the extrication of trapped residents.”

The law also mandates sprinklers in residential buildings that are being expanded by 50 percent or more or undergoing repairs to more than 50 percent of the existing space.

Property owners will be required to have their sprinkler systems inspected annually and file the inspection reports with the village Building Department.

Detached garages and other accessory buildings that have no dwelling units are not required to have sprinklers.