HARRISBURG -- Legislation to repeal a mandate for fire sprinkler systems in new homes was sent to Gov. Tom Corbett on Wednesday after the state House gave final approval to the bill.
Corbett "does support the concept of repealing the sprinkler requirement," spokesman Kevin Harley said. His staff is reviewing changes made to the bill by the Senate on Tuesday, Harley said.
By a 129-68 vote, the House yesterday agreed to those changes.
As of Jan. 1, single-family homes and duplexes being built had to have a sprinkler system as a result of provisions adopted by the International Code Council in 2009. A 1999 state law required Pennsylvania to automatically adopt the codes unless an advisory council objected. It didn't and the mandate took effect.
Provisions added by the Senate set a higher standard for approval by the advisory council to help prevent mandates like this one. The bill sponsored by Rep. Garth Everett, R-Lycoming County, requires builders to offer sprinklers to home buyers at the point of sale.
"This bill does not preclude anyone from building to gold-star standards," said Rep. Donna Oberlander, R-Clarion County. "It gives taxpayers the choice."
Critics said not requiring sprinklers would jeopardize safety of firefighters and the public.
"This is special-interest legislation in Harrisburg at its worst," said Rep. Robert Freeman, D-Northampton. He said he objected to one industry -- builders -- dictating to the Legislature. "It isn't a case of the fox guarding the hen house. It gives the fox the deed to the hen house."
Supporters said the mandate would add thousands of dollars to the cost of a home and the indecision over sprinklers is preventing new construction.
John Hensley of custom home builder Rossman Hensley Inc. in Valencia was happy to learn that the sprinkler mandate was likely on its way to being repealed.
"Our business has been flat for going on two years, and I don't think the added expense of requiring fire sprinklers was going to do anything to help improve that situation," he said.
Hensley, who has long offered homeowners the option of having a sprinkler system installed, said he will continue to do that "but most people reject them because of the cost, which I don't think is going to change."
Rep. Dan Frankel, D-Squirrel Hill, said the bill passed just 24 hours before in the Senate "was a very abrupt way to make changes. This is not the way to change such an important law and regulation."
Rhonda Morelli, a fire sprinkler designer for Preferred Fire Protection Inc. in Ross, said while repeal of the residential sprinkler mandate isn't good for her company from a financial standpoint, she did have problems with the way implementation of the law was handled.
"I think this requirement should have been phased in over time," she said. "Municipalities, which have to inspect the systems, should have been given more time to set this up, and the builders needed to be able to phase it in over time."
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