New Building Codes to Require Fire Sprinkler Systems in Homes

All newly constructed one- and two-family homes will soon have to include automatic fire sprinkler systems, according to a recent ruling by the International Code Council, which develops model building codes and standards in the U.S.

The “burning” question for builders and buyers of those homes, beginning in January 2011, is whether they would rFire Safetyather be protected by plastic, steel or copper—the three principal piping materials used in today’s sprinkler systems. All are approved for use in both commercial and residential structures.

Threaded steel pipe was for many years preferred for sprinkler systems in commercial facilities. Steel pipe is inexpensive and easy to install in open, accessible areas, and where its bulky, rough-looking appearance is not objectionable to occupants.

But appearance matters to homeowners, and rigid steel pipe is hard to work with in confined spaces and especially difficult to accommodate in design-conscious residential interiors. Another drawback is that in “wet” (water-filled) fire sprinkler systems, rusted or discolored discharge water from steel pipe can multiply the damage caused by fire.

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Keeping Your Young Ones Safe In and Outside The Home

With Halloween upon us, many parents are thinking about how to keep their children safe. And while precautions like staying on sidewalks, carrying a flashlight and sticking to familiar neighborhoods are important, parents and caregivers should also be concerned with potential hazards inside the home.

That’s why a new series of online public service announcements has been created.

Besides making sure all of your electrical outlets are covered and baby proofing your cabinets, the PSAs were created in an effort to educate parents about the potential hazards of window cords. According to information provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, since 1990 more than 200 infants and young children have died from accidentally strangling in window cords.

“The first thing so many new parents do these days is go online to get parenting information,” said Window Covering Safety Council Executive Director Peter Rush. “We wanted to create a series of public service announcements that would appeal to this younger demographic, to provide them with safety information that is both educational and entertaining.”

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