Tag: Maria Figueroa
Home-sprinkler requirements don't dampen housing starts
June 14, 2013Tess Nacelewicz
QUINCY, Mass.—Homebuilders often oppose state or local laws requiring home fire sprinklers, contending the added expense will negatively impact housing construction. But now positive new housing statistics from California—where home sprinklers are mandated—refute that claim, according to a spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Sprinkler Initiative.
“Sprinklers save lives. That's the bottom line and that's been proven, and they don't...
Illinois advocate is home sprinkler champion
May 13, 2013Tess Nacelewicz
QUINCY, Mass.—This year marked the fifth year the National Fire Protection Association has held its annual Fire Sprinkler Summit—and the first year the organization gave out a Home Fire Sprinkler Champion Award.
The winner of the award was Tom Lia, executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. NFPA President Jim Shannon presented the award to Lia at NFPA's 2013 “Bringing Safety Home” Fire Sprinkler Summit, held in Chicago on April 15-16.
Maria...
NFPA against proposal to allow fire extinguishers in kitchens in lieu of fire sprinklers
April 23, 2013Tess Nacelewicz
QUINCY, Mass.—A proposal to exempt homes with just a fire extinguisher in the kitchen from an International Residential Code requirement that all new homes have fire sprinklers is tragically misguided, according to a spokeswoman for the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Sprinkler Initiative.
The International Code Council is slated to consider the amendment during ICC committee action hearings, set to run April 21 to April 30 in Dallas.
But Maria Figueroa, Fire Sprinkler...
Fatal fire shows need for sprinklers in new homes
May 2, 2012Tess Nacelewicz
AUBURN, N.Y.—A fatal fire in a new home here tragically underscores the falsity of a claim by home fire sprinkler opponents that the devices are not needed in new construction, according to Maria Figueroa, regional director of the NFPA's Fire Prevention Field Office.“The opponents, mainly the homebuilding industry, say new homes are safe enough with smoke alarms—that we don't need sprinklers, that people are not dying in new homes, they're dying in old homes,” Figueroa told...
Sprinkler requirements in homes hot issue
May 25, 2011Tess Nacelewicz
CONCORD, N.H. and HELENA, Mont.—Legislation prohibiting municipalities in New Hampshire from requiring fire sprinkler systems in homes has passed the Legislature and is headed to the governor's desk.
Gov. John Lynch has not yet signed the legislation, which is opposed by fire officials, and may veto it, according to news reports.
The governor's spokesman, Colin Manning, told Security Systems News today that the legislation has not yet come to Lynch's desk and the governor is continuing to speak...