Searching for Statesmen, Fire in the Pennsylvania Senate

Posted by By Eric Zager at 31 March, at 15 : 22 PM Print

Fire Sprinklers have long been a part of mandatory building codes for commercial structures such as, restaurants, movie theaters, and hotels, but not for single family homes. That is until Pennsylvania’s legislature passed a residential sprinkler law in 2010, requiring installation in all new single and double family homes.

Nearly all professional businesses and services associated with safeguarding homes supports mandatory installation, with the glaring exception of Pennsylvania’s Homebuilders Association. The association has lobbied vigorously to repeal House Bill 377 and its efforts have worked. House members voted earlier this year to rescind the bill, and the Senate is poised to follow suit.

Those, not in favor of the sprinkler law, say its too expensive, and it will do more harm to a weak housing market.

In this edition of Seeking Statesmen, Host Mark Singel learns that the cost of sprinklers is on par with that of granite counter tops, and nearly two hundred adults and children in Pennsylvania die each year in house fires.

Mark’s guest is Aus Marburger, president of Fire Protection Industries. Marburger is also on an advisory committee that reviews building codes.

Watch the Rock The Capital exclusive interview, and If you feel the way Singel and Marburger do, call your Senator and tell them that, in no uncertain terms, they should not repeal H.B. 377, and keep the Pennsylvania’s Housing Code as is stands.

This post was written by:

Eric Zager - who has written 323 posts for Rock The Capital

Eric is a national award winning storyteller. Eric’s work is credited with changing laws, saving lives, and in one instance, saving taxpayers about $2,000,000.00. Mr. Zager’s career in journalism is ripped from the pages of an adventure novel. Upon graduating from the esteemed Newhouse School of Public Communications, he headed north, about as far as one can travel and still stand in the Continental U.S. The call of journalism not a penchant to play with Polar Bears brought Zager to the ‘Last Frontier-Juneau, Alaska. Over the course of Zager’s more than 20 years in journalism, he has covered the political side of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, dodged horse manure on the backside of Churchill Downs, and has uncovered numerous scams and scam artists. Eric is constantly in search of a meaningful story to tell. - Email Eric Zager

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