OP-ED: RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS -- DISCUSSING THE IMPACTS OF H.4663
There’s been a lot of discussion about H.4663 regarding the new construction requirements for residential fire sprinkler systems. Some say it’s turning South Carolina in to a “Nanny State,” while others tout sprinklers’ safety benefits.
In the interest of full disclosure, I represent two Upstate fire districts. While that gives me a certain insight in to the fire protection implications for the bill, I also have information about the legislation’s financial implications. Since that seems to be what the legislation's opposition is focusing on, that's what I'll focus on, too.
In short, there's a lot more to 4663 than the homebuilders are saying.
To be clear, 4663 doesn't mandate sprinklers. It allows South Carolina to make the newly adopted residential sprinkler section of the international building code unenforceable. So it's an opt-out, not a legislative idea to install sprinklers in newly constructed single family residential projects.
The homebuilders’ association cites cost as the reason it opposes the new sprinkler requirements. Having listened to many of its these industry leaders during Sen. Thomas' hearings, their testimony simply didn’t ring true. There is misinformation being perpetuated as fact.
Retrofitting isn't a requirement, so for all of the people who would be "shut out of homeownership" due to the cost of residential sprinklers in new construction, there are other homeownership options that do not and will not require sprinklers.
You haven't built every house you've moved in, have you? No, and those homes would not fall under the code requirements. The Realtors would be happy to sell the state’s existing inventory of homes on the market.
If you're already a homeowner, you aren't subject to the new construction requirement, either.
We also have to look at what residential sprinkler requirement means for insurance premiums. In short, they'll go up.
If the state opts out of enforcing the building codes, the groups that help set insurance premiums will note what is now accepted as higher risk of death and property damage/destruction. As those ISO ratings drop, the insurance companies will raise premiums for SC's policy holders (that's across-the-board single-family residential, multi-family residential, commercial, and industrial) due to the added risk. Current estimates are that as many as 44% of fire protection jurisdictions across the state will be negatively impacted through ratings reductions.
Even former Senator and current Department of Insurance director Scott Richardson noted this during his testimony to Senator Thomas.
I understand the opposition by those who are in the business of building new homes. They don't make money unless they build them and then sell them, and they're afraid that an additional $1500 - $3000 may make their jobs more difficult.
As the HBA opposes the new building codes, they talk about the added cost on the front end to install the systems as the homes are built. What their lobby neglects to talk about is the costs to the homeowner on the back end which will add up over time with increased premiums. Why don't they talk about that? Because when the house is sold, those new costs don't matter. That becomes the homeowner's problem. The profit has been made.
The debate over this issue in SC is fairly new, but the legislation to ignore the requirements is moving through the General Assembly with lightning speed. Slowing down this legislative train until we can sort through the cost implications for the short and long-term isn’t unreasonable.
The new code doesn’t take effect until next year, so even if 4663 dies this year and we take the summer and fall to go through all of the information to get to the actual cost of the matter outside of the gloom-and-doom perpetuated by the homebuilders, the General Assembly would still have ample time when they return in January to create a legislative remedy if necessary.
Let's slow down and get to the truth before we make a mistake we can't undo.
Taft Matney, is the president of TM Public Relations & Governmental Affairs and represents the Boiling Springs Fire District and the Wade Hampton Fire and Sewer Districts in areas of public policy. He can be contacted by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com.
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This op-ed may be reprinted/reposted upon written notification to taft@taftmatney.com.
By Cindy Landrum An agreement between Greenville and the Wade Hampton Fire and Sewer District will allow the city to annex key properties along I-85 and Woodruff Road and the district to continue to provide fire protection and keep tax revenue. Mayor Knox White said the agreement could be the most important intergovernmental agreement ever reached by the city. “I think this will be a positive thing for both the city of Greenville and the district,” said Wade Hampton Fire Chief Randy Edwards. “It is a positive thing for both sides.” As the city added important parcels of land in the Interstate 85 and Woodruff Road area to the city limits, Wade Hampton officials bristled over the deterioration of its tax base and worried about how the loss of important commercial property would impact the district’s ability to provide services. “It was the simple loss of revenue,” Edwards said. City officials approached the district about nine months ago with a proposal to allow the fire district to continue to provide fire protection to annexed property and to receive tax revenue for that. The annexed properties are closer to a Wade Hampton fire station than city stations. “From a public safety standpoint, it makes sense,” White said. The agreement allows gives the fire district the option of allowing the city to provide fire services. “One of the first things we agreed to is we weren’t going to do anything to compromise the safety of the public we both are sworn to protect,” said Greenville Fire Chief Tommy McDowell. The agreement includes the four properties in the district annexed by the city since Jan. 1, 2009. “We’re after two different things,” White said. The district wants to preserve its tax base, while the city is “more about building our population,” White said. White said the agreement could lead the way to similar agreements with other special purpose tax districts.
WADE HAMPTON FIRE & SEWER DISTRICT CREATES FUND FOR EXPENSES
(Greenville, SC / October 15, 2009) Wade Hampton Fire Chief Randy Edwards announced that the district established a trust fund for firefighter Bryan Clark who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
According to Edwards, surgery removed the mass and most of the cancer, but Bryan Clark's recovery will include additional treatments that incorporate additional testing, scans, chemotherapy and/or radiation.
"You can imagine how difficult this time has been for Bryan and his family, and they still face a long road over the weeks and months ahead," Edwards said.
He added, "Bryan is not just a member of this department. He's our friend. He’s a 42 year old husband and father of two. He's a dedicated 22 year member of the fire service who served 17 of those years here at Wade Hampton."
Because of the anticipated cost of Bryan's treatment, his friends and fellow firefighters established a trust fund to assist with expenses during his treatment through the Duke University Health System.
Donations are tax deductible and can be presented at any Palmetto Bank branch or at Wade Hampton Fire & Sewer District's headquarters located at 4211 East North Street, Greenville, SC 29615.
Checks may be made payable to "Wade Hampton Fire Department -- Bryan Clark Trust Fund."
Chief Edwards said that people shouldn't feel they need to give a specific amount or that their donations aren't enough and that any amount will be appreciated.
"We hope that as people hear about Bryan and his story, they'll think about him, his wife, and their children and be moved to contribute," Edwards said.
About the Wade Hampton Fire Department Established in 1958 with boundaries that encompass much of Greenville (SC) County's Eastside, the Wade Hampton Fire Department provides an array of programs to protect the lives and property of residents and businesses the throughout the special purpose district.
For further information about the Wade Hampton Fire Department, visit www.WHFD.org.
For media inquiries regarding this release, please contact Taft Matney by phone (864/505-8866), by fax (864/297-3871), or by e-mail (taft@taftmatney.com).
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This news release contains or may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results or facts to differ materially from such statements for a variety of reasons. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Wade Hampton Fire Department undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements.
FROM: THE GREENVILLE (S.C.) NEWS POSTED MONDAY, April 20, 2009
PUBLICATION: The Greenville News
WRITER: Abe Hardesty
PHOTOGRAPHER: Heidi Heilbrunn
PUBLISHED: April 20, 2009
SECTION: Local News
PAGE NUMBER: A2
Two longtime Greenville firefighters were remembered by the Wade Hampton Fire & Sewer District in separate ceremonies Sunday afternoon.
District commissioners formally renamed Station 1 (2815 Wade Hampton Boulevard), W.M. "Bill" Edwards Station, in honor of the man who helped organize the Wade Hampton Fire District in 1954 and served it until his retirement in 1980.
Edwards, who served as a volunteer or at a minimal salary for most of those years, died in 1996.
Later in the day, the station at 1112 Pelham Road was renamed in honor of the late R.B. "Rudy" Singleton, who was its first employee and served in the organization from 1958 until his retirement in 1992.
Retired Captain Curt McCain was among the speakers at the dedication of the Edwards Station. Retired chief Gary Downey spoke to the crowd at the Singleton Station.
Former volunteer Otis Coggins said Edwards spearheaded the drive to build water lines in the Wade Hampton District in 1954 and the effort to add fire protection in 1958. Coggins calls Edwards "one of the hardest-working men I've ever seen in my life."
Singleton helped increase the district's protective capability from one truck, one station, and one employee to forty-five employees, three stations, four engines and two ladder trucks. He also led the department from a Class 10 insurance rating to its current Class 2 rating. Wade Hampton was the first special-purpose district in South Carolina to receive a Class 2 rating.
Wade Hampton Fire District officials unveiled photos to the families of the men in ceremonies Sunday. State Representative Dan Hamilton presented resolutions passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives to commemorate the events and honorees.
The second event will begin at 3:30 p.m. at Station 2 located at 1112 Pelham Road.
During the ceremonies, Wade Hampton officials will unveil each station’s new signage renaming the facilities, commissioners will place a plaque at each station, and Representative Dan Hamilton (District 20 - GreenvilleCounty) will present the district with resolutions passed by the South Carolina House of Representatives to commemorate the events and honorees.
District commissioners, department personnel, and attending elected officials will be available for comment following the presentations and announcements.
For media inquiries and to arrange a copy of event video footage and/or still photography, contact Taft Matney by phone at 864/505-8866 or by e-mail at taft@taftmatney.com.
ot of discussion about H.4663 regarding the new construction requirements for residential fire sprinkler systems. Some say it’s turning South Carolina in to a “Nanny State,” while others tout sprinklers’ safety benefits.
