Ryan, Some jurisdictions require this for other, but just as spurious, reasons. The costlier lines and meters comes from a couple of sources and are accurate though typically exaggerated. Most residential systems have 3/4" incoming lines and 5/8" meters. You'd need at least a 3/4" meter to work a sprinkler system and more often than not 1" lines and meters. Bigger pipe more cost but incidental in this case. Where it really hits is the water purveyor's hook-up and other charges. One local jurisdiction around here charges $14,000.00, yes that's right, fourteen thousand dollars, for a one inch hook-up. Their reason is that the increased water usage will require extra water development costs. As long as these purveyors see sprinklers as another water using device in addition to everything else instead of as an alternative to high demand hydrant use, thereby typically lessening the impact fire causes, they'll continue to charge high fees and make the NAHB's/BIA's case.
On Tue, Jun 17, 2008 at 11:49 AM, Ryan J. Smith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I am engaged in a "friendly" and somewhat public debate with a realtor in > the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia area on the use residential fire sprinklers. > He has been educated by the home builders anti residential fire sprinkler > material and has been convincing others not to support the proposed code > changes to the IRC. > > The two arguments he is focusing on are: > 1. Installing a residential fire sprinkler would require different water > (more expensive) lines and water meters > 2. It is difficult (or impossible) to use a water softener in tandem with a > residential fire sprinkler system without having to add a second incoming > water line and water meter > > These concerns seem way overstated, especially the second since the water > softener could simply be installed to the domestic supply without affecting > the fire sprinkler water supply. > > Does anyone have any experience with the first concern about secondary water > lines and meters being needed? My understanding is that this would rarely > be needed only under special circumstances, but I wanted to check before > posting my rebuttal. > > Thanks, > > Ryan J. Smith > > ResidentialFireSprinklers.com - Your Voice in Home Fire Protection > http://www.ResidentialFireSprinklers.com > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman at home.... _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
