State lawmakers on Monday urged Gov. Kathy Hochul to approve a bill meant to expand the prevalance of fire sprinkler systems in residential homes in New York.
The measure would require residential home builders to provide buyers with an estimate for the cost of installing a fire sprinkler system in new single-family and two-family homes in the state.
Sprinklers are required in new commercial buildings and multifamily dwellings, but are not mandated in single-family or two-family homes. The measure is being pushed amid Fire Prevention Week.
“This legislation helps homeowners appreciate the many benefits of home fire sprinklers, which can drastically reduce the risk of property damage and death from fire for about the price of a new granite countertop,” said Assemblywoman Monica Wallace, a Democrat who sponosred the measure, along with Sen. John Brooks.
Fire sprinkler systems can give families time to escape while also limiting property damage. The systems can reduce fire-related fatalities by 80% and damage by up to 97%. The systems can also reduce firefighter injuries by up to 65%, according to the Fire Protection Association.
The average cost of installation is about $1.35 per square foot, or less than $3,000 for a 2,000-square-foot house.