State Fire Marshal of the State of Montana | Montana Career Fire Chiefs Association | Montana State Fire Chiefs Association | Montana Chapter of the International Code Council

JOINT PRESS RELEASE:

MONTANA FIRE OFFICIALS ENDORSE RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

The State Fire Marshal of the State of Montana, the Montana Career Fire Chiefs Association; the Montana State Fire Chiefs Association, and the Montana Chapter of the International Code Council urge and invite all safety minded people of the State of Montana to join us in support of residential sprinklers as the single most critical step toward decreasing fire death and injuries where they occur most frequently, in one and two family dwellings.

In unified support for adoption of the 2009 International Residential Code, to include all residential sprinkler requirements, for the State of Montana, the following resolutions and position statements are formally adopted by their respective associations.

The Montana State Fire Marshal’s Office is extremely concerned for the safety of the citizens of this state. Our number one priority is the saving of lives. Montana fire statistics reveal and confirm that most fire deaths in the State of Montana occur in one and two family dwellings.

The 2009 International Residential Code requires the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems in all new one and two family dwellings. This office is in strong support of this code.

The Fire Marshal’s Office, along with Montana fire service organizations, supports the effort to educate the general public, builders, firefighters, code enforcement officials, and any other concerned parties to the effectiveness of sprinkler systems.
The Montana Career Fire Chiefs Association (MCFCA) supports adoption, in the State of Montana, of the residential sprinkler requirements, as set forth in the 2009 IRC, and
1. In order to reduce deaths from structure fires to zero and limit property damage from structure fires to the area of origin, the MCFCA

· Advocates for complete automatic fire sprinkler protection of all new occupied construction, including one-and two-family dwellings;

· Supports efforts to educate the public on the benefits of fire sprinkler protection;

· Supports efforts to educate Code Officials on the benefits of fire sprinkler protection;

· Advocates for the elimination of codes, laws or policies that discourage the cost effective installation of fire sprinkler systems;

2. In order to reduce firefighter fire ground deaths to zero, the MCFCA

· Supports efforts to educate firefighters as to the benefits of fire sprinkler protection in reducing firefighter deaths;

· Advocates for complete automatic fire sprinkler protection of all new construction, including one-and two-family dwellings

The Montana State Fire Chiefs Association supports adoption, in the State of Montana, of the residential sprinkler requirements, as set forth in the 2009 IRC, and;

- Advocates for complete automatic fire sprinkler protection of all new occupied construction, including one-and two-family dwellings;

-Supports efforts to educate the public, firefighters and Code Officials on the benefits of fire sprinkler protection;

-Advocates for the elimination of codes, laws or policies that discourage the cost effective installation of fire sprinkler systems;

In order to reduce deaths from structure fires and limit property damage from structure fires to the area of origin, the ICC Chapter of Montana:

· Advocates for complete automatic fire sprinkler protection of all new occupied construction, including one-and two-family dwellings;

· Supports efforts to educate the public on the benefits of fire sprinkler protection;

· Supports efforts to educate Code Officials on the benefits of fire sprinkler protection;

· Advocates for and recommends adoption of the 2009 IRC residential fire sprinkler requirements to become effective on July 1^st, 2012 for the State of Montana.

Issued June 2010