The Home Ownership Thread

[sugarbutch]

Is that true even when the rest of the home does? Seems like garage fires would do a lot of damage and be fairly likely starting points.

I would be surprised if a code which requires sprinklers doesn't include the garage, but I think the codes may also give a choice between sprinklers and more extensive use of fire-rated materials. We weren't required to install sprinklers when we remodeled in 2014, nor did we need to convert smoke alarms in the existing structure to hardwired.

 

[Piobaire]

My mother's new build from 2020 has sprinklers. I still can't get used to seeing them on the ceiling of a house.

She has exposed heads and not the drop down version that are sealed unless the wax compound melts from heat?

I think where we live it's been code for houses over a certain size for decades.

 

[jbarwick]

We don't have sprinklers and our house was built in 2000. Will have to check the inlaws house which was built last year when I go over there. I didn't know it was a residential thing now.

 

[brokencycle]

We don't have sprinklers and our house was built in 2000. Will have to check the inlaws house which was built last year when I go over there. I didn't know it was a residential thing now.

I learned from our architects. Not every municipality enforces 100% of the building code: I know we don't here. But where we're building they do, and they make zero exceptions on the sprinklers.

 

[SixOhNine]

I learned from our architects. Not every municipality enforces 100% of the building code: I know we don't here. But where we're building they do, and they make zero exceptions on the sprinklers.

That's because you live in the Commie part of the state. You need to move to someplace more Murican, like Goldsboro. I bet they'd let you build anything there.

 

[brokencycle]

That's because you live in the Commie part of the state. You need to move to someplace more Murican, like Goldsboro. I bet they'd let you build anything there.

I'm building somewhere even more commie: Evanston, IL.

Here they let you do whatever you want.

Compare: here code is R-13 for wall insulation. There it is R-30. I know its colder there, but the extra insulation here would help with our summers.

 

[Texasmade]

Houston/Harris County doesn't require sprinklers in a house. I don't think I've ever seen a sprinkler in any house in Texas for that matter.

 

[Numbernine]

Houston/Harris County doesn't require sprinklers in a house. I don't think I've ever seen a sprinkler in any house in Texas for that matter.

Thats because humidity is so high a match won't burn.

 

[imatlas]

A quick Google says there’s an 80%-90% reduction in fire deaths compared to buildings without sprinklers.

They may be ugly and expensive but they work.

 

[imatlas]

I would be surprised if a code which requires sprinklers doesn't include the garage, but I think the codes may also give a choice between sprinklers and more extensive use of fire-rated materials. We weren't required to install sprinklers when we remodeled in 2014, nor did we need to convert smoke alarms in the existing structure to hardwired.

I think they’re only required in new homes or renovated apartment buildings in SF. Existing homes are grandparented in.

Our 3 unit building seems to have squeaked by so there must be a minimum # of units that is greater than that.

 

[Numbernine]

I would be surprised if a code which requires sprinklers doesn't include the garage, but I think the codes may also give a choice between sprinklers and more extensive use of fire-rated materials. We weren't required to install sprinklers when we remodeled in 2014, nor did we need to convert smoke alarms in the existing structure to hardwired.

You are only required sprinklers here if the remodel is over 50% of the existing SF.

 

[HRoi]

Are residential sprinklers extremely reliable about not activating when you don’t need them to? I have no experience with sprinklers, but I do have experience with flood remediation, sadly.

 

[double00]

fwiw ( and I had to look it up ) sprinklers aren't a requirement in single family or duplex res here

 

[venividivicibj]

fwiw ( and I had to look it up ) sprinklers aren't a requirement in single family or duplex res here

‘Here’ being….

 

[double00]

‘Here’ being….

state of Oregon