Latest Fire Fatality Proves That Thousands of Chicago Residents Are Not Safe From High-Rise Fires
According to the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board (NIFSAB), the high-rise fire that killed one resident and injured nine others including two firefighters on January 8, 2012, calls into question the effectiveness of the City of Chicago's 2004 high-rise fire safety ordinance. It requires all residential high-rise buildings built prior to 1975 that do not have fire sprinklers to pass a City of Chicago Life Safety Evaluation.
Life Safety Evaluation (LSE)
According to Tom Lia, NIFSAB's Executive Director, the Chicago Life Safety Evaluation (LSE) program falls well short of the national standard of safety, NFPA 101: Life Safety Code, which is the code referenced by the James Lee Witt Report following the deadly Cook County Administration Building high-rise fire of 2003. NFPA 101 requires fire sprinklers in all high-rise buildings in excess of 75 feet and has been adopted by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal. Chicago's LSE is essentially a "watered down" version of NFPA 101 and does not address all of the key issues in high-rise fire safety. Download the analysis of the "Life Safety Evaluation System for Business and Residential High-Rise Buildings" Pro Design Group Report prepared by Cecil Bilbo.
Proof that Chicago's LSE does fall short was a fire on December 10, 2009, on the thirty-sixth floor of the building at 260 East Chestnut that claimed the life of an 84-year-old woman. Prior to the fire, that building had passed the City of Chicago LSE.
LISTEN:
Tom Lia's interview on WLS 890AM's "Roe & Roeper Show" (9m 19s).WBBM Newsradio 780′s report on high-rise fire safety compliance (0m 43s).
Violations can be punishable with fines that range between $500 and $1,000. No buildings have been fined for non-compliance. As of December 2009, the City failed to collect nearly $23 million in potential fines.
The 2004 ordinance included a seven-year period for building owners to comply and repair any deficiencies by 2012. In December 2011 , the Chicago City Council passed an ordinance to extend the compliance deadline to 2015. That is three additional years residents will live with a higher fire risk.
"Especially now that the city extended the compliance deadline, there is time to obtain true and accurate information on installing fire sprinklers as a first choice. Let's dispel the myths on the cost and show the benefits of fire sprinklers."
Download Fire Sprinkler Board Commends Mayor Emanuel for
High-Rise Life Safety Enforcement
Firefighter injuries in the U.S. and home Fire Sprinkler impact on firefighter safety
Four Hurt in Near West Side Fire at CHA Building for Seniors
