High-Rise Buildings Are Ready for Fire Sprinkler Systems
All of Chicago’s high-rise buildings that do not have fire sprinklers already have the infrastructure in place. When retrofitting a high-rise building, the fire sprinkler system is connected to the standpipe system. That is how the system was installed at the McClurg Court Center buildings at 333 East Ontario (two 45-story residential towers fully retrofitted with fire sprinklers). All high-rise buildings are equipped with a fire standpipe system and most have fire pumps. The standpipe, usually found in the building stairwell, provides the water for firefighter’s hoses on each floor and for the fire sprinkler retrofit.
High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Costs According to Chicago Contractors And Other Important Facts
The cost to retrofit an existing high-rise building with fire sprinklers averages $4-8 per square foot, according to completion costs from Chicago-area fire sprinkler contractors on various projects.
In most cases the commercial high-rise retrofit ordinance permits equipment already in place such as standpipes and fire pumps to be incorporated into the sprinkler system installation. These cost saving advantages are available to residential buildings as well.
Retrofitting a high-rise building can also result in a fire insurance savings from 20% to 60% for common areas. Condo owners and renters can save between 5% and 20%. These factors need to be a part of the discussion about cost.
Dozens of cities throughout the country require high-rise building be retrofit since the requirement became part of NFPA’s Life Safety Code in 1991. There are no reports of the requirement causing economic hardship. A partial list of cities with the requirement include Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego and San Francisco.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), most high-rise fire deaths occur in residential apartments and condominiums. By not including residential buildings in the retrofit ordinance, many Chicago residents have been left at risk.
Fire sprinklers are individually activated by heat from a fire. When a fire occurs, only the sprinkler closest to the fire will activate preventing deadly toxic smoke and fire from spreading.
The Question is…
Do you want to risk your life in a building that does just enough to pass the City’s LSE without having to install fire sprinklers, or do you want the peace of mind that comes with the 24/7 protection of fire sprinklers?
