AIKEN --- In the wake of the deaths of nine Charleston firefighters last summer, state lawmakers are getting tough with fire safety and prevention.
Lawmakers have introduced several bills in the General Assembly concerning the installation of fire sprinkler systems in commercial buildings.
It's an issue, however, that city officials in Aiken tackled nearly 20 years ago.
"We're an advocate of sprinklers," said Pete Frommer, director of public safety. "In the '80s, we were one of the first cities in the state of South Carolina to pass a city sprinkler ordinance."
The ordinance, passed primarily in response to the growth the city experienced in the 1980s, requires sprinkler systems in any commercial establishment that has four or more rooms or any apartment complex that has four or more units.
In addition, Chief Frommer said, the city requires sprinkler systems in the several single-story apartment complexes scattered across town.
"Even today, the state building code does not require them to (have sprinkler systems)," he said. "The city does."
Business owners found that having sprinklers paid off, Chief Frommer said. Within about five years of the ordinance's passage, the money they saved on their fire insurance more than paid for the sprinkler system.
Some homeowners in Aiken have also installed residential sprinkler systems, though the city doesn't require them in homes.
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the cost of installing a home sprinkler system in new construction is about $1 to $1.50 a square foot, and homeowners can see an insurance discount ranging from 5 percent to 15 percent.
Currently, older buildings don't have to be retrofitted with a sprinkler system unless the building is being renovated.
"If the renovation is more than 50 percent of the value of the building, then they have to retrofit it (with a sprinkler system)," Chief Frommer said.
The public safety chief said people who own older buildings have installed smoke detectors and heat detectors "even though those won't control a fire, at least they give an early warning of a fire."
Reach Michelle Guffey at (803) 648-1395, ext. 110, or michelle.guffey@augustachronicle.com.
HB 4470 -- fire sprinkler tax credit for 80 percent of the cost, up to a maximum of $50,000, of purchasing, installing and retrofitting a fire sprinkler system. Would also repeal fire sprinkler tax, which Aiken does not have, allowing local governments to charge only for actual cost associated with adding a water line for the purpose of supporting a fire sprinkler system.
SB 921 -- mandates that sprinklers be installed in all commercial and industrial buildings.
SB 860 -- does not include mandates but offers incentives, including tax credits and insurance discounts.
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