Really great observations here. One answer to why this provision made it is just think about making an argument against “safety”….its a tough side of the debate to draw. Therefore, nobody stepped up to do it. But you made very rational arguments. The same thought process can apply to many codes. The regulations that have been added steadily over my career have added significant cost to any property improvement or development without deep analysis on the cost versus benefit. For instance, there have been huge additions to the mechanical code in the name of energy conservation. But has anybody done the math? I’m personally skeptical on this one.
The city adopted the ordinance in the wake of the Castle Hills fire that claimed five lives. A report on that fire has never been issued, but sprinklers would not have availed the victims one bit. That fire was sui generis, the tragedy caused by other factors was from smoke inhalation. The Fire Chief and the sprinkler industry runners were behind it. The whole thing was ill-conceived. But as a result, while owners of properties had to shell out millions for feckless retrofits the chief was mage Fire Chief of the Year. Then he was fired for eating sushi off a nude woman at a party.
Really great observations here. One answer to why this provision made it is just think about making an argument against “safety”….its a tough side of the debate to draw. Therefore, nobody stepped up to do it. But you made very rational arguments. The same thought process can apply to many codes. The regulations that have been added steadily over my career have added significant cost to any property improvement or development without deep analysis on the cost versus benefit. For instance, there have been huge additions to the mechanical code in the name of energy conservation. But has anybody done the math? I’m personally skeptical on this one.
David, what do you imagine the increased cost from safety regulations is relative to inflation? Or too tough to say?
On any one regulation you could theoretically and quite easily make that calculation. But just saying safety would be too difficult.
The city adopted the ordinance in the wake of the Castle Hills fire that claimed five lives. A report on that fire has never been issued, but sprinklers would not have availed the victims one bit. That fire was sui generis, the tragedy caused by other factors was from smoke inhalation. The Fire Chief and the sprinkler industry runners were behind it. The whole thing was ill-conceived. But as a result, while owners of properties had to shell out millions for feckless retrofits the chief was mage Fire Chief of the Year. Then he was fired for eating sushi off a nude woman at a party.