Iowa State Greeks May have to Install Sprinklers

bluefish81 · #1 03-27-2006, 08:53 PM

The City of Ames will be proposing proposing an ordinance to require that Greek housing, apartment complexes over a certain capacity, etc, have sprinkler systems installed. I believe that if this does pass that sororities and fraternities would have around three to five years to retrofit their facilities. Some chapters have already begun fundraising efforts.

Link to Des Moines Register article

Have other campuses had this happen? I believe the University of Illinois came up from time to time, when I was still advising at Iowa State.

kddani · #2 03-27-2006, 09:10 PM

If anything, seems like they are well behind on the times. Sprinklers were the big thing awhile ago. I know that they were put in our suites in 97 or 98. I would think that most of the insurance policies would require or highly encourage (likely in the way of a discount in premium) sprinkler systems.

DeltAlum · #3 03-28-2006, 11:13 AM

There is an organization that will help find inexpensive ways for Greek Housing Corporations to meet fire codes (regarding sprinklers) with fully safe and compliant systems.

The head of the organization, himself a former state fire marshall, spoke at our international meeting a couple of years ago.

I'm searching for his e-mail address, and will post it if I can find it.

Fires are a huge problem in Greek housing, most of which have been "grandfathered" from having to upgrade with fire suppression systems, and although this will put a serious financial strain on many chapters, it is badly needed.

ETA, I e-mailed our Central Office and here is the gentleman's contact info. I think NFSA mean National Fire Safety Association or something like that.

Buddy Dewar
Director, Regional Operations

Address:
200 West College Avenue
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Phone:
(850) 222-2070

Fax:
(850) 222-1752

Cell:
(850) 566-8733

Email:
dewar@nfsa.org

madmax · #4 03-28-2006, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bluefish81
The City of Ames will be proposing proposing an ordinance to require that Greek housing, apartment complexes over a certain capacity, etc, have sprinkler systems installed. I believe that if this does pass that sororities and fraternities would have around three to five years to retrofit their facilities. Some chapters have already begun fundraising efforts.

Link to Des Moines Register article

Have other campuses had this happen? I believe the University of Illinois came up from time to time, when I was still advising at Iowa State.

Penn State.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #5 03-28-2006, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bluefish81
The City of Ames will be proposing proposing an ordinance to require that Greek housing, apartment complexes over a certain capacity, etc, have sprinkler systems installed. I believe that if this does pass that sororities and fraternities would have around three to five years to retrofit their facilities. Some chapters have already begun fundraising efforts.

Link to Des Moines Register article

Have other campuses had this happen? I believe the University of Illinois came up from time to time, when I was still advising at Iowa State.

They did it at UPS but all the houses are owned by the University so it's a different situation.

Tom Earp · #6 03-28-2006, 04:29 PM

We all know it should be done for Life saving methods, but some times the cost especially in Older Houses where it would cost a fortune and be prohibitive.

Our New House doe not have sprinkler system, but it has been made very safe regardless with many safety features.

I would have rather seen a system built in my self.

I wonder how many Chapters will close because of this?

Coramoor · #7 03-28-2006, 04:38 PM

I don't think a single greek org on my campus could afford to spend a few hundred grand on such an upgrade.

I also don't think it would be passed because of the tremendous cost.

There have been a few orgs that upgraded their houses recently or built new ones...hopefully they were one step ahead on the fire codes or they could really be screwed. Alumni aren't going to be happy putting another 300K on top of a mil they just put in a year or two ago.

DeltAlum · #8 03-28-2006, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Coramoor
I also don't think it would be passed because of the tremendous cost.

I suspect every school is in the same situation.

I doubt that the city councils in these kinds of cases would care whether the chapter can afford it or not.

SmartBlondeGPhB · #9 03-28-2006, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I doubt that the city councils in these kinds of cases would care whether the chapter can afford it or not.

That was going to be my response too.

In fact, they might consider that another reason to pass the law....

Tom Earp · #10 03-28-2006, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by SmartBlondeGPhB
That was going to be my response too.

In fact, they might consider that another reason to pass the law....

Excellent Point here!!!!!!!!!!!

DeltAlum · #11 03-28-2006, 06:42 PM

That's a pretty good bet.

On the other hand, a lot of our houses are fire traps, and we've lost some people in fires.

TSteven · #12 03-28-2006, 08:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
There is an organization that will help find inexpensive ways for Greek Housing Corporations to meet fire codes (regarding sprinklers) with fully safe and compliant systems.

As part of this, why not have all the Iowa State [insert campus here] Greek House Corporations form an umbrella group (or what ever the term might be called) and solicit bids? Perhaps the university would be willing to facilitate this umbrella group.

It seems to reason that the company that wins the contract for the whole Iowa State Greek community should/would be willing to install at a reduced cost due to the volume of business. And as such, the overall "savings" would be passed on to each house corporation as applicable.

Also, while the bulk of the cost will have to be paid by the chapters and their alumni, the various chapters involved could also hold group fundraisers to help offset some of the cost. Definitely a worthy cause.

bluefish81 · #13 03-28-2006, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by TSteven
As part of this, why not have all the Iowa State [insert campus here] Greek House Corporations form an umbrella group (or what ever the term might be called) and solicit bids? Perhaps the university would be willing to facilitate this umbrella group.

It seems to reason that the company that wins the contract for the whole Iowa State Greek community should/would be willing to install at a reduced cost due to the volume of business. And as such, the overall "savings" would be passed on to each house corporation as applicable.

Also, while the bulk of the cost will have to be paid by the chapters and their alumni, the various chapters involved could also hold group fundraisers to help offset some of the cost. Definitely a worthy cause.

Some of the Greek orgs joined together a a little over two years ago to form the ISU Greek Alumni Alliance. Not all the chapters participate, but I know the idea of joining together to work to get bids was mentioned when I was part of the organization (and living in IA).

The GAA also formed a subcommittee for infrastructure that focused on sprinkler systems. The group did flowcharts about the steps of the process and provides lists of different companies chapters could contact to get the process started.

kddani · #14 03-28-2006, 09:09 PM

Coramoor · #15 03-28-2006, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DeltAlum
I suspect every school is in the same situation.

I doubt that the city councils in these kinds of cases would care whether the chapter can afford it or not.

I'm talking about the city as a whole. Most of the structures within city limits are student housing, with enough students living in them that they would probably also have to comply with the fire codes. There are about 4 companies (people) that own 95% of the town and they sure as hell aren't going to want to shell out that kind of money.