Fire Suppression Systems

[boz130]

Hey, guys: I saw a piece on the RM forum that dealt w/fires @ chapter houses. That got me to thinking...how many of our chapters have adequate fire suppression systems (sprinklers, halon, etc.)?

The Northwestern chapter has had discussions about this because the City of Evanston wants to have all GLOs sprinklered @ some point (the date keeps changing). My home chapter, Illinois State, hasn't had any talk about a sprinkler system to date.

This is an issue that's generally swept under the rug (out of sight, out of mind) because it's so pricey. For example, Northwestern's house (4 stories, brick construction from 1920's, full basement, sleeps 30-35 men) has had an estimate of $250K for installation "to code".

The problem is, "code" keeps changing and the prices keep escalating (an average of 10%/year).

Please share your thoughts on this issue (alums & UGs alike) - who knows, perhaps this is something that could be discussed @ the LS in Memphis...

In ZAX,
BF

[john1082]

I know that HQ had a loan program at one time to assist chapters in installing sprinklers. I cannot imagine a responsible House Corp not taking the needed steps to make sprinklers happen. Yes, it costs money, but when the insurance break is amortized out perhaps the added cost isn't so bad. If the annual debt service is $10,000 on a sprinkler loan and the insurance savings is $8,000 then the actual cost is $2,000 a year.

The inertia may come from the difficulty some House Corp members have in dealing with numbers. At Cal it was a no-brainer given the composition of our board. For others it may take some selling. A good sales job by the High Pi, the guy that knows the kids best,and would have to deal with the parents should there be a loss, may be the best salesman of all.

Perhaps a survey of sorts might be in order: Who has sprinklers? How did you pay for them? What is the net cost (loan minus insurance savings)? Did your university assist in financing?

Would be a worthwhile topic for exploration. Short of a block party with an open bar sponsored by Budweiser with Jello wrestling on a beach, a chapter house fire is the scariest thing that I can imagine.

And coming from a lawyer, that says a great deal!

We had a fire at Texas in '84 and there was a death. We read about a couple of house fires every year. If we have a chapter without sprinklers at this late date then we might well get smacked and smacked hard by a jury. And no responsible plaintiff lawyer would EVER settle a fraternity house fire out of court. That's just leaving money ont he table.

[Tom Earp]

Bill, is this not the crux of the problem? Costs, costs and costs.

Beleive me, no one more than me wants to see a Brother of LXA or anyother Greek Organization lose a member.

But as many of us know, there is a shortage of cash in many Chapters and to raise dues for this type of project can and will either close many chapters or keep new chapters from starting.

At one time and I am not sure if IHQ still has a program of low cost loans to chapters got sprinkler systems. But in a retro fit of old large houses, the cost will still be extensivly high.

So in essence, where does that leave Greek Houses?

[GammaZeta]

Tom, I think it depends on the school or municipal code.

Gamma Zeta had to have them installed during the major renovations in the 80's to have it up to date. If we didn't do the renovations, we wouldn't have needed the sprinklers since the lack of them would have been grandfathered in.

More and more towns and cities are cracking down on non-campus student housing.

[Tom Earp]

Originally Posted by GammaZeta

Tom, I think it depends on the school or municipal code.

Gamma Zeta had to have them installed during the major renovations in the 80's to have it up to date. If we didn't do the renovations, we wouldn't have needed the sprinklers since the lack of them would have been grandfathered in.

More and more towns and cities are cracking down on non-campus student housing.

Yes is and does. A knee jerk reaction is always the thing to do.

It seems that the grandfather clause is being more trampled on.

I am sure that if all of us had a wish, it would be to have sprinkler systems in all houses that hold more than even a few members.

[john1082]

Unfortunately a grandfather clause does not serve to vitiate liability. Just because a grandfather clause says that sprinklers need not be installed would not necessarily equal a jury saying no liability.

The argument "But we meet the code" doesn't work. The Titanic met all applicable codes and was still short of lifeboat space! Sprinklers are a basic safety item. You can't get a hotel room without them now - at least in a room built within the last 20 years or so. Some houses now have them. Dorms have them. If we have a fire in a house that lacks them I just don't want to be in that courtroom when the jury returns with the verdict.

[Tom Earp]

John, once again your point is well taken as while only a few if any on G C have ever been in the same situation of losing a Brother/Sister in a fire. I include myself of course.

That is the main reason or part of it to demolish our "Old Peice of Crap House". It was a disastor waiting for a place to happen.

Would I love to see supresion systems in every house/dorm, you bet!

As I mentioned in another thread, I fought for it, but many things were put into place for it other than sprinklers.

There needs to be a seminar on what should be done and what not done with certain items with flames to try to keep it down from problems happening. We hope!