Title/Name/Summary
RESOLUTION OPPOSING ATTEMPT BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHALL TO ADOPT THE 2012 EDITION OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION LIFE SAFETY CODE AS AN ATTEMPTED UNWARRANTED INTRUSION INTO THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF MUNICIPALITIES, A BURDEN ON THE DEPRESSED HOUSING MARKET AND CREATION OF AN UNFUNDED MANDATE
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WHEREAS, on June 28, 2013, the Office of the State Fire Marshall (“OSFM”) filed proposed rules with the Illinois Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules whereby the 2012 Edition of the National Fire Protection Life Safety Code (“Code”) which, if adopted, would allow the OSFM to enforce the Code in all local jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the Code, if adopted, will mandate that fire sprinklers be installed:
a) in all new one and two family homes;
b) in all single-family homes undergoing at least 50% renovation;
c) in all pre-1975 high-rise residential buildings;
d) in all places with assembly seating, including places of worship, with an occupancy load of 100 or more persons; and
WHEREAS, these new fire sprinkler requirements will add an estimated (by the Illinois Association of Realtors) $13,200.00 to the cost of a new home thereby severely impacting an already distressed housing market; and
WHEREAS, the administration and inspection costs which will be incurred by local municipalities to enforce these new rules constitute an unfunded mandate in violation of state law; and
WHEREAS, residential and commercial building construction standards are now much stricter than ever before; and
WHEREAS, the Village of Orland Park believes that its officers and those employees charged with the responsibility of regulating and inspecting construction within the Village insofar as life safety matters are concerned have the best knowledge and understanding of what building requirements should be adopted and enforced within the Village.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Village President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Orland Park, Cook and Will Counties, Illinois, that the Illinois Legislature’s Joint Committee on Administrative Rules are urged to reject any attempt by the Office of the State Fire Marshall to adopt the 2012 National Fire Protection Association 101 Life Safety Code in any manner or form that undermines local control and adds substantial financial costs associated with the adoption and imposition of the Life Safety Code, particularly as to requirements for fire sprinklers as contained in the 2012 Code.