Chicago Fires

[winnie]

Ryan,

Yes it is exactly like that. Safety has a price. The only question is how much safety can we afford? Where is the line?
Don

A separate, and IMHO equally important question is: just where do we throw this safety money?

If you add a $1000 budget for improved safety when building a home, what do you spend it on?

Given the statistics and discussion presented earlier in this thread, it seems to me that a fire suppression system in the kitchen would save far more lives per dollar than using EMT for the wiring.

Given the discussion of extension cords, changing the rules to require receptacles every 6 feet is probably more cost effective than EMT.

-Jon

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Bob,

My line stops when we start talking about requiring EMT for wood framed dwellings.

I think that we do these things backwards....the most safe electrical systems should be required for the woodframe building and the least safe for the non-combustible building.
Don

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Jon,

Given the statistics and discussion presented earlier in this thread, it seems to me that a fire suppression system in the kitchen would save far more lives per dollar than using EMT for the wiring.

I think that if you look at installation dollars and life safety, one of the most cost effective safety measures would be fire sprinklers. About 50 communities in Illinois now require such systems in all dwelling units.
Don

 

[winnie]

Jon,

I think that if you look at installation dollars and life safety, one of the most cost effective safety measures would be fire sprinklers. About 50 communities in Illinois now require such systems in all dwelling units.
Don

IMHO money spent on sprinklers is far more effective than money spent on AFCI protection.

Several months ago I read through a report on the Scottsdale, AZ sprinkler ordinance. The interesting thing that they did there initially was that rather than _require_ sprinklers, the _permitted_ the use of sprinklers and offered developers reduction in other code requirements to offset the cost of the sprinklers. It was only after they had a statistical base demonstrating the life safety benefit of sprinklers that they changed to requiring them.

-Jon