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Fire is a dangerous epidemic. In 2004, fire killed more Americans
than all natural disasters combined. Direct property loss due to
fires in 2004 was estimated at $9.8 billion. Sadly, many of these
fires have occurred in student housing and elderly housing facilities
that are not required to have non-combustible firewalls; a crucial
part of balanced design.
Balanced design includes the use of three important systems: detection
(smoke detectors), suppression (sprinklers) and containment
(non-combustible concrete firewalls). Because no system is 100%
effective, it is important to have all of these systems in place to
lessen the chances of fire related deaths and injuries as well as
property damage.
The Fire Safety Committee is working diligently to make changes to the
Uniform Statewide Building Codes to require balanced design in
multi-family residential, student and elderly housing. This will
include two-hour NC3 walls which can significantly reduce property
damage by preventing the spread of fire.
The Fire Safety Committee is working alongside several other groups
including the Mid-Atlantic Fire Safety Construction Advisory Council
(MAFSCAC), the Fire Safety Construction Advisory Council (FSCAC) and
the Pennsylvania Fire Safety Construction Advisory Council (PAFSCAC).
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