South Carolina Weighs Sprinkler Rule for New Homes

The debate over whether all new homes should have fire sprinklers is heating up in South Carolina.

The South Carolina Building Code Council is considering whether to adopt the International Residential Code requiring sprinklers in all new homes.

The National Fire Protection Association has launched a statewide ad campaign featuring commercials and billboards in favor of the requirement. Relatives of fallen firefighters and burn victims speak in favor of sprinklers.

The Home Builders Association of South Carolina agrees that sprinklers make people safer. But the group says that putting in sprinklers in a new home is a decision that should be up to homeowners.

Whether the code is adopted will ultimately be decided by the General Assembly.