In recognition that fires are the leading cause of natural disaster deaths, this bill would establish a local option to require new one- and two-family homes be built with automatic sprinkler systems.

Massachusetts requires all homes to have both a working smoke detector and a working carbon monoxide detector in their homes. These alarms have become an essential part of our public safety system, warning people of all ages of dangerous situations. Ultimately, a smoke alarm’s function is to prevent physical harm or death from a fire to an individual, but fire alarms do not protect a person or their property from destruction. Fire sprinklers, however, have the ability to effectively notify a household, protect the people in it, prevent damage or the destruction of their property from the threat of fires, allow residents more time to evacuate the premise, and fire departments more time to respond.