$, lobbyists, and politicians

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by dellinger63

I don't think the lack of this regulation steps on your personal and well thought out choice of installing a sprinkler system rather than granite countertops. However it would step on the personal decision of someone wanting granite instead.

Simply American's don't need a babysitter/parent by way of the government. If a citizen doesn't want sprinklers and is willing to pay an additional 10% on his home insurance policy so be it.

BTW How much did the pipefitters union and sprinkler association dole out to politicians to get this going?

not as much as the construction industry to fight it.

thing is, regarding codes, many of the others that are now just a part of building a home were once fought against due to cost. as for 'babysitting', do you object to the code telling your builder what size wiring to use? that it must be copper, and not aluminum? that p-traps must be put on all plumbing? that plumbing must be vented? what about standards on footings, walls, beams, etc? all put there to make sure builders didn't just build cheap and without regard to safety.
also, if you'll note, because of changes in materials, houses burn much more quickly than they used to, hence the reason i agree that a sprinkler system would be very useful. besides, the changes in materials are used because they changed the price being paid by builders-and yet, you don't see a correlating decrease in housing prices, do you? of course not. i wouldn't buy a new house that was built along with many others at the same time by a developer. those cookie cutters are done in a minimum of time, on the cheap. it's why drywall doesn't look at good as it used to, it's why you can feel your tub give when you're in it, it's why the toilets they install are the bottom of line model.
they are against sprinklers because it might slow things down just a bit on the front end during the build.

a house is typically a persons single largest investment they will ever make. it contains their worldly goods and prized possessions, along with something irreplaceble-people. when i see builders say 'look at the cost' and it's under 4k for a 2400 squ foot home, frankly, it makes me laugh. that's cheap!