A Risk Benefit Analysis Of A Mandatory Residential Sprinkler System Ordinance In The City Of Mercer Island

Research questions were utilized to identify the costs, benefits, existing ordinances and the impacts to stakeholders as well as the fire service, from the adoption of a mandatory residential sprinkler system ordinance for new single-family construction. Descriptive and historical research methods were used to answer the research questions, and included external surveys, personal interviews and an extensive literature review. Recommendations included meetings for stakeholders to identify concerns, the development of a public education program on the benefits of sprinkler systems, drafting of an ordinance for approval by the council, and enlisting the help of fire departments who had previously been successful with this type of ordinance.