Fire officials pursuing stricter sprinkler law
By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Fire officials have urged a City Council committee to approve a bill requiring fire sprinkler systems in 30 high-rise commercial buildings that were built before the 1975 sprinkler law went into effect.
The Planning and Public Safety Committee, which includes five council members, met Tuesday with Honolulu Fire Chief Attililo Leonardi and Battalion Chief Kenneth Silva.
The 30 commercial buildings that are targeted for retrofitting are in an area that spreads from the Honolulu International Airport to Hawai'i Kai, Silva said.
City Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura introduced the bill after the April 2000 fire in the Interstate Building on South King Street, which was built before the 26-year-old law required sprinklers in buildings taller than 75 feet.
The fire was one of the costliest high-rise fires in Honolulu history, causing estimated damage of $10 million to the structure and $3 million to its contents, fire officials said.
Putting out the high-rise blaze required 125 firefighters. The fire started on the 16th floor of the building.
"The Interstate (building) clearly showed us the importance of fire safety," said Honolulu Fire Chief Attililo Leonardi. "And, without sprinklers it caused a substantial money loss and a risk of safety."
According to the study by the fire department, sprinkler systems are 90 percent effective in preventing fires from spreading, Leonardi said.
He said sprinkler installation for the high-rise buildings would cost about $5 per square foot.
The fire officials also told committee members that the fire department looked at three high-rises similar to the Interstate Building and used them to compare data with a national insurance company.
"We cannot show a money amount because there are so many different variables, but they showed us that sprinklers would save 20 percent of the structure and 37 percent of the contents if there was a fire," Leonardi said.
Council member Duke Bainum asked fire officials why the department was focusing on older business buildings only.
"Aren't we doing this to save lives?" Bainum said. "Why not retrofit private homes?"
Leonardi said: "It takes unique firefighting capabilities in highrises. When firefighters deal with residential fires, they can fight it by surrounding the house. With high-rises you're dealing with stairways and hallways, so a high-rise fire is unique."
He said the department has numerous incentives to address residential homes, but wants to a see a high rise law passed soon.
The committee postponed further discussion about the sprinkler law until their next meeting at 2 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Honolulu Hale.
The original meeting was set for Kapolei in August.
"It's more appropriate to poll the public at Honolulu Hale, where more people would be available," Felix said.
