Posted on: Sunday, October 21, 2001

Editorial
Council must finish the job on retrofitting

The City Council is to be commended for requiring that sprinkler systems be installed in some 33 business buildings constructed before 1975. The new law has the potential to save property and, much more importantly, lives.

Now, it is time for the council to take the next step and require sprinklers for some 300 residential buildings constructed before 1975.

Honolulu has required sprinklers in all new buildings higher than 75 feet constructed since 1975 and all hotels regardless of what year they were built. It's a glaring omission that residents of high-rise buildings do not have similar protection.

Council Chairman Jon Yoshimura has noted that passing a law covering residential buildings will be more difficult because of the cost of retrofitting. The cost is not so onerous for commercial buildings because of resulting insurance savings and increased property values.

But the council can ease the cost of retrofitting residential buildings. It can offer tax credits for the installation of a range of fire safety features, including sprinklers, sealed-off elevator lobbies and smoke control systems.

It's time for the council to make it financially feasible for apartment owners to embrace the concept of retrofitting.