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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 8, 2005

EDITORIAL
Sprinkler retrofitting: Time to finish the job

The issue resurfaces every few years. Unfortunately, it's usually after another tragic high-rise fire.

At issue is the retrofitting of sprinkler systems in high-rise residential buildings built before 1975.

A 1975 law required sprinklers in new buildings higher than 75 feet, and a 2001 ordinance — after a bad fire in 2000 — required retrofitting of 33 commercial high-rises built before 1975.

But today, some 300 residential high-rises built before 1975 remain without sprinklers.

The issue was re-energized recently after two apartment fires, including one that left an elderly man dead in Waikiki.

Mayor Mufi Hannemann favors retrofitting, but simply requiring it won't be enough given its great expense — $1 million or more per building.

With many owners and renters on fixed incomes, they understandably resist mandatory retrofitting.

Clearly, the solution must involve some sort of government initiative to make retrofitting affordable.

A step in the right direction is a bill in the Legislature to provide a tax credit of up to $1,000 a year for five years for people who install sprinklers.

That might not be enough to overcome the financial concerns of high-rise residents, although retrofitting also results in insurance savings and increased property values.

The city should find ways to sweeten the tax credits offered by the state.

Experience shows there will likely be another high-rise fire; the only unknown is when and how prepared we will be.