Sprinklers could save lives, property

Posted 10/16/15

To the Editor:

The recent fires at both the Four Seasons South in Warwick on Sept. 19 and the fire at the Westgate Condos on March 11 scores the immediate need to retrofit all older apartment …

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Sprinklers could save lives, property

Posted

To the Editor:

The recent fires at both the Four Seasons South in Warwick on Sept. 19 and the fire at the Westgate Condos on March 11 scores the immediate need to retrofit all older apartment buildings with automatic sprinkler systems. 

Current estimates to retrofit an existing low-rise apartment building range from $2 to $7 per square foot. On average a three-story apartment building may have a total of 50,000 square feet. At a mean average of $4.50 per square foot, it will cost approximately $250,000 to cover three floors, a basement, and the attic with sprinklers. There may be federal or local grant money and reduced insurance costs that can help to offset some of the expenses. These costs are only approximations, as the real costs would be determined by location, physical structure, and water supply. There may still be more fireproofing required and that should be determined by professionals involved in these matters.

Sprinklers do save the lives of first responders and occupants. They also save irreplaceable personal property and the commercial structure.  

The cost to retrofit with sprinklers would be much lower than the replacement cost to rebuild a totally destroyed building, which seems to be the most logical case. My guess is multi-millions to rebuild, not counting any litigation from the event.

Bob Sweeney

RES Associates 

President

Warwick

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