Dec 29 2009
The recent Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code Review and Advisory Council's vote to mandate the placement of sprinklers in all new one- and two-family residences and townhomes built in Pennsylvania will take effect on January 1, 2011, but Camp Hill, Pa.-based modular home manufacturer Excel Homes isn't waiting that long.
Effective immediately, Excel Homes will begin offering sprinkler systems as a service option in all new homes it builds and ships throughout the eastern United States. The goal, according to CEO Steve Scharnhorst, is to build proficiency in delivering this important safety offering to Excel Homes customers. The Excel Homes team has been leading the charge on home sprinkler systems since 2005 through the installation of fire protection systems in commercial and multi-family properties.
"By using custom modular construction, Excel Homes makes it easier and convenient for builders to adapt to the pending sprinkler system mandate, long before the January 2011 deadline," said Scharnhorst, who announced the new sprinkler system option on the company's blog. "Our custom modular construction method is well suited to a change like this, and it should have virtually no effect on the speed and efficiency of our service and process."
Excel Homes has partnered with Illinois-based F.E. Moran, Inc., to assist the modular home manufacturer with onsite testing and installation of each sprinkler system.
While smoke alarms are most effective in providing early warning signs of a home fire, sprinkler systems control flames at the earliest stage, before they can create deadly heat and smoke. By dousing the flames within a few minutes, rather than waiting for emergency response teams to arrive, sprinkler systems save lives, property and money.
"I am ecstatic that Excel Homes is taking a lead role in making this lifesaving option available to their customers," said Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Ed Mann. "They will now be poised to easily comply with the new code on January 1, 2011. I congratulate the Excel Homes management team for their forward thinking and decision-making that will save the lives of firefighters and residents alike."
Besides the obvious advantage of maximizing protection during a home fire, an automatic sprinkler system may also reduce home insurance costs, increase home value and provide a more sustainable way of living. Since Excel's systems use less water to put out a fire before it has a chance to spread, natural resources are conserved and air quality is preserved.
Source: http://www.excelhomes.com/