Dover City Council to Revisit Controversial Residential Sprinkler System Rule Amid Cost Concerns
The Dover City Council is reconsidering a new construction code provision that mandates residential sprinkler systems in all new homes, a rule adopted just last month. The council voted to rescind the updated code due to what city officials described as incorrect language. This decision follows significant pushback from residents and local developers who expressed concerns about the potential increase in housing costs. While some other Delaware municipalities, including Lewes, Newark, and Middletown, already have such requirements, Dover would be the largest city in the state to implement it. The city's Fire Marshal, Jason Osika, advocates for adopting the complete 2024 International Residential Code (IRC) without amendments, citing life safety issues due to the flammability of modern lightweight building materials. However, Councilman David Anderson, chair of the Legislative, Finance and Administration Committee, believes it is a "bad time" for the sprinkler requirement and intends to have the committee r...