North Chicago, IL—The city of North Chicago updated its codes and will now require the installation of fire sprinklers in all new-construction, single-family dwellings. The codes were updated following North Chicago’s August 24, 2024, adoption of the 2021 editions of the International Residential Code (IRC), International Building Code (IBC), and International Fire Code (IFC).
North Chicago Economic and Community Development Director Taylor Wegrzyn and Fire Chief John Umek both discussed the safety and economic perspectives of adopting this code for the community.
“It’s an extreme help to the community just from a safety standpoint,” Umek said, noting that fire sprinklers give the fire department the ability to have a faster response to a fire by holding a fire in check before fire crews arrive.
Wegrzyn agrees that safety is the major reason for the code adoption including home fire sprinklers. “From an economic development perspective, we believe it will increase overall home values and have numerous positive trickle-down impacts in our local community.”
Wegrzyn and Umek also noted the value of third-party resources and expertise, including the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board, to emphasize the importance of installing fire sprinklers in homes.
“Today’s fires are becoming deadly in as little as two to three minutes,” said NIFSAB Executive Director Erik Hoffer, noting that Lake County has seen an unsettling number of recent home fire deaths. Those include a three-fatality fire in Zion and a one-fatality fire in Round Lake, both on October 29th, and a one-fatality fire in Hawthorn Woods on November 9th.”
Hoffer was present at the City Council meeting on November 18th to recognize the proactive fire safety measure taken by the City Council and staff. North Chicago joins nearly 110 other Chicagoland fire-safe communities, including neighboring Waukegan and Lake County, that protect news homes with fire sprinklers.
Congratulations to the community of North Chicago for adopting this code!
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