STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1688

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: S.C.R. No. 3

S.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Housing, to which was referred S.C.R. No. 3 entitled:

"SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION CONVENING A TASK FORCE TO STUDY THE ISSUE OF RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLER COSTS IN NEW ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to request the convening of a task force to study the costs of installing automatic fire sprinkler systems in new one- and two-family dwellings.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the State Fire Council and Honolulu Fire Department. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Building Industry Association of Hawaii.

Your Committee finds that in the City and County of Honolulu alone, there have been 1,068 structure fires between 2006 and 2015, resulting in 27 civilian deaths, 152 civilian injuries, and more than $100,000,000 in direct damages. Fatal residential fires occur in homes despite the presence of modern construction techniques and features, such as smoke alarms, fire-rated drywall, and ground fault circuit interrupter electrical outlets. Your Committee further finds that installing automatic fire sprinklers can reduce civilian deaths by 83 percent, civilian fire injuries by 53 percent, firefighter injuries by 65 percent, and property damage by 69 percent. This measure will establish the framework for the State to determine the cost-effectiveness of mandating the installation of automatic fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family dwelling units by convening a task force composed of pertinent stakeholders.

Your Committee has amended this measure by:

(1) Authorizing the Manager and Chief Engineer of the Kauai County Department of Water to appoint a designee to the task force; and

(2) Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of clarity and consistency.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Housing that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of S.C.R. No. 3, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as S.C.R. No. 3, S.D. 1.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Housing,

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STANLEY CHANG, Chair