Glen Ellyn eases home sprinkler requirements

The Glen Ellyn village board Monday eased some recently adopted requirements for the installation of fire sprinkler systems in remodeled houses.

After months of discussion, trustees approved a revised ordinance they say increases the cost threshold for such systems and is less likely to affect those doing work on starter homes.

The board in October mandated sprinklers be installed in any house where remodeling work exceeded $200,000, which is in line with the 2009 International Fire Code adopted by the International Code Council.

But some trustees said the rule was too restrictive and encouraged further study. On Monday, the village board boosted that threshold to $300,000.

In addition, the new requirements mandate sprinklers be installed only in remodeled areas of existing houses. And the “hard cost” of remodeling work now excludes the cost of installing a sprinkler system and resulting costs of increasing water service for the new system.

The “hard cost” in the new ordinance also excludes demolition work, or the costs of floor, wall and ceiling finishes such as paint or carpeting, as well as cabinets, countertops, furniture or appliances.

Beyond one- and two-family homes, sprinklers are required in remodeled areas of other buildings, such as commercial properties, where the hard cost of remodeling is more than $1 million or 25 percent of the market value of the building.

Jamie Simoneit, a local rehabber, told trustees he was glad the cost threshold was changed because most projects he deals with are in the $225,000 range.

Trustee Pete Ladesic, a homebuilder and renovator who has expressed reservations about the sprinkler requirements, supported the change, but also said the code should be revisited in the future.