Hoffman Estates leaders impatient over fire sprinklers

Hoffman Estates village board members are getting even more impatient than the fire chief with commercial properties that have still not retrofitted fire-suppression sprinklers.

The village board voted 4-3 this week to extend the deadline from Dec. 31, 2015 by only one year rather than the two years recommended by Fire Chief Jeff Jorian. There are still 47 noncompliant buildings in the village.

Mayor Bill McLeod said the public safety risk businesses take by not retrofitting sprinklers is not only theirs to take but also affects the firefighters.

In 1996, property owners were given 15 years to install sprinklers. A few extensions have been granted since, but board members and Jorian said this one will be the last.

Penalties for noncompliance could extend to businesses being shut down, Jorian said.