Fire code update in Glen Ellyn hits a snag

An attempt to update Glen Ellyn's fire codes to more modern standards hit a snag during a village workshop.

Trustee Peter Cooper said the proposed codes would discourage remodeling of homes because of a provision requiring the installation of a sprinkler system if the addition costs 50 percent or more of a home's value. He said the provision unfairly requires more of smaller homes.

"It works as a disinclination to work and discourages updates in more-modest homes," he said. "By having this percentage, it necessarily will cause people who want to remodel to think there is no value in it. I don't know from a policy standpoint that I would encourage that."

Joe Kvapil, a building and zoning official for the village, presented the International Code Council's 2009 fire codes as part of the village's continuing effort to adopt more of the council's codes.

Kvapil argued that a $150,000 addition to a home that is worth $250,000 is a much larger change in a home's structure than a $150,000 addition to a $2 million home, meaning the sprinkler requirement makes sense and should be included. Cooper disagreed.

"I just don't agree with your math that $150,000 requires less work in a larger home than in a more-modest home," he said.

Thus far, the village has adopted the ICC's property maintenance and life-safety codes. Ultimately, the village intends to replace eight of its codes with those of the ICC, said Planning and Development Director Staci Hulseberg. Hulseberg said fire codes have not been updated since 1993.

"It's about that time," she said. "We're just going to attempt to evaluate different options with the building board of appeals because we certainly don't want to discourage anybody from reinvesting in their homes."

The village board sent the item back to the building board for further review.

The building board of appeals will more than likely make changes to the proposal at its October meeting.