00                   HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 1                                                                    
01 Encouraging the installation of fire sprinkler systems in residences.                                                   
02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
03       WHEREAS statistics show that the state suffers many fatalities along with millions of                           
04 dollars of property loss because of residential structure fires, with the statistics climbing each                      
05 year; and                                                                                                               
06       WHEREAS national studies by the United States Fire Administration indicate that the                           
07 installation of residential fire sprinkler systems could have saved thousands of lives,                                 
08 prevented injuries, and eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses; and                              
09       WHEREAS establishing a program to encourage installation of residential fire                                    
10 sprinkler systems is likely to reduce the incidence of fire and should be reflected in insurance                        
11 rates for residences where fire sprinkler systems are installed; and                                                    
12       WHEREAS the state fire marshal plans to establish a model program to recognize                                  
13 that installing residential fire sprinkler systems reduces fire hazard and to rate residences                           
14 based on sprinkler system coverage using platinum, gold, and silver stars to recognize various                          
15 levels of sprinkler coverage; and                                                                                       
16       WHEREAS installing fire sprinkler systems covering identified residential ignition                              

01 sources will reduce the incidence of residential fires in rural and suburban areas of the state;                        
02 and                                                                                                                     
03       WHEREAS a plumber can install sprinkler systems covering identified ignition                                    
04 sources and can verify the existence of residential fire sprinkler systems to the state fire                            
05 marshal; and                                                                                                          
06       WHEREAS the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems will help reduce the                             
07 burden on local fire departments and local fire service areas; and                                                      
08       WHEREAS the installation of residential fire sprinkler systems will provide added                               
09 protection for the state's most vulnerable residents: children, senior citizens, and persons with                       
10 disabilities;                                                                                                           
11       BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the state fire                                      
12 marshal to formalize the model residential fire sprinkler system program as a statewide                                 
13 program; and be it                                                                                                      
14       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the insurance                                     
15 industry to recognize the benefits of increased fire protection by lowering insurance rates                             
16 based on the statewide residential safety star program implemented by the state fire marshal;                           
17 and be it                                                                                                               
18       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the division of                                   
19 insurance to recognize incentives for homeowners that encourage installation of residential                             
20 fire sprinkler systems to help reduce the incidence of residential fires in the state; and be it                      
21       FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the                                               
22 Department of Labor and Workforce Development, working with the state fire marshal and                                  
23 other groups, to train and certify plumbers and others to install or certify residential fire                           
24 sprinkler systems.