00 Enrolled HCR 1                                                                                                          
01 Encouraging the voluntary installation of fire sprinkler systems in residences.                                         
02                                          _______________                                                                
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                             
04      WHEREAS statistics show that the state suffers many fatalities along with millions of                            
05 dollars of property loss because of residential structure fires, with the statistics climbing each                      
06 year; and                                                                                                               
07      WHEREAS national studies by the United States Fire Administration indicate that the                            
08 installation of residential fire sprinkler systems could have saved thousands of lives,                                 
09 prevented injuries, and eliminated hundreds of millions of dollars in property losses; and                              
10      WHEREAS establishing a program to encourage voluntary installation of residential                                
11 fire sprinkler systems is likely to reduce the incidence of fire and should be reflected in                             
12 insurance rates for residences where fire sprinkler systems are installed; and                                          
13      WHEREAS the state fire marshal plans to establish a model program to recognize                                   
14 that installing residential fire sprinkler systems reduces fire hazard and to rate residences                           
15 based on sprinkler system coverage using platinum, gold, and silver stars to recognize various                          
16 levels of sprinkler coverage; and                                                                                       
17      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 voluntary                                 
13 statewide 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 the voluntary installation of                           
20 residential fire sprinkler systems to help reduce the incidence of residential fires in the state;                      
21 and be it                                                                                                             
22      FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature encourages the                                                
23 Department of Labor and Workforce Development, working with the state fire marshal and                                  
24 other groups, to train and certify plumbers and others to install or certify residential fire                           
25 sprinkler systems.