Minnesota homebuilders ask court to delay fire sprinkler law

Minnesota homebuilders last week asked the state Court of Appeals to delay implementation of a law requiring fire sprinklers in new homes of 4,500 sf or larger. The law took effect in January, making Minnesota the fourth jurisdiction to adopt some form of a residential sprinkler mandate for single-family homes.

California, Maryland and Washington, D.C., are the others. In Massachusetts, one- and two-family homes of more than 14,000 sf must have them. Eight other states require sprinklers in new townhomes. The Builders Association of the Twin Cities says that installing sprinklers adds up to $10,000 to the cost of a 4,500 sf home.

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