Adams County staff propose updating building and fire codes; commissioners debate residential sprinkler requirements

Adams County commissioners on Sept. 2 received a multi-department briefing on proposed updates to the county’s building and fire codes, with particular attention on residential sprinkler requirements and the state-required energy code update.

Staff said the county has traditionally adopted newer model building codes on a multi‑year cycle and must at least meet the state’s minimum energy-code adoption after passage of House Bill 22-1362. Justin Blair, the county’s chief building official, and Pat Conroy (assistant chief and fire marshal with Strasburg Fire Protection District and member of the county’s fire code advisory committee) spoke at length about proposed changes and public outreach.

Conroy and other fire officials emphasized life‑safety data, calling residential fire sprinklers an effective tool to reduce fatalities and property loss. "Residential fire sprinklers save lives," Conroy said during the presentation, explaining that modern lightweight construction and synthetic contents increase the speed at which fires produce toxic smoke. He said a typical residential sprinkler event uses on the order of a few hundred gallons total and…