Union urges study of residential high-rise sprinkler retrofits; committee approved motion on consent

Representatives of UA Local 709 and allied contractors urged the Housing and Homelessness Committee on July 30 to pursue a study on retrofitting fire-sprinkler systems in residential high-rise buildings.

Public commenters spoke in favor of the motion that calls for a viability study of requiring sprinkler retrofits for residential high-rises. A speaker identified as representing the "Sprinklerfitters, Local 709" told the committee the motion is a first step in addressing a gap left by a 1988 Los Angeles ordinance that required retrofit of commercial high-rises but exempted more than 55 residential high-rises. Roland Gutierrez, a UA Local 709 business agent, said retrofit work can be done without displacing tenants and provided an example he said involved a Bunker Hill high-rise retrofit that did not require tenant displacement. Gutierrez said there are sanitary contractors capable of performing the work and disputed higher cost estimates that had been cited elsewhere.

The sprinkler-retrofit motion (item 6) was taken on consent along with items 4, 7 (as amended), and 8 through 12. The committee approved those items on a roll call: Council member Raman, yes; Council member Hurdalo, yes; Council member Blumenfield, absent (2 ayes).

The motion itself requests a viability study; no retrofit requirement or ordinance was enacted at the July 30 meeting. Committee materials and public comments identified the 1988 retrofit ordinance as background; the public commenters urged the city to explore options to reduce fire risk in older residential towers.

Committee members did not debate the motion on the floor beyond placing it on consent and approving it with the other consent items.