Fire officials outline sprinkler requirements, safety data and local code triggers

Fire Chief Chad Johnston and Fire Marshal Jason Grant briefed the committee June 10 on residential-sprinkler requirements, the legal basis for local rules and the life‑safety rationale behind sprinklers.

Chief Johnston explained that industry standards informing local policy include the International Code Council (ICC) model codes and National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards (NFPA 1 and NFPA 101). He said the State of Maine adopts ICC codes but typically omits the NFPA 101 sprinkler provisions for one- and two-family dwellings; Portland’s Chapter 10, however, incorporates NFPA 1 in its entirety, which is why the city enforces sprinklers for many smaller residential projects at the local level.

Johnston described the city’s local trigger for renovating residences: a 2020 change ties a full‑sprinkler requirement to projects that renovate 50 percent or more of a residence (the ‘‘renovation trigger’’). He gave two examples to explain how the threshold works: adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) that raises total area less than 50 percent may not trigger sprinklers, whereas a standalone renovation that meets or exceeds the 50 percent threshold would.

On safety, Johnston cited research and practice: he told the committee that fire spread beyond the room of origin is reduced by 94 percent in a sprinkled building, and that sprinkled residential units account for only about 1 percent of fire deaths nationwide. "It is more or less like putting a firefighter in every home," the chief said, framing sprinklers as a life‑safety measure rather than a property-loss mitigation tool.

Council members raised cost and supply concerns. Mayor Mark Dion said he supports sprinklers in principle but questioned whether a 50 percent threshold should be revisited to avoid discouraging home renovations or ADU production, and he asked whether there is a trained contractor base to meet residential demand. Fire Marshal Jason Grant said Maine maintains categories of licensed sprinkler contractors; a “limited sprinkler” license for one- and two-family systems is available and many plumbers can and do perform residential sprinkler installs. Grant said limited-license training is relatively short and that installers are available, though renovation installs can cost more when piping must be concealed in an existing structure.

The fire chief and marshal reported other practical points: the city has issued more than 400 permits for one- and two‑family sprinkler systems in the last decade; the city’s permit office does not charge a sprinkler permit fee; and the city has no record of fire fatalities in buildings that have been sprinkled. Staff acknowledged that costs vary widely — contractors’ estimates ranged greatly in their review — and Councilors asked staff to explore potential adjustments to the local renovation trigger, insurance incentives and possible contractor-availability implications.

Assistant City Manager Greg Jordan and staff said they would review the 50 percent trigger and discuss next steps with the fire department, noting that changing local policy is easier than changing state-adopted code. The committee agreed staff should return with options for council consideration, including estimated costs, possible incentives or relief, and an analysis of how a different renovation threshold could affect housing production such as ADUs.

","sections":{"lede":"The fire chief and fire marshal explained that Portland enforces sprinkler requirements under local Chapter 10 adoption of NFPA 1, described a 50% renovation trigger for requiring sprinklers, and cited large life‑safety benefits while acknowledging cost and contractor concerns.","nut_graf":"Portland’s local code integrates NFPA provisions that the state omits for one‑ and two‑family homes; the committee requested staff analysis on whether the 50% renovation threshold and other policy levers should be adjusted to balance safety with housing production and cost concerns.","ending":"Staff agreed to return with options analyzing the renovation trigger, potential incentives (insurance or tax), contractor availability and projected effects on housing/ADU production for committee consideration."},