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Rapid City Fire Division outlines 2024 code amendments to reduce housing costs and address lithium‑ion risks
Summary
Division Chief Chip Prehm presented proposed amendments to Rapid City's adoption of the 2024 fire code, aiming to remove some cost‑driving requirements for multifamily housing, add a hoarding section, require sensors to prevent sprinkler freeze‑ups, and restrict storage/charging of lithium‑ion micromobility devices in dwelling units except for dependent users.
Chip Prehm, division chief for Fire and Life Safety at the Rapid City Fire Department, presented a package of proposed amendments to the 2024 fire code at the Public Works Committee meeting on Nov. 12, saying the changes are intended to improve safety while avoiding undue cost burdens on housing developers.
Prehm said the department conducted an extensive review of the 2024 AFC, consulted sprinkler and alarm contractors and engineering firms, and solicited input from builders and designers. He identified several substantive changes the department recommends: removing a requirement to prewire each dwelling unit for certain alarm or accessibility devices that the department assessed would raise alarm system costs — in one example a recent 150‑unit apartment system cost $71,000 under the amended approach versus an estimated $200,000…
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