The following is direct from the HBAV website under the 7-2-09 Edition of Evoice;
http://www.hbav.com/documents/eVoiceVol1Ed97-2-09.pdf

"Home Builder's Association of Virginia Successful in Diverting Sprinkler Mandate

The Codes and Standards Committee of the Virginia Board for Housing and Community Development voted "overwhelmingly" to change the "Mandatory" requirement for all new one- and two-family dwelling units to "Optional" in the proposed update of the Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC), on June 22nd. This was the first step in the 2009 update of the USBC.

The Home Builders Association of Virginia (HBAV) has led the "Virginia Assault" on the Sprinkler Mandate, since the sprinkler industry and fire officials hijacked the International Code Council (ICC) code making process last September, which resulted in the Sprinkler Mandate in all new homes in the IRC.

The proposed regulation will be published in the Virginia Register and a Public Hearing on the 2009 update of the USBC, including keeping Sprinklers optional, is scheduled for Monday, July 27th in Richmond.

HBAV and the home building industry will need a STRONG showing of members that day to urge the board NOT to Mandate a requirement that all new homes in Virginia be constructed with expensive sprinkler systems, especially when life safety statistics do not justify such a mandate. Please contact Mike Toalson to inform him of your willingness to participate at mtoalson@hbav.com."