FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Home Builders Oppose Mandate of Indoor Sprinklers in Draft Building Code Contact: Matt Limoges,

(507) 282-7698 MatthewL@rochesterareabuilders.com Rochester, MN, October 29, 2013 The Builders Association of Minnesota (BAM) and Rochester Area Builders, Inc. along with other business groups strongly oppose the costly and unnecessary home indoor sprinkler mandate included in the draft Minnesota Building Code released today by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry (DLI). The mandate would require indoor sprinklers to be placed in all new single-family homes that are 4,500 square feet and larger, including basements and other unfinished spaces. The proposed home indoor sprinkler mandate is a costly and unnecessary government regulation that would negatively impact consumers and the housing industry. In both 2011 and 2012 a bipartisan majority of legislators passed and sent bills to Governor Dayton to remove the mandate from the code. Both bills were vetoed. In a Minnesota State Survey 86% of Minnesotans said indoor sprinklers should remain a homeowners choice. Additionally, DLIs Residential Code Advisory Committee voted twice to remove the sprinkler mandate from the state building code. The committees decision was not incorporated in the draft code. This is unnecessary government overreach, plain and simple, said BAM President Chad Kompelien. Minnesotas homes are among the safest in the country, and the public, the Legislature, and industry experts have all spoken loud and clear. They dont want this mandate. New homes built under todays code are exceptionally safe, and homeowners should not be burdened by a redundant, costly and unnecessary mandate. BAM estimates an indoor sprinkler system mandate would increase the cost of a new fourbedroom, three-bathroom home by at least $9,000. Homes on a private well, as many are across the state, the added cost can be as high as $13,000 or more when factoring in the cost of wells and water pumps. The estimate does not include ongoing costs, maintenance issues, or the cost if the system should malfunction. A costly and unnecessary government mandate like this will hurt homebuyers and the economic recovery. Not only is this mandate unneeded; its expensive, said John Eischen, Executive Director of Rochester Area Builders. Forcing homeowners to spend thousands of needless dollars on a home that is already safe is not good public policy. ABOUT BAM: The Builders Association of Minnesota is a Saint Paul-based trade association representing 3,000 statewide members involved in home building, remodeling, multifamily construction, and other aspects of residential and light commercial construction industry. BAM is the state builders association affiliated with 13 local associations throughout the state and the National Association of Home Builders as a charter member.