I oppose mandatory fire sprinklers in new home construction

The proposed mandate for installing automatic fire sprinkler systems in all newly constructed one- and two-family homes in New York would add a significant cost of $30,000 to $40,000 to the price of a new home. While fire suppression systems are effective at extinguishing fires quickly and minimizing structural damage, this substantial increase in costs would make homeownership less affordable for many New Yorkers. Since 2014, builders have been required to provide cost estimates for optional sprinkler installations, allowing homebuyers to make an informed choice. Maintaining this voluntary approach rather than imposing a blanket mandate would preserve housing affordability while still giving buyers the option to enhance fire safety as desired. The high costs of mandatory sprinklers seem counterproductive to the goal of promoting affordable housing opportunities across the state.