FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE

A large house affords some special places. The rec room (above), located on the second floor by way of a long gallery from the top of the stairs and a guest suite, provides a getaway from the activity of the public spaces. The library (below), however, is a bit more public. Located directly off the dining room rotunda (as well as through the clever butler’s pantry from the kitchen), it delivers the grandeur of an Old World book haven and study, complete with floor-to-ceiling shelves and a rolling ladder.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: Fire Suppression System

The whole-house Rapid Response home fire sprinkler system from Tyco provides the owners with a higher measure of fire safety and property protection over smoke detectors. The complete system uses the Blazemaster CPVC fire sprinkler–rated pipe and fittings (see photo left) from FBC Building Solutions and a variety of subtle wall- and ceiling-mounted heads throughout the house (which can be factory finished to any color in the Sherwin-Williams palette). A single pendant sprinkler can cover 400 square feet. www.tyco-rapidresponse.com; www.lubrizol.com/BuildingSolutions.

AT ISSUE: Fire Sprinkler Mandate

The 2011 edition of the International Residential Code (IRC), effective on Jan. 1, includes provisions that mandate fire sprinklers in single-family homes and townhouses. Independent, real-world research puts the average installation cost at $1.61 per sprinklered square foot when using a CPVC or PEX distribution system. Some states and municipalities offer rebates or tax credits to further offset a builder’s costs, while insurance rates may be up to 20 percent lower for homeowners. Developers may also gain approvals for narrower streets, deeper setbacks, and fewer hydrants by mandating fire sprinklers for homes in their communities. The 2011 IRC allows individual states and local jurisdictions to adopt, amend, or decline the provisions. To date, 27 states are keeping the code voluntary and two have mandated the new provisions.