 |
New homes are safer because of improved heating systems and increased insulation requirements. Improvements in heating and cooling systems make them operate more safely than ever before. Because of improvements spurred by the cost of fuel and other energy concerns, a new home's heating and cooling systems are also much more efficient. These systems, coupled with energy-efficient insulation now required in new construction, have reduced the need for appliances like portable space heaters, a significant cause of residential fire deaths. To support their push for residential sprinkler mandates, proponents have charged that these improvements can be dangerous because the extra insulation means that the home will retain more heat and if a fire starts, it will spread more quickly. This claim is unsubstantiated, and it's not true. |
    |
