LEMOYNE, Pa., April 25, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The PA Association of Realtors® (PAR) today announced that Gov. Tom Corbett has signed his first bill, House Bill 377, into law, repealing a mandate of sprinkler systems in new single-family residential construction.

"This is a great victory for consumers and Realtors® and we thank Gov. Corbett and the legislature for their hard work," said PAR President Guy A. Matteo, GRI, SRES.  

PAR worked with a state-wide coalition which included the PA Builders Association, to urge legislators to repeal this mandate.  

Gov. Corbett called it a "common sense" measure that will help to keep new home prices within the reach of Pennsylvania's working families.

"Whether or not new homes are equipped with sprinklers should be a decision left to individual consumers and not the government," Corbett said. "While there are arguments on both sides of this issue, I believe the sprinkler mandate is wrong-headed and I'm glad the General Assembly sent this bill to my desk."    

In addition to repealing the mandate, Act 1 (formerly HB377) increases fire protection for lightweight floor assemblies; requires builders to offer sprinkler systems to buyers; energy efficiency trade-offs for log home manufacturers and builders and retroactivity for homes with building permits that would require sprinklers.

Rep. Garth Everett (R-Lycoming), who authored the bill, said, "This legislation came about through the efforts of many people, with a great deal of input coming from all stakeholders. This is a victory for all Pennsylvanians seeking to building and buy new homes."    

Sprinklers are still mandated in newly constructed townhomes; Act 1 will not change this requirement.

"It was vitally important that this law was passed. Mandatory sprinklers in new single family homes would have greatly increased the price of a new home and Pennsylvanians simply can't afford it," Matteo said.

The Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS® is a trade/professional association that serves its more than 30,000 members.

SOURCE Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS

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http://www.parealtor.org