Fire Risk: Suburban Homes At Urban Density

A fire in Fairfax County, VA has prompted a re-examination of building codes that govern the minimum spacing between single family homes in urban areas.

1 minute read

July 20, 2004, 6:00 AM PDT

By Abhijeet Chavan @http://twitter.com/legalaidtech

" Building suburban-style houses at an urban density could cause conflagrations that could devastate whole neighborhoods, fire officials warn...Fire officials in Virginia, alarmed by recent blazes that have moved swiftly from one house to the next, have been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen national standards by forcing houses to be built farther apart or requiring such additional protections as fire walls. They are seeking to make the International Residential Code, used in the District, Virginia, Maryland and 41 other states, at least as strong as regulations adopted recently in Virginia."

Thanks to Marc Brambrut

FULL STORY: Deadly Fairfax Fire Shows Growing Peril

Monday, July 19, 2004 in The Washington Post

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