ISU residence halls have a number of fire safety features, although many lack sprinkler systems, which would cost the university millions to install.

Fire officials said two minor property damage fires that occurred in Campustown last weekend could have been worse had the buildings they occurred in lacked sprinkler systems. According to the Department of Residence Fire Safety Plan, all residence halls have fire alarm systems and a number of other safety measures, but many lack sprinkler systems.

“The heat and smoke detection is what really saves peoples’ lives,” said David Bunker, safety coordinator for the Department of Residence.

He said that smoke inhalation, not actual contact with fire, is the real threat in a building fire, and early detection measures will allow people to evacuate the building quickly. Bunker said sprinkler systems are more effective at preventing property damage.

“I think fire safety in the dorms is adequate,” said Nate Taucher, president of the Inter-Residence Hall Association.

Taucher said he agreed with Bunker that fire alarms are for personal safety, while “sprinklers are there to save buildings, not lives.”

Ames Fire Chief Clint Petersen, however, said sprinkler systems can provide early extinguishment for fires, protecting both lives and property.

“A complete system for life protection includes early detection and early extinguishment,” Petersen said.

Bunker said ISU residence halls that lack sprinklers were built before building codes mandated them. He said, however, Maple Hall was retrofitted with a sprinkler system in 1999, which cost $450,000, when the interior of the building was renovated. All new construction in Ames of triplexes or larger since 2004 needs a sprinkler system.

Bunker said that in addition to smoke and fire detectors, fire safety measures in the dorms include generators to keep the detectors running in the event of a power outage, fire extinguishers and fire drills – the single most important precaution is for students to evacuate, he said.

“We really battle complacency, because [false alarms] are a frequent occurrence,” Bunker said.

Bunker said the last residence hall fire he remembers was in 1999, in Larch Hall.

“There was extensive smoke damage on the third floor,” Bunker said, adding there were no injuries.

At Iowa State, DOR housing with sprinklers includes Maple, Buchanan, Birch-Welch-Roberts, Linden, Eaton, Martin and Frederiksen Court. According to the DOR Fire Safety Plan, approximately 45 percent – over 925,000 square feet – of residence halls and dining centers, not counting Friley Hall, do not have sprinklers. Bunker said it costs approximately $4 per square foot to install sprinkler systems in buildings. He said it would cost approximately $1 million to put sprinklers in Friley Hall, which currently lacks sprinklers in all areas but the Food Stores Warehouse.