Safety Standards Factor in Fire

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - After a third fire in four months at the Willows of Coventry on Fort Wayne's southwest side, Newschannel 15 went digging and found the complex does not meet current fire safety standards. We've also learned, unlike newer constructions though, it doesn't have to.

Allen County Building Commissioner Dave Fuller says state laws require a building meet the code in place at the time of construction, but does not mandate property owners keep up with new codes.

In 1987, when the first Willows of Coventry building went up, building code required a one hour area of draft separation between every unit, or every one thousand feet. That's to say a fire would have one hour of burn time before moving on to another unit. There was nothing in the code that mandated sprinkler systems.

2009 code is different. Today, there must be a firewall between every other apartment. Additionally, there must be a one hour area of separation between every unit and a two hour area between every other unit. If those standards can not be met, a sprinkler system must been installed in any building with more than two units.

If you live in an older building, be aware says Fuller. "It goes bigger and faster and burns quick." You don't have the benefit of current state laws to protect you.

"[In an older building] there isn't protection to prevent fire from spreading from one unit to another like there would be if it were built today," says Fuller.