{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-1103","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 3-1103","heading":"Duties.","body":"(a)\nThe Commission shall investigate the issues that affect the safety of the residents of the District of Columbia and recommend legislative schemes for eliminating the hazards of fires.\n\n(b)\nThe Commission shall:\n(1)\nIdentify the population groups that are at higher than average risk of  death or injury due to residential fires;\n(2)\nIdentify the neighborhoods where the residents suffer higher than average  risk of death or injury due to fires;\n(3)\nIdentify the categories of residential buildings in which the incidence  of fire occurs at a rate higher than in other residential buildings;\n(4)\nIdentify the causes of these fires;  and\n(5)\nIdentify categories of buildings that should be required to install  sprinkler systems.\n\n(c)\nThe Commission shall examine the appropriateness of the use-group classifications set forth in the Building Code approved pursuant to the Construction Codes Approval and Amendment Act of 1986.\n\n(d)\nThe Commission shall study the feasibility of installing the following configurations of sprinklers:\n(1)\nHallway and stairwell sprinklers with the extension of a single head into  each adjacent room;\n(2)\nSprinklers throughout the building;  or\n(3)\nOther configurations as may appear feasible to the Commission.\n\n(e)\nBased on the District of Columbia’s fire experience since 1978, the Commission shall make a finding of the percentage of deaths, injuries, and serious fires that would likely be prevented by each configuration of sprinklers.\n\n(f)\nThe Commission shall make a determination of the long-term monetary savings to the District of Columbia government which is likely to result by installing the sprinkler systems that the Commission recommends.\n\n(g)\nThe Commission shall ascertain the advantages and disadvantages of sprinkler systems fashioned from copper, polyvinyl chloride, and polybutylene.\n\n(h)\nThe Commission shall determine if the water system in high-risk residential neighborhoods of the District of Columbia is adequate to supply a residential sprinkler system directly as well as identify the percentage of homes in high-risk neighborhoods with an adequate system to supply water directly to a residential sprinkler system.\n\n(i)\nThe Commission shall:\n(1)\nIdentify low-cost alternatives to supplying a residential sprinkler  system directly;\n(2)\nIdentify funding mechanisms for large-scale installation of residential  and institutional sprinkler systems;\n(3)\nIdentify specific funding mechanisms for high-risk, low income  neighborhoods and cost-containment methods for installation of the residential  sprinklers;  and\n(4)\nIdentify economic disincentives to the installation of residential  sprinklers.\n\n(j)\nThe Commission shall identify what changes would have to be made in the local statutes and regulations to allow residential, commercial, and institutional applications of the systems that the Commission recommends.\n\n(k)\nThe Commission shall identify existing programs for youth employment, adult employment, and job training with which a program of large-scale sprinkler installation might be combined to provide multiple benefits to the residents of the District of Columbia.\n\n(l)\nThe Commission shall determine whether the appropriate District of Columbia government agencies have the power and capacity to carry out necessary inspections and to enforce sprinkler requirements that the Commission may recommend.\n\n(m)\nThe Commission shall investigate other matters appropriate for completing the comprehensive report on the feasibility of residential, commercial, and institutional sprinklers in the District of Columbia.\n\n(n)\nThe Commission shall identify and use the services of all concerned District of Columbia residents, businesses, government agencies, and private agencies with expertise and interest in fire protection.\n\n(o)\nThe Commission shall conduct community hearings to receive information related to its mission.\n\n(p)\nThe Commission shall submit to the Council, 1 year after the 1st meeting of the Commission, a comprehensive report setting forth its findings and recommendations.","path":["Title 3. District of Columbia Boards and Commissions.","Chapter 11. Fire Protection Study Commission."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/3-1103","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"f8c3abf6944e116c43fa520dd4d124d4dbbbe8e7d8f4aed5c27d03c0d5fcdab4","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-1102","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-3-1104"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}