Sprinklers not required in Minn.

Sprinklers will not be required in all new Minnesota homes, according to the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune.

The state’s House Commerce and Regulatory Reform Committee approved a bill preventing the building code from requiring that fire sprinklers be installed in new homes. Fire officials said such a requirement could save lives, but representatives from home builders and real estate agencies said it could add thousands of dollars to the cost of each new home.

However, the bill does not specifically prohibit builders from installing sprinkler systems.

"We're not preventing anyone from putting in sprinklers," said Rep. Joyce Peppin, R-Rogers, the bill's sponsor. "My overall concern is the sheer cost of it."