I live in a high rise condo with sprinklers. They are visible. Yet our residents were peppering the resident manager with questions on Monday because of the Marco Polo tragedy. These buildings should be retrofitted. The cost pales to the lost of live, homes, and possessions. In addition, insurers will be raising the cost of homeowners and the condo master policy for buildings with out sprinklers. Today's Star-Advertiser says a 2013 Marco Polo newsletter noted insurance premiums for the master policy doubled after more than 20 firms would not provide coverage due to two fires and increasing number of water leak claims. 

Unfortunately, City Council bill 17 is still alive. It would force mandatory building inspections for structural maintenance, something which is already covered under HRS Section 514 and the reserve and budget statutes, inflicting a double cost for all. Condos should be exempt from that bill as they are already paying for that work.