Are there enough qualified installers, and will this slow construction down?

Builders already install sprinkler systems in dwellings three stories and up and in multifamily buildings under the commercial code. The trade exists. Extending it to one- and two-family homes is a change in volume, not in capability. And, as demand for these systems increases, labor rises to meet it.

Expanding residential sprinklers in Jefferson County can create a dependable source of work for Colorado’s skilled trades. The U.S. Department of Labor’s  O*NET Program places sprinkler fitters in the same occupational group as plumbers, pipefitters, and steamfitters. Its Colorado projection shows employment in that group growing from 10,460 in 2022 to 12,830 in 2032. That’s a 23% increase, with approximately 1,190 job openings annually from growth and replacement.

Those figures describe a long-term workforce projection. They do not establish how many crews are available in Jefferson County today. Predictable demand for sprinkler systems can help sprinkler contractors train and retain workers. Qualified plumbing contractors may also have a role where multi-purpose residential systems are appropriate and meet local requirements. Jefferson County can and should pair this code modernization opportunity with direct input from local contractors on installation capacity, scheduling, and training needs.