The City of Ottawa is pushing the province to give city officials the ability to make fire sprinklers mandatory in all new homes.

A city committee listened to a report from staff indicating there were 78 per cent fewer fire-related deaths in homes protected by sprinklers. According to the study, those homes also reported 42 per cent less property damage.

The province is already making it mandatory for all new condos and apartments over four storeys to have sprinklers installed, beginning next April.

However, the Ottawa Homebuilders Association is against the legislation and insists more emphasis should be put on the importance of having working smoke detectors.