A Minnesota Appeals Court panel on Oct. 13 threw out a state fire sprinkler requirement for larger new homes, saying a state agency failed to present enough evidence to justify the rule.

The Department of Labor and Industry rule, adopted last year, required all new homes bigger than 4,500 square feet to include fire sprinklers. The Builders Association of the Twin Cities, with backing from other construction and real estate groups, sued the state in January, saying the rule was too expensive and will price many buyers out of the market.

More details here.