Fire safety legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats John Wisniewski, Jerry Green and Mila Jasey to require the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two-family homes was released today by an Assembly committee.
“This is a simple, commonsense step that will quite simply save lives and property,” said Deputy Speaker Wisniewski (D-Middlesex). “We know these suppression systems are effective, so there’s really no reason why they shouldn’t be as commonplace in new construction as windows and doors.”
“Ensuring public safety is among our top priorities, and this would be an important step toward ensuring fire safety in new construction,” said Speaker Pro Tempore Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset). “A change like this can go a long way toward saving lives of residents and firefighters, and that’s always a good thing.”
“Protecting lives is a priority,” said Jasey (D-Essex/Morris). “Making these fire suppression systems routine is quite simply the right thing to do for both our residents and firefighters.”
The bill, named the “New Home Fire Safety Act”, requires the installation of a fire suppression system in new single and two-family homes. Under the bill, a certificate of occupancy would not be issued for a new home until the state or local code enforcement agency determines that the home is equipped with a fire suppression system that conforms to State Uniform Construction Code systems promulgated by the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
The bill would exempt all manufactured homes as well as any single and two-family homes that are not connected to public water systems.
The bill permits municipalities and the Commissioner of Community Affairs to each establish a fee that covers the cost of inspection and the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
The bill was approved by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee. TLS.
typical democrats, forcing their views & intentions down peoples throats. even though the idea is great(to have fire suppression within ones home) the idea that it should be law, is crazy!
1. and what happens when they falsely activate? it will cause a flood!
2. and how any home owners have flood insurance? not even half of them because its so darn expensive!
so what we have here is a bunch of “if i think its a good idea, then it should be law” democrats that are forcing everyone to have something that has been available for years already.
NEWS FLASH: IF PEOPLE WANTED IT – IT WOULD HAVE BEEN A BOOMING BUSINESS BY NOW(like solar panels) BUT SINCE ITS NOT A BOOMING BUSINESS; GET THE CLUE AND STAY OUT OF EVERYONE’S LIVES!!!
This won’t affect most of lakewood as the law states it’s not required in developments and house not attached to public water.
( even though my name says knowitall I know when I don’t know)
Not exactly sure what constitutes a development.
Knowitall for mayor 2014.
If they want new home construction to improve, how do they plan on that happening if they just made it even MORE expensive to build and buy a house.
Now the contractor makes less $, the homeowner has to pony up more (in maintenance costs too), and the headache of getting plans approved and inspected just make everyone crazy.
except now there’s another excuse for ANOTHER governemnt worker to perform these inspections
Veto this!
Another way to raise the costs of new homes and hurt the construction industry. Also another money grab for the inspection departments.
this is for the safety of the residents and firefighters.
it is a good idea– Fire sprinkerlers dont go off so fast for no reason.
you actualy wil save on your fire insurance with such a system– over years it will pay for itself. The system is not that expensive. they use plastic PVC pipes and it is connected to teh reg water line, not a 6 in main that is neccsry for commercial bldgs.
“save property”!!?? that is an owners or insurance choice
Just another tax.
if the suppression system will turn on as many times as many of us have false alarms (like too much smoke coming from the kitchen, etc..) we’re all going to be in DEEP WATER!!
All new homes and buildings should have a fire suppression system. Look what just happen along the shore this morning 5 homes were lost or damaged by fire. How about last week out on Lanes Mill Road Just think about how close the structures are being built around town. It just a matter of time before disaster strikes this town one again.
Here’s a link to a very good site on this subject from the NFPA
http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/Sprinkler%20kit/Sprinkler_Myths_vs._Facts.pdf
residential sprinklers flow about 12 gallons per minute, and only the head(s) that are in proximity to the fire activate when the heat from the fire (not smoke) melts the fusible link or bulb that holds back the water. The new residential systems are designed to be a part of the regular plumbing supplying your sinks, toilets, tubs and laundry in that the pex supplying the fixtures are looped and the sprinkler heads installed, either sidewall or ceiling. Sure if you are stupid enough to use a sprinkler head as a place to hang a coat hanger, things are going to get wet. The fire hose that the fire fighter is going to use to put out your fire uses about 200 gallons per minute. The sprinkler head should activate in about a minute after the fire starts, maybe the same time as when your smoke alarm will activate, assuming you didn’t take out the batteries when you were cooking or it was chirping when the batteries were low. The fireman will arrive about 5-10 minutes (traffic) after you call the fire in, assuming you are home to call and know the number, assuming you call as soon as your working smoke alarm activates, assuming you don’t delay calling because you thought someone else did. The fire doubles in size every minute so that is that much more fire and smoke damage and that much more (hundreds of gallons) water damage from the fire hose. As much as operating smoke alarm save lives, so do sprinkler systems by keeping the fire from spreading, allowing the occupants a safer and easier escape, and less chance of emergency responders being severly injured. What should become part of the law is that there is a substantial savings in the insurance premiums for the fire system, since that is the majority of the premium.
Also, if you call your insurance company and say you have a flood, of course you are not covered, but if you have a plumbing leak, generally you are, less the deductible. Floods are from storms (like Sandy) and rivers.
Its a great Idea , a small price to pay for saving lives! Hard to believe anyone would be against something that provides protection against fire in your home that could end up taking your life !
its a great idea , a small price to pay for protecting life & property .hard to believe anyone would be opposed to this.
it’s not required in developments and house not attached to public water.
says nothing about developments only houses not attached to public water . most homes built anymore have city water not wells!
i just spoke to two architects in town and they both said that it would only cost about $1000. nisht geferlach!
states like AZ have had this law for a long long time. It’s time we stop saying things like more taxes,more cost of new homes. Why doesn’t everyone stop with all the negitives and think for one second and answer this.. How much does it cost to save a life and how much is that live worth. When you answer that let me know why this law shouldn’t be inacted. And please be honest tell how your family member is worth. As a fireman I can tell you this,, SIGN IT INTO LAW
Does anyone know the exact quote from Mark Twain?
Something to the effect that when congress is in session no home or family is safe…
Every one us so concerned about safety I think they should lower the speed limits on the highways to 20 mph. And there’s no reason to have cars that can go over 30 mph it will save many life’s.
Oh no! The builders are going to make less money….? Trust me, there’s one thing you can count on. And that is, builders always make their money. If something else has to suffer, you may get a junkier foundation or roof, cheaper wood, nails or stairs. But the builder will not lose. Sprinklers will help save your junky new construction house with all the upgrades!
hey 11.Smoldering ashes i want to put u on a handline and give you 200 gpm… your numbers are off
Will Tent City be required to have these systems too?
Or do they get off scott free “because they are so poor”.
Shouldn’t we apply the same logic to them – “whats a few thousand dollars when we’re saving your lives.”
My sentiments exactly.. You beat me to the punch line.
If as #15 sais it’s only $1000 buck it’s not a bad idea even though it would destroy the house on activation if it has regular sprinkler gpm .
But from experience sprinklers cost about $5 a square foot . In any case the builders won’t make less money , they just pass on the cost to the consumer like with all costs of government regulation and taxes , we , the consumer , are the ones that eat it in the end . Keep your nose out of my personal decisions , give me the option and let me decide . If the Dems want us to be “safe” they should lock us all up under their “care”. Stop treating us like you’re my mother!!
Hey Yid: read the article, they don’t have city or any running water so they are exempt!
to #20 ouch, you do know you need a certain gpm for fire depending on how many cubic feet are involved, and there should be under ideal conditions 3 ff on the handline, and the gpm is dependant on the type and size of nozzle, hose, engine pump pressure and friction loss. And #21, they could just use melnor lawn sprinklers at tent city.
First of all most major fires occur in old houses, not new construction. Almost all new construction is full of fire retardant materials.
So you have to make every house and apt. buliding have them. And if you don’t think there are false alarms on sprinkler systems how about listening to the scanner every day? Once they are in every building we won’t need Fire fighters anymore. Oh that’s right LFD spends 90% of the time going to false alarms including sprinkler systems.