Patterson, N.Y. – The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) is continuing its 4-year effort to pass legislation that will provide landmark fire protection laws. This bill would allow property owners who retrofit their buildings with fire sprinklers to accelerate depreciation of the systems and recoup their investment in a much shorter period of time vs. the 39 years currently in place.
NFSA has worked with the Congressional Fire Services Institute as well as both Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and John Rockefeller (D-WV) to prepare the legislation for reintroduction. Additionally, NFSA has been working with Congressmen Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) on a House version of the bill to be introduced soon. Senators Smith, Rockefeller, Jack Reed (D-RI) and Lamar Alexander (R-TN) teamed up to introduce the Senate version of the Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2007, bill S 582, in the 110th Congress on Feb. 14.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), when sprinklers are present, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by one-half to three-fourths and the average property loss per fire is cut by one-half to two-thirds, compared to fires where sprinklers are not present.
“This bill will greatly benefit not only members of our organization but also the general public,” said John Viniello, president of NFSA. “It is proven that sprinklers save lives and property, but they also lower insurance costs for owners and create an increased need for materials and installation services by our members. It is imperative that we continue to work toward passage of legislation that protects the public and benefits the overall community. The introduction of this bill takes us one step closer to our efforts becoming a reality.”
More information on the bill can be found at www.nfsa.org/fsia/fsiahome.html.
