NSFA (National Fire Sprinkler Association, Inc.) Bulletin
New Jersey Senate Approves Dormitory Sprinkler Legislation

Wednesday, March 29, 2000, Patterson, New York -  This morning's Star-Ledger, a New Jersey daily newspaper, reports the New Jersey State Senate has unanimously approved legislation that will require fire sprinklers to be installed in every building used as a dormitory in a public or private institution of higher education in the State.

This bill, which was prompted by the fire in a Seton Hall University dormitory on January 19th that claimed the lives of three students and injured scores of others, provides $90 million in matching funds in the form of low interest loans to finance fire sprinkler system installations.  The loans would be made from the state's Higher Education Capital Improvement Fund.  To be eligible for funds under the provisions of the law, private colleges and schools will be required to fund one half of the total cost and public institutions would have to supply one third of the total cost of compliance.

A companion bill that was also passed makes it mandatory for colleges and boarding schools to submit installation plans to the state within six months after the bill is signed with work to be complete within two years.

Bill sponsor Senator John A. Girgenti (D-Passaic) indicated that twenty-four public and private colleges and at least six private high schools are eligible for the loans.  He added that state institutions and college fraternity and sorority houses are also eligible to obtain money under the legislation.

Both Bills await final approval from Governor Christie Whitman, who has already publicly said she is in favor of making loans available to help institutions of higher learning install fire sprinkler systems.

On the national scene, Senate Bill 2100, The College Safety Act, which calls for appropriation of matching funds of $100 million for each of the next five years to fund fire sprinkler system retrofit programs, is presently in the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.  The fire sprinkler industry needs to help move this Bill into Appropriations, which is the next likely step.

A copy of the Bill can be found at the NFSA website at www.nfsa.org.  Letter writing campaigns are constituents' best method of influencing public policy makers.  The following legislators are members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.  Addresses can be found at www.senate.com. 

Jeffords (VT) Chairman, Kennedy (MA), Gregg (NH), Dodd (CT), DeWine (OH), Harkin (IA), Frist (TN), Mikulski (MD), Collins (ME), Wellstone (MN), Enzi (WY), Bingaman (NM), Hutchinson (AR), Murray (WA), Brownback (KS), Reed (RI), Hagel (NE), Sessions (AL) 

For more information contact:
David Vandeyar at (914) 878-4200
Email: Vandeyar@nfsa.org

Established in 1905, the National Fire Sprinkler Association is a trade association comprised of installers and manufacturers of fire sprinklers and related equipment and services.  Professional, Subscriber, and International memberships are also available.  NFSA provides publications, seminars, representation in codes and standards-making, market development, labor relations, and other services to its membership.  Headquartered in Patterson, New York, NFSA has regional offices throughout the country.

NATIONAL FIRE SPRINKLER ASSOCIATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 1000
PATTERSON, NEW YORK 12563
Telephone: (914) 878-4200
FAX: (878-4215)