Fire code changes designed to help businesses

On March 21, revised fire regulations took effect across the state, reflecting the latest chapter in an effort to prevent tragedies like the 2003 Station nightclub fire, which claimed 100 lives.

Following that West Warwick fire, the state launched a special legislative commission to review the fire code and gather public input. The commission’s work led to the Comprehensive Fire Safety Act of 2003, which brought Rhode Island’s fire code closer to authoritative national standards, removed remaining “grandfather” exemptions, and established new requirements for sprinklers and alarms in places where people gather.

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The new requirements troubled many businesses and commercial property owners across the state. They expressed concern about the cost of upgrading, especially for costly sprinkler and alarm systems.

Rene Coutu, chief of the Central Falls Fire Department and chairman of the R.I. Fire Code Board of Appeal and Review, says some of the requirements that worried those businesses actually existed in older versions of the state fire code – they were just never enforced.

In response to the concerns about cost, the House convened another commission to examine the impacts of the new fire code and subsequently passed a bill intended to lessen its impact on businesses. The bill died in the Senate, where leaders encouraged the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review to simply revise its regulations, rather than seek new legislation.

Over the last several months, the board has held numerous public hearings to assess the potential impact of the proposed regulations. The new code reflects an effort to reach a common ground that protects people and businesses from fires, but also works for businesses’ bottom lines.

Coutu points out that compounding the devastating loss of life and property caused by fires is the often unforeseen loss to the local business community and tax base.

“It’s not just a safety code for lives, it’s a safety code for communities.” he explained.

Among other things, the new code extends timelines for compliance for some businesses, and raises the threshold square footage for requiring sprinkler systems.

And businesses who went ahead with all necessary improvements, unfazed by the ongoing debate, will also benefit: They are not required to make any further changes until 2012.

There has also been discussion about state tax relief for fire-safety improvements, but that would require support from the General Assembly.

Coutu added that the new code might not reduce the risk of fire from, for example, decaying wiring buried in old walls, but he’s confident that they would at least reduce the effects of fire, with the help of improved early-warning systems and other provisions.

Other concerns and confusion surrounding the 2003 fire law stemmed from inconsistent enforcement by the state of the fire regulations. But this is not a new phenomenon in Rhode Island, according the Coutu. He said the state’s 1968 fire code was not enforced for six years.

The board of appeal and review’s response to the confusion is to require training and certification for local assistant deputy fire marshals by the state fire marshals.

Still, the cost of complying with the new fire code continues to be a concern for businesses. After the 2003 law took effect, there were complaints of price gouging by alarm and sprinkler installers.

Coutu says the board is working with the state attorney general’s office to publish a list of reputable contractors.

Alarm installers are required to be master electricians and hold a Class B fire-alarm license, he said. Similar licenses have been proposed for sprinkler contractors. And he hopes that, with 3,000 fire alarm installers in the state, competition will help control costs.

Now that the new code is in place and newly trained deputy assistant fire marshals are about to hit the streets, Coutu says the first step for interested businesses is to schedule a complete inspection.

Coutu admits that the new code and more thorough enforcement it requires have added to his department’s workload in Central Falls.

But “fire prevention is the first thing a fire department should be doing,” he said. •