New Jersey High-Rise Building Fire Sprinkler Retrofit Regulations

The Issue

On September 17, the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs proposed amendments to update the state’s Uniform Fire Code, publishing them on the New Jersey Register for a 90-day comment period. Part of these amendments include regulations that would require all existing high-rise buildings in the state of New Jersey, both commercial and residential, to install full fire sprinkler coverage. The Department of Community Affairs has until September 17 of this year to adopt these regulations, and so we are still asking those within the fire community that have a voice to contact their local newspapers and the Department of Community Affairs to make your support for high-rise fire sprinklers heard.

If you live in a high-rise building and are concerned for your safety, we encourage you to speak up to your building manager of building owner about fires sprinklers to protect you and your family.

What Can We Do?

Make sure you make your support for fire sprinklers heard! Here are some suggestions

Draft a letter or e-mail to your local representatives saying why you support high-rise fire sprinkler retrofit. An effective letter includes some of the following elements:

• Contact information, including if you are writing as an individual or on behalf of an organization

• Description of where you are from, including if you represent a company or organization, and if there are high-rise buildings in your area.

• Personal story or experience you have had with fire or loss from fire

• Reasons, including statistics, why fire sprinklers are effective

• Direct statement that you support fire sprinklers and believe they should be installed in all high-rise buildings throughout the state of NJ

• If you live in a high-rise building, speak to your local fire officials on the need for fire sprinklers for your building.

• Encourage others in your apartment building, organization or town to support fire sprinklers. Send an e-mail to others about this website and on how they can support high-rise retrofit regulations.

• Make your voice heard – Send editorial letters to your local newspaper to support the benefits of fire sprinklers and encourage others to submit comments.

Resources

To view the Department of Community Affair’s amendments to the Uniform Fire Code, visit the New Jersey Division of Codes & Standards. Click Here