Briefs

Illinois to require sprinklers in all college dorms SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has signed the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Act, or House Bill 4361, into law. The legislature requires fire sprinkler systems to be installed in all new and existing college and university dormitories throughout the state by 2013. In order to ease the burden of installation, HB4361 also provides for the Fire Sprinkler Dormitory Revolving Loan Fund, a low-interest loan program through the office of the state fire marshal and the Illinois Finance Authority. Groups seek to regulate installers in Colorado DENVER - A consortium of public safety groups in Colorado have submitted a Sunrise Application to the state legislature requesting fire and burglar installers secure regulation by the state. The move is intended to increase the skills of professionals within the industry, which officials hope will have a positive effect on false alarms. Groups that have sponsored the application from the state include the Rocky Mountain Automatic Fire Alarm Association, Fire Marshals’ Association of Colorado, Colorado State Fire Chiefs’ Association and Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police. Mass. Legislature passes nightclub sprinkler bill BOSTON - Prompted by the Station Nightclub fire in Rhode Island, the Massachusetts Legislature has passed a fire safety bill that requires nightclubs with 100 occupants or more to install sprinklers. The bill was introduced to the legislature with the provision to require nightclubs with more than 50 occupants to install sprinklers but was increased due to concerns from small business owners. Governor Mitt Romney is expected to sign the bill into law shortly. Bars and nightclubs have a three-year window to install fire sprinklers to be in compliance of the bill.