Quijano Bill to Conduct Survey of Fire Suppression Systems in All School Buildings Clears Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-Union) to require a survey of fire suppression systems in all school buildings in the state was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

Fire suppression systems are used to extinguish or prevent the spread of fire in a building or vehicle. The bill (A-5074) would direct the Division of Fire Safety in the Department of Community Affairs to conduct a survey of fire suppression systems in all public and nonpublic school buildings in the state. The results of the survey would be provided to the Department of Education.

“Many school buildings in the state were constructed decades ago and do not have adequate fire suppression systems, while others have systems that are not fully operational. This is a hazard,” said Quijano. “We need to ensure that our students are learning in a safe environment. But we cannot properly address this serious problem without accurate information regarding the status of fire suppression systems in every school building in the state.  This bill would provide the appropriate agencies with the information necessary to take appropriate action.”

The survey required by the bill would have to include the following information:

• whether a fire suppression system is installed and operational;
• the year in which an existing fire suppression system was installed and any year in which additional piping or standpipes were added to the system or an additional system was installed in the same structure;
• the cost of curing any defect if an installed fire suppression system is not fully operational; and
• the cost of a reinstallation or annual maintenance of a fire suppression system that is inadequate or not fully operational.

The results of the survey would be published by the Division of Fire Safety and posted on its website, no later than the first day of the third January next following the effective date of this bill.

The bill was released by the Assembly Education Committee.