Another New Jersey County Endorses Fire Safety Bill; Lawmakers Now Must Pass Legislation

Late last week, the Hudson County New Jersey Board of Freeholders became the latest collection of local lawmakers to endorse statewide legislation that would amend New Jersey’s construction code for fire safety reasons, and provide an added level of protection for firefighters and residents alike. The adopted resolution supports Assembly Bill 135 and Senate Bill 1261, legislation that calls for the installation of an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13, measuring the number of stories from the grade plane, using noncombustible materials for construction and installing a fire barrier with a fire resistance rating of at least two hours that extends from the foundation to the roof. The decision to endorse the legislation comes on the heels of similarly adopted measures in the fellow New Jersey counties of Camden, Middlesex, Mercer and Essex, along with Wall Township. 

Wood-frame buildings, built by convenience and affordability, risk the lives they were meant to serve. They are an inherent danger to the community, and threaten the well-being of not only tenants and visitors, but the fire service professionals whose job it is to combat these fires, as well.

Through the Build With Strength initiative, NRMCA has resources to help members and state affiliates advocate for resilient and safer construction, including model legislation, talking points, public relations and other key strategies. To learn more about how NRMCA can assist in state advocacy, please contact Vice President, State and Local Government Affairs, John Loyer at 703-675-7603 or jloyer@nrmca.org.