Massachusetts

A Public hearing was held at the State House by the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to listen to public comments on proposed legislation. A contingent of fire service, burn survivors and health professionals provided testimony in support of H # 2027, a Local Option Bill to give communities authority to require residential fire sprinklers in new 1 & 2 family dwellings in their cities and towns.

Those giving testimony included Dr. Colleen Ryan, a Burn Surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital; Rob Feeney a burn survivor and Onset Ma. Firefighter; Diana Tenney, a burn survivor from New Bedford, MA. and Mike Young, Retired Deputy Fire Chief and NFSA New England Regional Manager.

Contact your local representative or senator to show support for this initiative.

The bill has the support of the Fire Chief’s Association of MA; Fire Prevention Association of MA; and Boston Firefighter’s Local #718.

In addition to life safety in dwellings, this legislation can have a profound impact on health and safety efforts to protect emergency responders from the risks of cancer by limiting exposure to carcinogens.

MA Board of Building Regulations and Standards

Connecticut

The CT Fire Protection Sprinkler Systems Work Examining Board received and reviewed a proposed curriculum prepared by NFSA’s Roland Asp for multi-purpose residential sprinkler systems and licensing F5/F6 limited licenses. The Curriculum has been approved and Training sessions are being scheduled.

Examinations for plumbers choosing to pursue certification as “Limited License” installers will begin at the end of the year or beginning of 2020.