Fire officials: Sprinkler bill is 'power grab'

"Top Seacoast fire officials have joined others from across the state in opposition to a recently passed bill that prohibits municipalities from requiring automatic fire suppression sprinklers in certain homes.

Last week, members of the state House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 91 by a vote of 223-91.

The bill, which was passed by the Senate in February, was sponsored by Sen. David Boutin, R-Hooksett, along with seven other Republican senators and five state representatives.

As written, the bill amends the state building code by including a paragraph that prevents any municipality or local land-use board from adopting any ordinance, regulation, code or administrative practice requiring the installation of automatic fire suppression sprinklers in 'any new or existing detached one- or two-family dwelling unit in a structure used only for residential purposes.'"

 

Read more at the Portsmouth Herald.