Triangular shirt Fire Factory One of the deadliest fires in US history occurred in the Greenwich Village area of ​​Manhattan on Saturday, March 25, 1911. The fire killed 146 garment workers who died due to flames, smoke inhalation, or falling or jumping to escape. The tragedy was compounded by the lack of sprinklers and locked exits, and the only accessible stairwell with no ventilation to remove the smoke.
In response to the Shirtwaist Factory disaster, New York Fire Bureau New legislation was passed, including changes to New York City building codes, aimed at improving safety standards to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Most recently, January 9, 2022, fire in Twin Parks North West, Zone 4high-rise apartment building in the Bronx, killed 17 people, including eight children, all of whom died from smoke inhalation. It was the third deadliest residential fire in the United States in the last 40 years and the deadliest in New York City since the Happy Land nightclub fire in 1990.
After every major fire that results in loss of life, our city has historically taken steps to improve the safety and security of its buildings and protect residents and workers. The Twin Parks fire has given us another historic moment, and we must survive it if we are to prevent unnecessary loss of life in the future.
For this reason, I strongly encourage the City Council to pass a life-saving law. Int. 0088-2024a reasonable measure that requires periodic inspection and maintenance of smoke and fire dampers in residential buildings, ensuring that these life-saving systems remain functional and meet safety standards.
Key provisions to ensure the bill will save lives are the requirement for certified technicians to inspect and test UL (Underwriters Laboratories) rated fire, smoke and combination dampers and smoke control systems. According to recognized standards, these inspections should be carried out one year after installation and then every four years, with the exception of hospitals where the interval is every six years.
This legislation will close gaps in building safety and ensure critical fire protection measures are maintained at all times, thereby ensuring the city's commercial, industrial and public buildings are safe for both residents and first responders. These gaps include the fact that fire dampers, smoke dampers and smoke control systems are not inspected and tested.
Moreover, many field inspectors have publicly stated that many dampers and smoke control systems are not functioning properly. Indeed, a 2021 University of Maryland study of more than 170,000 fire safety valves found that 53% needed repair. The same study reviewed 740 smoke control system designs and found that 41% of existing building stairwells required repair or adjustment.
If any building has less than half the sprinklers, fire alarms or fire extinguishers in working order, that building will be evacuated immediately. Why should we think about fire and smoke control systems differently?
Remote monitoring technology can be convenient, but it is not always reliable and false readings are common. There is no substitute for the confidence of a trained professional performing a thorough visual inspection.
Int. 0088 will bring New York into compliance with approved standards National Fire Protection Associationwhich are already part of the New York City Fire Code. In fact, many other states and municipalities have taken similar measures, including ensuring that the technicians performing the work have internationally recognized certification.
This bill was designed to prevent tragedies like those at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory and Twin Parks North West, and to create hundreds of local fire safety jobs.
These efforts would simply save lives. Families attending schools, hospitals or apartment buildings deserve the peace of mind that comes with knowing that fire alarms, sprinklers and other life safety systems are regularly inspected. Protecting lives should never be seen as just checking a box. It must be a commitment backed by responsibility and professionalism. Take this vital measure.
Cassano, Senior Managing Director Pitta Bishop and Del Giorno, LLCFrom 2010 to 2014, he served as the 32nd Fire Commissioner of New York City.
