Courtesy : Consulting Specifying Engineer

SimplexGrinnell is offering nightclubs and other businesses the opportunity to lease sprinkler systems as opposed to purchasing them outright in order to offset some of the additional costs created by the Comprehensive Fire Safety Act of 2003, which requires sprinklers.

In some cases, the fire protection technology firm can lease 100% of the project cost, including equipment, installation, maintenance, monitoring and training.

Rhode Island's Comprehensive Fire Safety Act of 2003 was the result of the February 20, 2003 fire that killed 100 people at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., and injured about 200 others. The station was not equipped with a sprinkler system when the fire, a result of a pyrotechnics display, occurred. Under the new law, nightclubs with maximum occupancies from 150 to 300 will have until July 1, 2006 to install sprinklers, while larger clubs are required to install them by July 1, 2005.

"We understand the importance of this law and the critical role it will play in reducing the risk of death, injury and property damage from catastrophic fires," said Dave Baer, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SimplexGrinnell. "At the same time, we know that the cost of compliance can be an issue in some instances. That's why we're making this leasing option available to Rhode Island businesses."