Earlier this week, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) and U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), John Katko (R-NY), and Marie Newman (D-IL) introduced the High-Rise Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act. The bill numbers for this legislation are S. 3346 in the Senate and H.R. 6192 in the House of Representatives.
This bill amends the tax code to create a new incentive for the owners of high-rise buildings (buildings over 75 feet tall) to install sprinklers in their structures erected before fire codes required sprinklers. The current tax code treats fire sprinklers the same as plumbing, and their costs are depreciated over 39 years. This bill decreases this cost recovery to 15 years.
The IAFC strongly supports this legislation and thanks Senators Collins and Bennet along with Reps. Pascrell, Katko, and Newman for introducing it. IAFC President and Board Chair Chief Kenneth W. Stuebing, said “Fire sprinklers are a proven way to decrease the death rate of fires by 87% and can contain fires to their room of origin in 97% of cases. We urge Congress to move swiftly to pass this legislation.”
The IAFC will continue to advocate for this legislation and monitor its progress as it moves through Congress.
Ryan Woodward is the IAFC's manager of government relations and policy.