BY BILL MANNING
Throughout the county, the practice of "grandfathering" buildings—exempting structures predating fire and building codes from the law—is widespread, if not commonplace. There is no more tragic example of the results of this stupid habit than what occurred in West Warwick, Rhode Island, earlier this year.
Recently, the Rhode Island state legislature passed bills, with the firm backing of the fire service leadership, to eliminate the grandfather clause in the state. The bills include an automatic sprinkler retrofit and central-station fire alarm requirements for 150-plus-occupancy "special amusement buildings" (including nightclubs) and many places of public assembly with occupancies exceeding 300.
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