Businesses comply with sprinkler regulation

By Holly Angelou

03/26/2008- The Republican

 CHICOPEE - All five entertainment venues in the city that were given three-month extensions to conform to the state's new sprinkler and fire alarm system law have complied.

They are: Hu Ke Lau, 705 Memorial Drive; Amvets Post 12, 754 Montgomery St.; The Chalet at Dollywood, 13 View St.; Patriot's Bar and Nightclub at Days Inn, 450 Memorial Drive; and Cabot Street Pub, now under new ownership and called The Brass Tap, 66 Cabot St.

"Everybody has complied," Deputy Fire Chief James P. McInerney said this week. "Everybody's plans and construction have been completed."

The new state law went into effect on Nov. 15, 2007, requiring sprinkler and fire alarm systems in nightclubs, discos, bars and other entertainment venues that have an occupancy of 100 or more. Ten establishments in the city were required to comply with the law, which was established following the 2003 blaze at The Station nightclub in West Warwick, R.I., that killed more than 100 people.

McInerney said the new law is a good idea for several reasons.

"Any kind of early detection system is what will save a life," he said. "You can't be everywhere."

While most agree the law is a good safeguard, sprinkler and fire alarm systems are costly.

"It can start at $30,000 or $50,000 and go up," McInerney said. "It depends on the size of the building."

Amvets Post 12 had to take out a 20-year loan to pay for its new $80,000 sprinkler and alarm system. Richard R. Laurin Jr., the new owner of the The Brass Tap, said he was fortunate because he split the $50,000 cost with the former owner of the Cabot Street Pub.

"It's a good law," Laurin said. "It's going to protect my business. It's going to protect my customers."