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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1047 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2644
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Daniel J. Hunt
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to fire protection.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Daniel J. Hunt13th Suffolk1/14/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1047 FILED ON: 1/14/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 2644
By Representative Hunt of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2644) of Daniel
J. Hunt relative to clarifying the standards for requiring the installation of automatic sprinkler
systems in rehabilitated buildings. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 2290 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to fire protection.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Chapter 148 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out in its
2entirety section 26I and inserting in its place the following new section:
3 Section 26I. In a city, town or district which accepts the provisions of this section, any
4building hereafter constructed or which undergoes a major alteration or modification and is
5occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes and containing not less than four dwelling
6units including, but not limited to, lodging houses, boarding houses, fraternity houses,
7dormitories, apartments, townhouses, condominiums, hotels, motels and group residences, shall
8be equipped with an approved system of automatic sprinklers in accordance with the provisions
9of the State Building Code. In the event that adequate water supply is not available, the head of
10the fire department shall permit the installation of an alternative or modified fire suppression 2 of 2
11system as prescribed by the State Building Code in lieu of automatic sprinklers. Owners of
12buildings with approved and properly maintained installations may be eligible for a reduction on
13fire insurance. The head of the fire department shall enforce the provisions of this section.
14 Whoever is aggrieved by the fire department’s interpretation, order, requirement,
15direction or failure to act under the provisions of this section, may within forty-five days after the
16service of notice thereof, appeal from such interpretation, order, requirement, direction or failure
17to act to the automatic sprinkler appeals board as provided in section two hundred and one of
18chapter six. The board may grant a reasonable waiver from the provisions of this section, or may
19allow the installation of a reasonable alternative, modified or partial system of automatic
20sprinklers based upon the characteristics of the building or for those buildings that have
21architectural or historical significance.
22 SECTION 2.Nothing in this act shall be construed as limiting the State Building Code
23from requiring more stringent requirements for installation of automatic sprinklers in residential
24buildings.
25 SECTION 3. The provisions of section one shall not apply to construction projects
26approved by permit within one year prior to the effective date of this act.