In letters to Sen. Jon Corzine (D,N.J.) and Rep. Curt Weldon (R, PA), sponsors of the bills, ASSE President James "Skipper" Kendrick, CSP, stated, "Without doubt, fire sprinklers save lives, and, when they are not present in structures, needless deaths occur. A sprinkler system will help control a fire, if not extinguish it, in its earliest stages."
By allowing businesses to take a five-year instead of the current 39-year depreciation for their investment in fire sprinkler systems under the Internal Revenue Code, the "Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act of 2003" will encourage businesses to make the investment in safety, especially those businesses in older buildings typically not required to meet more modern building and safety codes, said Kendrick. "This incentive will help our members do their jobs, which is to help save lives and prevent injuries in workplaces," he added.
