You may recall that two years ago, The House and the Senate
passed legislation that would have allowed condominiums in
excess of 75 in height to opt out of a mandatory engineered life
safety system. Legislation already existed that allowed these
condominiums to opt out of sprinkler requirements. Condos opted
out of the sprinkler requirements, only to be told that they are
still required to install a perhaps even more expensive
engineered life safety system.
Two years ago, The House and The Senate passed legislation to
help alleviate the perceived financial burden of an engineered
life safety system. The bill simply needed the signature of then
Governor Scott. While the bill was waiting to be signed, the
tragic fire in London, England occurred where dozens of people
died. As a result, Governor Scott vetoed the proposed
legislation.
Last year, another attempt was made in the Florida Legislature
to waive the engineered life safety system requirement. It
failed.
So, the bottom line is that condos are still under the gun. If
your Fire Marshall says install that engineered life safety
system --- you now have no choice. And if you don’t have the
money, you better find it. Can’t afford the special assessment
to install the engineered life safety system? Too bad. You may
be foreclosed on.
This year, House Members Grieco and Rommel filed a bill that
again attempts to protect condos from having to install an ELSS
if they already voted to opt out of the sprinkler requirement.
In addition, the deadline to opt-out of installing sprinklers or
an ELSS would be extended from 2016 to December 31st, 2019.
So what do you think? Is this good legislation? Should
Floridians be able to opt of the engineered life safety system
and fire sprinklers?