What's happening
This bill establishes new installation and maintenance standards for fire suppression systems at gas stations in New York.
Why it matters
Stricter safety requirements. The bill mandates automatic fire-extinguishing systems specifically designed for petroleum fires at gas stations, directly targeting the unique risks associated with motor fuel dispensing.
Enhanced oversight for unattended stations. Unattended self-service gas stations must have their fire suppression systems monitored by an approved supervising station, increasing accountability and the likelihood of timely emergency response.
Qualified maintenance and regular inspections. Only trained and knowledgeable technicians are allowed to install, alter, or repair these systems, and stations must keep detailed inspection records for at least five years—raising the bar for ongoing fire safety and compliance.
Serious enforcement measures. Non-compliance can result in revocation of both a building’s certificate of occupancy and the permit to operate fuel dispensers, creating strong incentives for gas station owners to adhere to these new standards and ensuring public safety is prioritized.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Gas Station Fire Safety
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
- Referred to housing, construction and community development
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1399
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sens. CARLUCCI, KENNEDY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Housing, Construction and Community Development
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing installation and maintenance standards for gas station fire suppression systems
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 378 of the executive law is amended by adding a new subdivision 19 to read as follows:
19. Standards for gas station fire suppression systems shall require:
a. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems using an extinguishing agent suitable for petroleum fires.
b. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems at unattended self-service motor fuel-dispensing facilities shall be monitored by an approved supervising station.
c. Where flammable liquid motor fuel is dispensed at an automotive liquid motor fuel-dispensing facility, the dispensing area shall be provided with a dry chemical fire-extinguishing system designed and installed in accordance with the following:
(i) the fire-extinguishing system shall be designed to provide overhead protection of the dispenser area;
(ii) the extinguishing agent containers shall be equipped with indicators to show whether the system is fully charged;
(iii) the installation, alteration, testing and repair of the fire-extinguishing system, including any maintenance or modification of the system, shall be performed by a technician who is trained and knowledgeable in the installation, operation and maintenance of the specific fire-extinguishing system; and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06333-01-9
S. 1399 2
(iv) dispensers shall not be operated when the fire-extinguishing system has discharged or is inoperative, except as authorized in writing by the department.
d. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be serviced after activation of the system and at regular intervals thereafter. Inspection records shall also be kept on premises where the automatic fire-extinguishing systems are located for a minimum of five years.
e. Systems shall be inspected and tested for proper operation at initial installation and at regular intervals thereafter. Tests shall be in accordance with the manufacturer's requirements and include a check of the detection system, alarms and releasing devices, including manual stations and other associated equipment.
f. Failure to comply with the installation or maintenance requirements of this section shall result in the revocation of the building's certificate of occupancy and/or the permit to operate fueling dispensers.
g. The provisions of this subdivision shall be enforced in accordance with the provisions of section three hundred eighty-one of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the state fire prevention and building code council shall take any and all actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before its effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to establishing installa- tion and maintenance standards for gas station fire suppression systems
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to promote fire safety at gas stations by ensuring the state uniform fire prevention and building code includes installation and maintenance standards for gas station fire suppression systems.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill creates standards for gas station fire suppression systems. Such standards include requiring automatic fire extinguishing systems using an extinguishing agent to be suitable for petroleum fires, requires that such systems be monitored if they are at unattended service stations, requires that the dispensing area where liquid motor fuel is dispensed shall be provided with a dry chemical fire extinguishing system that meets certain requirements; and requires that such automatic fire extinguishing systems be serviced regularly.
The bill also provides that failure to comply with these requirements of this section could result in revocation of the building's certificate of occupancy and/or the permit to operate fueling dispensers.
Section two of the bill provides an effective date of 180 days after enactment.
Justification
New York has long led the nation when it comes to enacting commonsense safety regulations for drivers. This notion has also been extended to motorists filling up at their local gas station. This regulation has been on the books in New York for decades, and has protected many New Yorkers from serious harm. We need to ensure that this vital safety measure continues to be the law in New York. Gas station shutoffs fail all the time, and once more, there is always residual fuel in the gas lines of the pump that when sparked can cause a vehicle to catch fire. Without these mandated fire suppression systems, New York motorists are at risk of hazardous injuries.
Legislative history
2017-18: S1654/A3492 - HOUSING, CONSTRUCTION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT/codes 2015-16: S6069A/A8465A - Print number 6069A/A ordered to third reading rules cal 171
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred-eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the state fire prevention and building code council shall take any and all actions necessary to implement the provisions of this act on or before its effective date.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.