Sen. Daniel Squadron Wants State-Owned Buildings In NYC To Be Covered By The Same Fire Codes
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- A task force report warns that firefighters could be in danger at city state-owned buildings where FDNY fire codes don't apply.
The loophole covers more than 600 buildings, including the Jacob Javits Convention Center, hospitals, youth centers and offices, plus state-owned buildings leased out to restaurants and stores.
The state also owns buildings at Brooklyn College, City College, Hunter College, and other universities.
EXTRA: Read The Full Report (pdf)
State Sen. Daniel Squadron is pushing for all city buildings to be covered by the same rules.
"These major gaps in fire code put our first responders and the public at greater risk," Squadron said.
Squadron sponsored the bill that created the task force following the 2007 Deutsche Bank fire that killed firefighters Joseph Graffagnino and Robert Beddia.
The state has its own fire code. The city and state rules differ on things like how explosives are handled and how standpipes and water sources inside buildings are set up.
The task force recommended reconciling some of the rules and requiring tougher fire inspections for state buildings.
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