Puerto Rico Requires Sprinkler Systems

Six months after the Dupont Plaza Hotel fire that killed 97 people, Gov. Rafael Hernandez Colon on Thursday signed into law a bill requiring all high-rise hotels and condominiums in Puerto Rico to install sprinkler systems.

The bill covers both public and private buildings and applies to existing as well as proposed structures.

The bill was introduced in the Commonwealth Legislature after the New Year’s Eve fire at the luxury hotel.

Although that fire was set by three men who have been sentenced to long prison terms, a group of federal fire prevention experts told Congress in March that many lives could have been saved if a functioning automatic sprinkler system had been in place at the hotel.

Many Hotels Lack Systems

The same experts noted that 95% of hotels in the United States do not have automatic sprinkler systems providing total coverage.

Anticipating the legislation, the Puerto Rico Hotel and Tourism Assn. two months ago announced that all major hotels in the San Juan area would be fitted with sprinkler systems within 10 years.

Owners of the Dupont Plaza announced recently that the hotel will reopen next year with state-of-the-art fire safety equipment, including automatic sprinklers throughout the 21-story oceanfront building.

Association Notes Progress

Several other hotels in the past few months have had sprinkler systems installed or have extended existing systems to include all guest rooms, according to the hotel association.

Hernandez Colon told reporters at the bill-signing ceremony that he realized the measure will have an economic impact on the hotel industry and increase the cost of new multi-story construction.

But Hernandez Colon said he signed the measure because public safety outweighed the economic impact.