Massachusetts Fire Safety Commission / Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board

The Fire Safety Commission is statutorily charged with promulgating all rules and regulations for the implementation of a statewide plan for the installation of automatic sprinklers in all buildings and structures of more than seventy feet in height. The Fire Safety Commission is composed of nine members. Contact the Commission at (978) 567-3181.

Fire Safety Commission Regulations - (These are un-official versions of 527 CMR regulations and are provided as a convenience to the public. DFS uses its best efforts to update these documents, however for official use please contact the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.)

• 530 CMR 2.00  : Installation of Automatic Sprinklers in High Rise Buildings and Structures

The Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board (ASAB) of the Commission, a five member hearing board, conducts hearings for persons seeking relief from orders or requirement of the head of the fire department, issued pursuant to M.G.L. c. 148 sections 26A ½, 26G, 26G ½, and 26H. For ASAB hearings, the presence of the appellant, and the head of the fire department or designee/agent is strongly recommended. To request an appeal application, or for further information, please call the ASAB Administrative Assistant at (978) 567-3181.

Filing ASAB Appeals: All appeals must be filed within 45 days (calendar days) after receiving service of notice of the head of the fire department's determination. All appeals require the submission of the formal application form (8 copies), a copy of the head of the fire department's written determination, a written explanation of relief request, and a $100.00 file fee.

For additional information about hearings before the Board, please see the following two memorandums issued by the board:

Memorandum - August 8, 2003 

Memorandum - August 23, 2005 

Special Alert:
The Sprinkler Appeals Board hears appeals of determinations issued by heads of fire departments relating to the new sprinkler requirements relating to nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, bars and similar entertainment facilities in existing buildings (M.G.L. c. 148, s.26G1/2). To assist persons who are seeking information about this new law the Board has provided the following information:

ASAB Jan. 10, 2005 Advisory 

ASAB Appeal Application & Instructions 

Changes to MGL C148 s 26G Sprinkler Law Take Effect Jan 1, 2010.

• The Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board has issued guidance on recent amendments to M.G.L. c. 148, s. 26G (Chapter 508 of the Acts of 2008) which requires enhanced sprinkler protection in certain buildings which total more than 7,500 gross square feet in floor area. These changes to the law take effect January 1, 2010.
• ASAB Official Approved 26G Guidance 
• Unofficial Copy of Applicable Law - M.G.L. c. 148 s. 26 G
  • Copy of enhanced amendments to M.G.L. c. 148 s. 26G sprinkler law for certain buildings over 7,500 s.f. (new, major renovations or additions thereto  .

Recent ASAB Decisions on M.G.L. c. 148s. 26 G:

• 09-12, 601 Main Street, North Andover 
• 10-06, 26 North Main Street, Sherborn   
• 10-07, 13 Albany Road, Deerfield 
• 10-09, 1155 Central Avenue, Needham   
• 10-11, 25 Conwell Street, Provincetown 
• 10-14, 828 Chief Justice Cushing Highway, Cohasset 
  • 10-14, Decision Attachment - ASAB Approved Guidance Document 26G 
• 10-15, 72 Deerfield Ave., Westwood   
• 10-17, 737 Court Street, Brockton   
• 10-18, 32-34 Howland Road, Fairhaven 
• 11-04_38_Reservation_Road,_Mattapoisett 
• 11-05 35 Butterfield Terr., Amherst 
• 11-09, 22 Shattuck Street, Lowell 
• 11-11, 320 Washington St., Easton 
• 11-12 985 North Pleasant St., Amherst 
• 11-14 1 Brayton Point Road, Somerset 
• 11-15 14 Bartlett St and 291 Elm St, Westfield 
• 11-16, 55 Jonathan Bourne Drive, Bourne 
• 11-17, 60 North Westfield St., Agawam 
• 11-18 52 Brattle St, Cambridge 
• 11-19 308 E. Main St., E. Brookfield 

Significant ASAB Decisions Relating to M.G.L. c. 148 s. 26G½ Sprinkler Law

ASAB CASE #05-23: 91 Manville Street, Leicester (M.G.L. c.148,s.26G1/2) :  The Board determined that a facility used for "organized private dining events" was not subject to the retrofit sprinkler requirements of M.G.L. c. 148, s.26G1/2. The Board established 7 specific characteristics that should be present for such buildings to be exempt from the enhanced sprinkler requirements of the new law. The Board also noted that statute allows for "temporary use" of certain buildings as a nightclub, dance hall, discotheque or bar or similar entertainment purpose without the need for sprinklers if a permit is issued by the head of the fire department in consultation with the building inspector who may set the terms and conditions to protect against fire and preserve public safety.

ASAB # 05-18, 63 Webster Street, Fall River (M.G.L. c.148, 26G1/2):  This case presented an establishment that featured characteristics of both a restaurant (which is specifically exempt from the law) and a bar. The Board established a two-part analysis of the building's characteristics to determine if such "combination" establishments, or portions thereof, are subject to the new sprinkler requirements of M.G.L. c. 148, s.26G1/2.

Additional Copies of Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board decisions relating to sprinkler requirements of MGL c.148, s.26G1/2 for nightclubs, dancehalls, discotheques, bars and similar uses

• 05-03, 1422 Elm Street, W Springfield 
• 05-05, 63 Park Ave, W Springfield 
• 05-06, 68 Field Street, Brockton 
• 05-07, 25 Mill Street, Springfield 
• 05-13, 463-465 Breckwood Blvd, Springfield 
• 05-14, 1055 Auburn Street, Whitman 
• 05-18, 63 Webster Street, Fall River 
• 05-19, 826 Plymouth Ave., Fall River 
• 05-20, 72 West Street, Foxborough 
• 05-21, 64 Common Street, Barre 
• 05-22, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg 
• 05-23, 91 Manville Street, Leicester 
• 05-30, 226 East Main Street, Fall River 
• 05-35, 439 Martine Street, Fall River 
• 05-36, 455 Oak Street Brockton 
• 05-40, 3 Hadley Street, South Hadley 
• 05-41, 33 Progress Avenue, Springfield 
• 05-43, 1315 Main Street, Acushnet 
• 05-44, 164-166 Main Street, Acushnet 
• 05-51, 425 Broadway, Saugus 
• 05-54, 13 Cross Street, East Bridgewater 
• 05-64, Gillespie Road, Charlton 
• 05-66, 85 Sampson Road, Charlton 
• 05-71, 176 Garden Street, Agawam 
• 05-74, 56 Creeper Hill Road, Grafton 
• 05-75, 65 Glendale Street, Easthampton 
• 05-86, 5 Fitzpatrick Way, Hull 
• 05-95, 46 Clinton Street, Chelsea 
• 05-103, 242 Spencer Avenue, Chelsea 
• 05-109, 35 Fourth Street, Chelsea 
• 05-145, 50 Pleasant Street, Norton 
• 05-148, 70 Beacon Street, Somerville 
• 05-177, 474 Moody Street, Waltham 
• 06-15, 203 Carriage Shop Road, Falmouth 
• 06-29, 141 Cabot Street, Beverly 
• 06-31, 25 Hayward Street, Hopkinton 
• 06-42, 194 Front Street, Scituate 
• 06-47, 95 Lumber Street, Hopkinton 
• 06-64, 43 Church Street, Salem 
• 06-67, 292 Green Street, Clinton 
• 06-82, 114 Mystic Ave, Medford 
• 06-98, 565 Boylston Street, Boston 
• 06-100, 321 Winthrop Street, Medford 
• 06-104, 19 Washington Street, Medford 
• 06-112, 88 Sleeper Street Boston, MA 
• 06-129, 130 Brighton Ave, Boston 
• 06-130, 138 Brighton Ave, Boston 
• 06-134, 13 Victory Street, Adams 
• 06-135, 486 Concord Street, Framingham 
• 06-137, 77R Rocky Neck Avenue, Gloucester 
• 06-141, 896 Hartford Tpk, Shrewsbury 
• 06-152, 562 Broadway, Malden 
• 06-166, 58 Lowell Street, Peabody 
• 06-180, 45 Belmont Street, Northborough 
• 06-188, One Eighth Street,, Pier 6, Charlestown 
• 06-181, 35 Solomon Pond Rd, Northborough 
• 06-194, 19 Weed Street, Marborough 
• 07-05, 3-5 Church Street, Greenfield 
• 07-11, 125 Windkist Farm Rd, North Andover 
• 08-02, 16 South Main Street, Millbury 

Globe Dry Fire Sprinkler Recall

On August 1, 2007, State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan issued an administrative order to Fire Chiefs regarding the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Globe Fire Sprinkler recall of Globe Model J Series Dry Fire Sprinklers.