For Immediate Release

February 14, 2005

SENATOR GILL ADVANCES SAFETY ESCAPE ROUTES FROM HIGH RISE BUILDINGS

TRENTON - Occupants of high-rise buildings would be safer during emergency evacuations under a bill, sponsored by Senator Nia H. Gill, which was approved 36-0 today by the Senate. It now goes to the Assembly.

A Our cherished senior citizen population and others will have luminescent guides to help lead them to safety, said Senator Gill, D-Essex and Passaic .

The Gill measure, S-1963, would require high-rise buildings to have luminescent strips that glow in the dark on each step in emergency stairways and on hand rails and exit doors. Such strips proved to have significant life-saving benefits to those who managed to escapine the inferno of the Twin Towers during the 9-11 terrorist attack at the World Trade Center , she said.

A This bill reflects our desire to help make people safer during these times of domestic terror, said Senator Gill. A But it also reflects a common-sense precaution for enhancing fire safety.

The measure would require the installation of the safety strips in buildings of more than six stories and in all occupied parts of buildings located more than 75 feet above the lowest access point to a fire department vehicle.

A After the World Trade Center was bombed in 1993, the Port Authority installed the luminescent strips and they demonstrated their life-saving value in 2001, Senator Gill said.

The measure would exempt buildings from the requirement if they have smoke lobbies, fire recall systems and buckup lighting in emergency stairways.

A I believe the bill will enhance safety particularly in less expensive apartment buildings for moderate and low income residents, and especially for our senior citizens, Senator Gill said.

Once the bill is enacted, owners of affected buildings would have 19 months to comply with the new safety requirement.