WORKGROUP TO DEVELOP FIRE SAFETY BEST PRACTICES FOR PRE–1974 HIGH–RISE APARTMENT BUILDINGS

[photo, Department of State Police, 1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland] Chair: Jason M. Mowbray, Acting State Fire Marshal

Appointed by Governor: Yasia W. Daniels; Mark D. Dopkin; Miriam M. Hamilton, Ph.D.: Terin Hopkins; Jamie L. McAllister, Ph.D.; Bradley D. Patrick, Sr.; Michael Rudasill; Abiodun (Babs) Shonaiya; Jeanne Schmager Tebera.

Appointed by Senate President: Sara N. Love

Appointed by House Speaker: Mary A. Lehman

Ex officio: Edward S. (Ted) Tochterman, Jr., Chair, State Fire Prevention Commission; Robert Phillips, designee of President, Maryland Fire Chiefs Association; Robbie Blackiston, designee of President, Maryland State Firemen's Association.

Staff: Catherine A. Kelly

Department of State Police, 1201 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, Maryland, January 2006. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.

c/o Government Affairs Unit
Department of State Police
1 Reisterstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208
(410) 260-6101
e-mail: catherinea.kelly@maryland.gov

In June 2024, the Workgroup to Develop Fire Safety Best Practices for Pre–1974 High–Rise Apartment Buildings was authorized by the General Assembly (Chapter 744, Acts of 2024).

The Workgroup was to study fire safety risks in high–rise apartment buildings that do not have automatic sprinkler systems or other fire safety technology. It considered current strategies, practices, and technology to mitigate fire risks, maximize evacuation of occupants, and allow for greater access and more expedient responses by emergency response professionals. The Workgroup also developed recommendations and best practices for the improvement of fire safety in high–rise apartment buildings that do not have fire sprinkler systems and other fire safety technology.

In developing recommendations the Workgroup considered the availability, feasibility, and degree of fire hazard mitigation of each alternative fire protection system or arrangement; and the cost, design, installation, testing, and maintenance of each fire protection system. It also evaluated the duration of installation for each alternative fire protection system, and the intensity of the disruption of normal occupancy caused by installation.

Fourteen members constituted the Workgroup. Five members were appointed by the Governor, and the Senate President and House Speaker each appointed one member. Four members served ex officio. The State Fire Marshal chaired the Workgroup.

Authorization for the Workgroup ended June 30, 2025.

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