The measure says the multi-family buildings, mostly built in the 1960s and 80s, need to have sprinkler systems in each condo unit, or at to at least have them in common areas along with fire extinguishers and smoke control systems.

All condos built since the 1990s are already required to have fire control systems, but buildings built prior to that time have continually been given time extensions to put in the sprinklers. Pushback to the measure has been filed in the legislature for several years, comes from many condo associations and homeowners who balk at the price tag of in the sprinkler systems. This could cost thousands of dollars per unit.

However, House bill sponsor Byron Donalds (HB 723) says the potential cost of not putting in sprinklers is unacceptable. “If the fire comes, nobody is going to be concerned about the cost of the system," Donalds said. "You are going to be thinking about why don’t we have it, and oh my gosh we don’t. What am I going to do?”