Bill is introduced in N.J. Assembly for freeze on lightweight wood construction

February 5, 2015, 8:34 PM Last updated: Thursday, February 5, 2015, 8:38 PM

Two weeks after a fast-moving blaze nearly destroyed an Edgewater apartment complex, a bill introduced in the Assembly on Thursday calls for a moratorium on new multi-family developments using the same lightweight wood construction while the state evaluates its safety.

The measure by Assemblyman Scott Rumana, R-Wayne, would put a moratorium of up to two years on the approval and construction of multiple-unit dwellings using light frame construction.

This event in Edgewater, this catastrophe that just happened, is I think one of those moments in time where we have everybodys attention, Rumana said. Now is when you can hopefully get some positive change that results from a very negative event.

The five-alarm blaze at the Avalon at Edgewater destroyed more than half of the 408-unit complex, shut schools and roadways, displaced nearby residents and revived long-standing issues in the firefighting community about lightweight wood construction a cheaper, faster and legal style of building common in New Jersey and elsewhere.

This type of construction is of particular concern when fire breaks out because of the potential for collapse and for materials to burn quickly.

The bill calls for the commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs to evaluate the safety of light frame construction in multiple-unit dwellings, focusing on the hazards it poses in the event of a fire. Code would be revised based on the findings, prohibiting such construction in certain cases if appropriate.

Officials have said the Edgewater complex had lightweight construction with truss-style roof framing. The proposed legislation, in part, defines light frame construction as any building method using metal-plate connected wood trusses or composite wood joists as floor or roof system structural elements.

Theres not going to be an immediate revision to the code moratoriums can be put in place rapidly, Rumana said. Its something that allows for us to stop any further expansion of what we all believe is a dangerous method of construction in multi-dwelling structures.

Rumana said he put the moratorium at two years so as not to leave it open-ended. He said if all interested parties come together trade unions, code officials, fire bureau officials, developers it could be wrapped up, on the outside, in six months.

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Bill is introduced in N.J. Assembly for freeze on lightweight wood construction