Build with Strength, a coalition of the National Ready Mixed Concrete Association consisting of fire service professionals, community organizations, architects, engineers and industry experts committed to enacting safer and more sustainable building standards, is pleased to welcome The New Jersey State Fire Prevention and Protection Association, The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, and The New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association as new members of the coalition. The community organizations join a growing list of advocates who are working to ensure that the most vulnerable residents throughout New Jersey have access to safe and secure housing.

In addition to these three new members, the Build with Strength coalition in New Jersey includes: The New Jersey State Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association; The Professional Fire Fighters Association of New Jersey; the New Jersey State Association of County Fire Marshals; the Brigantine Beach Fire Company; Burlington County Fire Marshal Bob Carr; and Retired FDNY Fire Fighter and Wall Township Councilman Kevin P. Orender.

“New Jersey residents deserve the peace of mind that comes with a secure home,” said Richard Silvia, president of the New Jersey Fire Prevention and Protection Association. “Over the last couple years, our state has fought a number of high-profile fires that damaged property and threatened the public’s welfare. We look forward to working with Build with Strength in the months ahead to engage our lawmakers to fix this problem.”

Recently, New Jersey has been the site of major fires at wood-framed apartment complexes and structures, most notably in Lakewood, Maplewood, and Edgewater – the latter displacing more than 500 residents. At a time when fires of this nature are becoming more common, Build with Strength has stepped up efforts to mitigate the dangers of fire for communities across the country. In reviewing current building and fire safety codes, the coalition is working to identify areas in need of improvement, particularly in updating building codes by including the use of non-combustible materials to minimize the risk of fires.

Build with Strength continues to support A5196 & S3490 - the only comprehensive statewide legislative approach to achieving the recommendations of the Code Advisory Council and an ad hoc committee formed by the NJ Fire Safety Commission.

“As the nation’s most densely populated state, the need for sensible legislation in New Jersey that protects communities from the risks of preventable tragedies is an absolute must,” said Kevin Lawlor, spokesperson for Build with Strength. “The time to act is now.”