Lemont, IL – The Lemont Fire Protection District has recognized Jerry Kulhanek, owner of The Bridge Lemont, for retrofitting his banquet hall with fire sprinklers. The fire district presented a plaque to Kulhanek during the district’s fire safety open house.
The Bridge Lemont is a rustic-industrial style wedding venue located in the historic district. The original 7,000 square foot building was constructed before fire sprinklers were required by code. Kulhanek decided to voluntarily move forward with the retrofit project after a presentation by Lemont Fire Protection District Fire Marshal Mark Blackaller, who provided him with information about a potential federal tax incentive to offset the retrofit cost.
Blackaller said he is relieved this large venue is now protected with fire sprinklers, especially because it is located in the historic district. “By putting a sprinkler system in, his customers and employees will be protected. It is benefitting the community and his business,” he said. “After the inspections, Jerry came to us and said he was very pleased that he had made the decision to go ahead and sprinkler the building.”
Installed fire sprinklers improve public safety in the historic area, Blackaller notes. “So many of the buildings are old and close together. Fire can spread quickly and possibly spread to other buildings. Buildings protected with fire sprinklers are a benefit to Lemont because the technology prevents loss of life and property, protects our firefighters from fighting large fires and it prevents economic loss due to business interruption and closure.”
Businesses of any size that retrofit their properties with fire sprinkler systems can potentially take advantage of federal tax incentives through the 2020 Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA).
For more information about the tax incentives: https://firesprinklerassoc.org/federal-incentives.
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