CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Candy Playbook
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • 2022 Hot New Product Contest
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2022 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization

NYACS Dismisses Campaign as Misinformation

By CSD Staff | January 19, 2016

Share

10011541_H8120241-600x450Disagreement ensues over a state effort to eliminate the requirement that all New York gas stations must have a fire suppression system above their gas pumps.

By CSD Staff

New York’s convenience store operators have dismissed the fire equipment industry’s new “Safe at the Pump” campaign as “a foam bath of misinformation.”

The New York State Association of Fire Equipment Companies (NYSAFECo) recently announced that it was launching a drive to educate all New Yorkers about a state effort to eliminate the requirement that all gas stations must have a fire suppression system in place above their gas pumps. The announcement, however, met stiff resistance from the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS).

“That’s misleading, and they know it,” said Jim Calvin, NYACS president. “The Code Council proposed lifting the mandate only for those gas stations that are newly built or extensively renovated to meet the new standards in the 2015 International Fire Code. The fire suppression requirement would still apply to all remaining stations, including the Long Island location they referenced in their press release.”

Fillipo Conte, president of NYSAFECo, said the Codes Council—a state entity housed within the New York Department of State — opted on Aug. 19, 2015 to do away with the state regulation, in place since 1984, that every gas station in New York be equipped with a fire suppression system in the event that pumps catch fire—as part of an overhaul of the State’s new fire code.

Conte pointed to a recent example, which occurred on Long Island where first responders reportedly were able to stop a fire at a Wyandanch, N.Y. filling station due in part to a fire suppression system on site.

“Let’s be frank,” said Calvin. “Selling, servicing, inspecting and recharging gas station fire suppression systems is a lucrative business for the equipment dealers. That’s what this fuss is all about. Improvements in gas pump safety are threatening their gravy train, and rather than adapt, they’re trying to reverse the policy by scaring the public.”

Calvin said convenience stores care about the safety of their customers and employees, “but the truth is the greater danger is from malfunctioning fire suppression systems. Reputable retailers in all corners of the state told the state Code Council they can never recall their fire suppression systems activating for the purpose of quelling a gas-pump fire, yet every single year, multiple times, these systems discharge accidentally and without notice.”

“When such a malfunction occurs, it’s messy, costly and dangerous – for both the gas station owner and unsuspecting fuel customers who happen to be at the pump and get bathed in white foam powder,” Calvin said. “Cars get stained, clothing ruined and nerves frayed. Worse, motorists panic and try to pull away, sometimes striking pedestrians or other cars. That’s the equipment dealers’ idea of safe at the pump.”

Related Articles Read More >

Go Time Offers Personal Service with a Small-Town Feel
Contactless Payment Transactions Continue to Increase
Wawa Releases Video with Philadelphia Eagles Players
Black Buffalo Completes $30 Million Equity Raise
Safe Shop Assured

CStore Decisions Newsletter

Sponsored Content

  • Create Some Positivity at the Pump: 3 Ways to Fuel Customer Experiences
  • How Minuteman Food Mart Ensures a Consistent Customer Experience Across 44 Stores
  • Three Challenges Disrupting C-Store Operations and How to Overcome Them
  • Why Wait? Converting to E15 is easy.
  • It’s time you profited from your checkout line

Get the Magazine

Subscribe Now!
Subscribe Now!

Manage Current Subscription
CStore Decisions
  • New CSD Print Subscription
  • Manage current print subscription
  • CBD Retail Trends
  • CStore Products
  • NAG Convenience Conference
  • Convenience Directions
  • Rack Prices
  • Subscribe to CSD’s E-Newsletter
  • About CStore Decisions
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media
Privacy Policy | Advertising | About Us

Search CStore Decisions

  • Home
  • Today on CSD
  • Categories
    • CBD
    • Foodservice
    • Fuel & Gas
    • Health & Beauty
    • Independent Operators
    • Operations & Marketing
    • Technology
  • CStore Playbooks
    • Alcoholic Beverage Playbook
    • Candy Playbook
    • CBD Playbook
    • Foodservice Playbook
    • Technology Playbook
    • Tobacco Playbook
  • Products
    • 2022 Hot New Product Contest
    • Hot New Products Contest
    • Beverages & Cold Vault
    • Candy, Gum & Mints
    • Snacks
    • Tobacco
  • Resources
    • Digital Issues
    • Research & Downloads
    • Podcasts/How To Series
    • On Location
    • FAQ
    • 2022 Top 111 Chains
    • Leaders in Convenience
    • Rack Prices
    • Sponsored Content
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • White Papers
  • Events
    • 2022 Chain of the Year
    • Convenience Directions
    • NAG Convenience Conference
    • Young Executive Organization
  • Join
    • National Advisory Group
    • Safe Shop Assured
    • Young Executive Organization