I have been employed at Environmental Services for seven years, doing firestop and life safety work. This is a small trade, but it’s very important to allow everyone time to exit a building in case of a fire. It also ensures the safety of the firefighters who have to stop these fires from escalating.
Senate Bill 241 threatens to eliminate our chances of being able to work on major projects throughout Delaware. In the past year, we have worked on the Sussex County Family Court, the Kent County Family Court and Louis L. Redding Middle School, which are all prevailing-wage projects. We have had to get substantial certifications to work on these projects over the years and have put a great deal of time and energy into acquiring/keeping them. Those certifications also cost a large amount each year. This bill would limit our ability to operate on these projects, even though we are the most certified group in the state.
Firestop is a limited trade to begin with, and there would not be fair competition if this bill was to take effect. We have built this division in our company over the past 15 years and have worked very hard to get where we are today. This bill would take away 30%-40% of work for people who we have spent years training and getting certifications for.
Please share this with the appropriate representatives, if at all possible. Please take into account the smaller trades and the damage you’re doing by voting for this bill.
William C. Hubric
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.
