Nightclubs, dance halls, discotheques, bars; automatic sprinkler system

Section 97A. (a) The board of building regulations and standards shall require the owner of any building or structure or portion thereof, that includes a place of business designed or used for occupancy as a nightclub, dance hall, discotheque, bar, or for similar entertainment purposes, with a capacity of 100 persons or more, and which includes 1 or more residential dwellings, to install an adequate system of automatic sprinklers throughout the building including, but not limited to, residential dwellings and in any common areas connected thereto, in accordance with the state building code. This section shall apply to the construction or substantial alteration of buildings or structures, approved by building permit on or after December 1, 2004. This paragraph shall not preclude the board of building regulations and standards from prescribing more stringent sprinkler requirements. (b) Whoever is aggrieved by an interpretation, order, requirement, or direction of the building official under this section, or whoever is aggrieved by a failure of the building official to take action under this section, may, within 45 days after the service of notice of such interpretation, order, requirement, or direction, or after 45 days of such failure to act, appeal from such interpretation, order, requirement, direction, or failure to act to the building code appeals board as provided in section 100 of chapter 143.