New state fire regulations are making public gatherings safer, but their cost has also contributed to the sale of two local halls.

The Knights of Columbus councils in both Attleboro and North Attleboro have put their buildings on the market, partly because of the expense they would incur for installing new fire alarm systems.

The systems are required as part of the new state Fire Safety Act that is now taking effect and that was adopted in 2004 in the aftermath of The Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, R.I., that took 100 lives.

Not only nightclubs and bars, but also assembly halls of a certain size, have to install either sprinkler systems or new fire alarms. The cost has hit at least a couple of organizations particularly hard.

The Attleboro council has had its building on Hodges Street up for sale for awhile and now has a potential buyer. The North Attleboro council only recently decided to sell its hall on Smith Street for $1.5 million. While the North Attleboro sale is mainly because of the fire codes, the Attleboro council had other issues with its building before the new mandates.

Attleboro Grand Knight Roger Cicero said membership is down, and signing up new members has been difficult among a very busy younger generation. Because of that, fewer volunteers were available to set up and clean the hall when it was rented out for events.

Cicero said the council had also given up its liquor license because of the expense of liability insurance that was needed to protect the organization.

Then last year, the building was flooded with more than 2 feet of water after a storm, and a lot of work had to be done to the interior to repair the damage.

When the new fire code kicked in with a requirement for a sprinkler or alarm system, the council knew it could no longer keep the building.

`` There was no money to go back to where we were,'' Cicero said. `` We had to sell.''

The council, which incorporates members from four Catholic parishes in Attleboro, will still continue, he said, but will likely start meeting at one of the churches once the sale is final.

Paul Fitzgerald, past grand knight and now president of the Attleboro council's building corporation, said a purchase and sales agreement has been signed but the sale is not final, so he would not say who the buyer is.

The council came to the realization that it could not cover its expenses, even though it had some income from rentals, he said.

`` It was just time to let go,'' Fitzgerald said. Other councils are also looking to sell their buildings to eliminate the problems and the responsibility they entail, he said, particularly as long-time members age and no new people join.

The Knights of Columbus council in North Attleboro still has a sizable membership and has had rental income on a regular basis, said Neil Lambert, president of the building corporation.

`` We were always able to pay the bills,'' he said.

But what made the council decide to sell, he said, was the new requirement for a fire alarm system that would have cost about $10,000.

`` The expense of putting it in was more than we could do,'' Lambert said.

Rentals had been maintaining the hall, he said, and although the building's size made it unsuitable for larger events like weddings, it was often used for birthday parties, family gatherings, and funeral receptions.

The council did not charge a lot, he said, and the intent was never to make a profit but to simply cover expenses.

With the cost of not only an alarm system but also liability insurance and other expenses, he said, the council had to decide if it should concentrate its efforts on a structure, or on work in the community, which is a key part of its purpose.

Since it was put on the market in May, the building has been shown to potential buyers, but no one has yet made an offer, Lambert said.

Once the hall is sold, the council plans to meet in one of the three North Attleboro churches the council is affiliated with until a decision is made on whether it will pursue another building.

North Attleboro Fire Chief Peter Lamb said the new fire code requires a sprinkler system in some buildings, which can cost about $75,000, but in other buildings that meet certain criteria, a less costly fire alarm system of $10,000 to $15,000 will meet the regulations.

That was the case with the Knights hall, he said, and with the VFW hall on Jefferson Street. The Elks hall on Bulfinch Street already had a fire alarm.

Bill Schaefer of the VFW said his organization is running raffles and posting donation jars to raise money for the new alarm system.

The VFW has a solid history of rentals, he said, and during the busy season the hall is sometimes booked every weekend for two or three events like dances, graduations, and a number of weddings, even in these times when many brides opt instead for a hotel or restaurant for their receptions.

The bar at the VFW is also open daily, and light meals and sandwiches are available, all of which contribute income to maintain the building and the organization.

The VFW members are confident they will be able to cover the cost of the new alarm system with the money they raise from raffles and donations.

`` We'll make it,'' Schaefer said.

Although some Knights of Columbus councils are having difficulty maintaining their buildings, the South Attleboro council is doing well so far.

Past Grand Knight Matt Sweeney said the building on Highland Avenue has an alarm and is not required to install a sprinkler system.

Rental income is steady, he said, and the hall is often used for parties, dances and weddings. One reason for the building's appeal, he said, may be its location on a well-traveled road, its ample parking and its relatively young age.

The council membership has also been steady and even went up this year after several new people joined.

`` Things are turning up, not turning down,'' Sweeney said.