1 bar misses sprinkler date

Four of five Boston taverns that Fire Department officials threatened to close for not installing fire sprinklers met a deadline for finishing the work by Friday, a department spokesman said.

One, Charlestown's Tavern on the Water, was forced to close Saturday, leaving a note to customers online saying it hoped to reopen in a few days.

The bars were among the last of hundreds in Massachusetts to install fire sprinklers since the state passed a law requiring them in the aftermath of the 2003 Rhode Island nightclub fire that killed 100 people.

The law required entertainment venues with capacities exceeding 100 people to install fire sprinklers by the close of business on Nov. 15, 2007. Cities were allowed to grant one-year extensions, which expired Friday.

On Friday, several taverns passed city inspections, in which officials verified that the systems were installed, utilized a dedicated water supply, and were functional. Those are Big City bar in Allston, Galvin's Harp and Bard restaurant in Dorchester, Mary Ann's in Brighton, and Punter's Pub on Huntington Avenue.

Three private lodges with function halls were also forced to close Saturday: Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge in Hyde Park, Syria Temple in Dorchester, and William E. Carter American Legion Post in Mattapan.

Brad Dalbeck, co-owner of Tavern on the Water, told the Globe last week that he did not realize when he and his partner bought the bar in 2005 that it needed fire sprinklers.

Fire Department spokesman Steve MacDonald said the bar had installed sprinklers but that they were not connected to a dedicated water supply.

MacDonald said the department also pulled the license of Levi's Restaurant, which had closed before the deadline.

Two establishments, Barking Crab on Fort Point Channel and Sunset Grill & Tap in Allston, are contesting the law, asserting that they are restaurants, not bars.

John C. Drake can be reached at jdrake@globe.com.