PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – Rhode Island business owners bitterly complained on Monday about strict fire codes enacted after a 2003 nightclub fire that killed 100 people, saying the new laws are costly and time consuming and are driving people out of business.

Numerous small business owners packed into a standing room crowd to tell a House commission studying the codes that they are forced to install expensive and elaborate fire detection equipment, spend countless hours haggling with fire marshals and make costly upgrades to businesses only to be told that they haven’t done enough.

“There should be a rollback of this law until something is worked out,” said Lou DeCiantis, 62, owner of Lou’s Laundry in Warwick. DeCiantis estimated that he will need to spend almost $15,000 to comply with the fire codes.

A fire at The Station nightclub in West Warwick was caused by pyrotechnics for the 80s rock band Great White, which ignited flammable soundproofing foam lining the walls.

The new fire codes require more sprinklers and alarms and largely eliminate grandfathering clauses that allowed public buildings to avoid upgrades required under new building rules.

Other changes include a requirement that nightclub owners hire crowd managers and turn up the lights before a show and point out exits.

Rep. Joseph Trillo, R-Warwick, head of the commission, has introduced a bill repealing the new code except for the provisions governing nightclubs. He argues that the costs the bills impose are too hefty for small businesses.

The hearing was the commission’s first and no action has been taken on the bill.

The bill hasn’t received much support from Democratic lawmakers, and fire safety officials argue that scrapping the new code is unnecessary, since the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review can grant leniency to businesses.

Business owners told the commission that the fire at The Station would never have happened if existing laws were enforced. They wondered why they are facing such stiff regulations.

DeCiantis told the commission of an incident at his business when a plastic bag caught fire in a dryer. That caused smoke that triggered an alarm system and alerted fire crews. After that, the fire marshal told him he’d have to upgrade that system.

He said he doesn’t know why he needs to change an alarm system that is fully functional.

“It’s ridiculous if you’ve got something that works absolutely perfect,” he said.

Federico Santi, who owns a small Newport antiques store, said he received a letter in early March saying that a business license needed to operate on Sundays and holidays was denied because he didn’t have needed clearance from the fire department.

He said he was told he needed to submit a plan of action to comply with fire codes despite years of property inspections from an insurance company.

“Our antiques gallery and home is our dream come true for us, yet the new state fire code is about to destroy that dream,” he said.

Jacqueline McCarthy, 57, owner of the Wickford Junction Inn Bed and Breakfast, said she spent more than $50,000 trying to comply with state fire laws.

She said she will likely need to work into her mid-70s to pay back the debt incurred since starting her business three years ago.

McCarthy said her business is still not compliant with state fire codes despite the huge costs.

“I am not in a position at this point to take any more loans,” she told the commission. “This is not how my husband and I envisioned our golden years.”