HomeMy WebLinkAboutLionsquare East third party inspection
December 30, 2013
Tony Viele
Principal/Project Manager
Mark F. Omilian Project Manager
Viele Construction 2111 N. Frontage Road, Suite E. Vail, Colorado
RE: Lionsquare East redevelopment-Technical Assistance required.
Dear Sirs,
On Thursday, December 19th I conducted installation acceptance testing of the fire alarm and
fire suppression systems at the above named property. During the course of the inspection, deficiencies related to the suppression system ranging from leaks to isolation valve malfunctions
were encountered.
Additionally, on December 25th, Vail Fire & Emergency Services (VF&ES) responded to the
property for report of a sprinkler activation. According to the incident report (13-33509007) the source of the activation was the attic dry system. It was reported to me by Boyer Voda, sprinkler contractor, that he had determined that there was not enough of a safety margin
between system air pressure and trip pressure. He theorized that temperature changes created a differential sufficient to cause the system to activate.
The international Fire code, 2012 ed, (adopted), section 104.7.2 Technical Assistance, states the following: “ To determine the acceptability of technologies, processes, products, facilities, materials and uses attending the design, operation or use of a building or premises subject to
inspection by the Fire Code Official, the Fire Code Official is authorized to require the owner or agent to provide, without charges to the jurisdiction, a technical opinion and report. The opinion
and report shall be prepared by a qualified engineer, specialist, laboratory or fire safety specialty
organization acceptable to the Fire Code Official and shall analyze the fire safety properties or the design, operation or use of the building or premises and the facilities and appurtenances
situated thereon, to recommend necessary changes. The Fire Code Official is authorized to
require design submittals to be prepared by, and the bear the stamp of, a registered design professional.”
The scope and intent of this code section will applied to final acceptance testing of the life safety systems of the Lionsquare East renovation project to meet requirements as stated in section
901.5 of the International Fire Code, 2012 (adopted). Installation acceptance testing: “Fire
detection and alarm systems, fire-extinguishing systems, private fire service mains and all other
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fire protection systems and appurtenances thereto shall be subject to acceptance tests and as
approved by the Fire Code Official. The Fire Code Official shall be notified before any required acceptance testing”.
Therefore, in accordance with the code sections referenced, it is hereby ordered that a third party inspection of the fire suppression and fire alarm systems be conducted. Inspections,
testing and maintenance shall be in accordance with the 901.6.1, which states in part the
following” “…Fire protections systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with referenced standards…” Specifically, testing shall be in accordance with NFPA 25, 2011
ed., as well as NFPA 14, 2010 ed., and NFPA 24, 2010 ed., if applicable. The fire alarm and fire sprinkler contractors shall be present for all testing and inspections.
Results and findings of the systems test shall presented in writing to VF&ES along with a schedule to repair discrepancies of deficiencies. This letter shall bear the stamp of third party
responsible for submitting the document.
As any final Certificates of occupancy for this project are tied to this requirement, I submit that
Viele Construction should engage the services of an engineering professional sooner than later.
Upon selection of the engineer, I suggest that we should meet to discuss specific requirements
and outcomes.
Please feel free to contact me if you need guidance or assistance through this process.
Respectfully, Michael Vaughan,
Fire Marshal, VF&ES
mvaughan@vailgov.com
970.479.2252
Cc:
Mark Miller, Fire Chief, VF&ES Mike McGee, Deputy Chief, VF&ES
Martin Haeberle, Chief Building Official, Town of Vail