here in Dallas we require the owner's certificate in the form of a letter from the owner stating his intended storage arrangements. I think it's our job as the AHJ to insure that the use of this or any existing building is within the design parameters of the sprinkler protection. We will not allow an existing light hazard building to be converted to high-piled storage use without upgrades.
If after obtaining a CO, the owner decides to increase his storage or make changes in the previously stated arrangement, then the fire inspector will issue a notice requiring either (1) lower the storage to the stated height, or (2) redesign the sprinkler system for the new higher storage. The owner is generally given a 2-week period to respond or start some type of correction, either lower the storage or contracting for redesign. After this period without any compliance, the owner is given a citation. This can escalate further to requiring a fire watch at his expense or even closing his business. Normally it does not get to this stage as the owner makes the required corrections. Since the Owner's Certificate is part of our records and subject to public information, I wonder if the insurance carrier can deny any fire loss claims if they can show that the owner knowingly exceeded the sprinkler design. rick matsuda, city of dallas >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] 03/20/07 10:03AM >>> Part A: What do we (as an industry) do when an owner completes the Owner's Information Certificate incorrectly to deliberately mislead an AHJ? Part B: What do we do when they technically tell the truth as in building a warehouse that has no storage above 12' initially but they have every intention (because they tell you so) to store PODS 24' high after they get a CO? _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
