Sounds like a plan. If the GC loses the job, you may be doing him a
favor. What else is the guy lying about? When you walk away from
something like this, you are always better off for doing it.
At 01:39 PM 3/20/2007, you wrote:
The problem is that PODS are not mentioned in any sprinkler code or
reference so there is a "hole of interpretation" that is very confusing and
dangerous. The Insurance company was reportedly consulted and their response
was basically the typical "whatever the local AHJ requires and as long as it
meets code" variety pack. I have doubts about this, but the owner currently
has insurance with this carrier in his existing warehouse and they did not
give specific references for that one. We did the 1st warehouse as a revamp
3 years ago before we could get good info on PODS and the storage was only
16' versus 24' in the new one. The AHJ at the time allowed us to maximize
the water supply without adding a pump to the existing building. We just
removed and replaced all of the branchlines and used the existing cross
mains.
The local AHJ now does not know what to do as his expertise is limited to
black and white book knowledge and then he relies totally on the engineer
who stamped the design criteria (req'd in Florida).
Therefore we are on our own at this time and if I tip off the AHJ I will
forever alienate the GC on this project and could possibly cost him the job
since it is not under contract yet.
I am going to write a letter outlining our position and give a take it or
leave it ultimatum.
Thanks for the advice,
Greg
Living Water Fire Protection, LLC
1160 McKenzie Road
Cantonment, FL 32533
850-937-1850
Fax: 850-937-1852
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Richard
Matsuda
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 12:52 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: owners information certificate
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?
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Todd G. Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, Connecticut
860-535-2080
www.fpdc.com
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