Aug. 13, 2007
Sprinklers for Fire Safety a Must
City Fire Marshal Inspection Tour
Marshall's Buildings 'Well Ahead of Most' According to Fire Chief, But Will Cost Factors Prevent or Hinder Installation in Other Older Structures Downtown?
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Following the tragic Emmons Jr. fire which claimed nine lives, the Huntington Fire Department has been pushing a sprinkler agenda particularly for downtown high rise buildings.
Fire marshal Dave Bias has been inspecting such skyline icons as the West Virginia Building, The Coal Exchange Building, The Prichard, and the Chaffin (a.k.a. Guaranty Bank) Building.
Built during a mid-1920s building boom, the city anticipated a population of 100,000 within ten or twenty years. The Prichard Hotel, West Virginia Building and the Coal Exchange Building all were announced during that period. By the standard of the day, they were considered “fireproof,” according to microfilmed Herald-Dispatch articles from that era.
During the 20s, Huntington had no building code in place. In fact, disagreements amongst realtors, civic organizations and the Chamber of Commerce opposed to modifications of proposed codes lead to the 1922 resignation of building inspector, S.B. Hall.
W.B. Smith became building inspector and in May 1924 told the Herald-Dispatch that “a building code is sadly needed.”
The Emmons Junior Apartments were built in the 1920s, but, as former owner Roger Smith says, “they were built like a fortress.”
However, the spreading in the building of the Emmons fire, and the destruction and death toll from it may have a common component with one of the foremost theories related to the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks --- Extreme heat applied to steel truss beams causes sagging which could bring a collapse.
One portion of the Junior roof collapsed, perhaps, from a similar steel heating factor. But, while “fat pine” flooring may have prevented a higher death toll, both Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller and fire marshal Dave Bias say that a sprinkler system in the apartments would have controlled and contained the fire to the room of its origination.
The sprinkler position has strong statistical support --- a multiple death fire has never been recorded in a building with a sprinkler system according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Since the Emmons tragedy, Bias has been meticulously inspecting downtown structures regarding fire safety issues ranging from entrances and exits to their electrical systems and horizontal and vertical spread factors.
While neither of the Emmons buildings would have qualified as a “high rise,” the fire marshal and chief have been honing on those structures. According to Fuller, as a general rules, if there is one hundred feet to the floor level of the highest occupied floor, or six or more stories, it qualifies as a high rise.
Unfortunately, the costs to install sprinklers in these 1920s-vintage buildings that once housed mainly offices and some of which now have converted to office/condo/apartment combinations, come with staggering retro-fitting costs. Various owners have speculated rates of $2 to $2.50 per square foot with an estimate of $300,000-$500,000 per structure.
Obviously, these costs could be passed on in the form of rent increases. And, in some cases, the increases might price the venue out of the market. Still, Fuller indicated that sprinkler financing help appears on the horizon.
The proposed Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act co-sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller would allow depreciation to be written off over a five year period.
But, the ‘high rise’ standard applies not simply to buildings in the downtown business district. Marshall University has two fifteen-floor residence halls, Holderby Hall, which is nine stories, and Smith Hall, which includes six floors of classrooms and offices, a seventh devoted only to offices, and a partial eighth floor enclosure that is often used for celebrations or as a teacher’s lounge.
Chief Fuller explained that “Marshall University is well ahead of most everybody with regard to safety. They do an excellent job. They have been working with the State Fire Marshal’s office. They stay on top of fire safety issues and are an example for everyone else to follow.”
Sprinklers for Fire Safety a Must
City Fire Marshal Inspection Tour
Marshall's Buildings 'Well Ahead of Most' According to Fire Chief, But Will Cost Factors Prevent or Hinder Installation in Other Older Structures Downtown?
By Tony Rutherford
Huntington News Network Writer
Huntington, WV (HNN) - Following the tragic Emmons Jr. fire which claimed nine lives, the Huntington Fire Department has been pushing a sprinkler agenda particularly for downtown high rise buildings.
Fire marshal Dave Bias has been inspecting such skyline icons as the West Virginia Building, The Coal Exchange Building, The Prichard, and the Chaffin (a.k.a. Guaranty Bank) Building.
Built during a mid-1920s building boom, the city anticipated a population of 100,000 within ten or twenty years. The Prichard Hotel, West Virginia Building and the Coal Exchange Building all were announced during that period. By the standard of the day, they were considered “fireproof,” according to microfilmed Herald-Dispatch articles from that era.
During the 20s, Huntington had no building code in place. In fact, disagreements amongst realtors, civic organizations and the Chamber of Commerce opposed to modifications of proposed codes lead to the 1922 resignation of building inspector, S.B. Hall.
W.B. Smith became building inspector and in May 1924 told the Herald-Dispatch that “a building code is sadly needed.”
The Emmons Junior Apartments were built in the 1920s, but, as former owner Roger Smith says, “they were built like a fortress.”
However, the spreading in the building of the Emmons fire, and the destruction and death toll from it may have a common component with one of the foremost theories related to the collapse of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center after the 9/11 attacks --- Extreme heat applied to steel truss beams causes sagging which could bring a collapse.
One portion of the Junior roof collapsed, perhaps, from a similar steel heating factor. But, while “fat pine” flooring may have prevented a higher death toll, both Huntington Fire Chief Greg Fuller and fire marshal Dave Bias say that a sprinkler system in the apartments would have controlled and contained the fire to the room of its origination.
The sprinkler position has strong statistical support --- a multiple death fire has never been recorded in a building with a sprinkler system according to the National Fire Protection Association.
Since the Emmons tragedy, Bias has been meticulously inspecting downtown structures regarding fire safety issues ranging from entrances and exits to their electrical systems and horizontal and vertical spread factors.
While neither of the Emmons buildings would have qualified as a “high rise,” the fire marshal and chief have been honing on those structures. According to Fuller, as a general rules, if there is one hundred feet to the floor level of the highest occupied floor, or six or more stories, it qualifies as a high rise.
Unfortunately, the costs to install sprinklers in these 1920s-vintage buildings that once housed mainly offices and some of which now have converted to office/condo/apartment combinations, come with staggering retro-fitting costs. Various owners have speculated rates of $2 to $2.50 per square foot with an estimate of $300,000-$500,000 per structure.
Obviously, these costs could be passed on in the form of rent increases. And, in some cases, the increases might price the venue out of the market. Still, Fuller indicated that sprinkler financing help appears on the horizon.
The proposed Fire Sprinkler Incentive Act co-sponsored by Sen. Jay Rockefeller would allow depreciation to be written off over a five year period.
But, the ‘high rise’ standard applies not simply to buildings in the downtown business district. Marshall University has two fifteen-floor residence halls, Holderby Hall, which is nine stories, and Smith Hall, which includes six floors of classrooms and offices, a seventh devoted only to offices, and a partial eighth floor enclosure that is often used for celebrations or as a teacher’s lounge.
Chief Fuller explained that “Marshall University is well ahead of most everybody with regard to safety. They do an excellent job. They have been working with the State Fire Marshal’s office. They stay on top of fire safety issues and are an example for everyone else to follow.”
