06/26/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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suggested perhaps the sprinkler systems are not as required as they are represented to Council by staff. He said there are eight highrise e buildings affected, two being the U of 0 buildings which are in the process of being sprinkled. The other six building owners are all willing to install smoke detectors in each unit in lieu of the enormous costs of putting in sprinkler systems. He said the cost would be $500,000 for the five buildings he represented for smoke detectors and sprinkler systems, or $800,000 for full sprinkler systems and smoke detectors. Emile Mortier, 767 Willamette Street, professional engineer, said there was no more serious problem in fires than to protect residents. However, he noted the scope of the probl em is just now bei ng researched, i.e., the effectiveness of sprinkler systems. Based on research to date, he said the water volume of the type of sprinkler systems needed may be one-fourth to one-fifth the volume required by present standards. He said this could seriously affect the cost and type used in residen- tial occupancies. The question of evacuation of tenants is a most serious problem for highrise structures. He said it should be recognized there are alternatives to sprinkler systems in highrise buil di ngs. The national standards are based on minimum fire supres- sion effectiveness in communities. Research is being conducted on how equipment can be used both for evacuation and firefighting. He said there is no doubt the smoke detectors for early warning are available at a moderate cost and are very valuable for evacuation and fire response. Betty Niven, 3940 Hilyard, spoke as a member of the National Mobile e Home Advisory Council. She suggested changes in specific language in the present ordinance: On page 6, requiring the smoke detector to be centrally located on the ceiling, she suggested that installa- tion be five to seven inches below the ceiling, on the wall, to be more effective because of dead air space near the ceiling. On page 8, regarding single-family homes requiring the smoke detector be centrally located on the corridor giving access to sleeping rooms, she suggested each be inserted for "the", noting sometimes sleeping rooms were widely separated. She also suggested that some provision be made for a fine to the tenant for removing batteries from smoke detectors. Regarding the sprinkler system requirement, she said it was regarded as a property protection factor rather than a life safety factor for mobil e homes. The National Bureau of Standards focused on the signi- ficance of early warnings provided by smoke detectors, and having a sufficient egress. She noted there was a need for fire management programs, with tenants being able to exit from buildings while fire- fighters are getting in. She said she had not seen benefits from a sprinkler system as being that great. She also expressed concern about adding requirements which would add to the cost of housing without giving concurrent benefits. She suggested that Council go ahead with the requirement for smoke detectors but wait a year or two on the sprinkler system, noting the research that is coming out could be helpful in determining the extent to which sprinkler systems should be used. - 6/26/78--4 l.f58 I I