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By vacant, do you mean gutted to the basic shell or do you mean that they simply stopped using it and left everything as was? If it was gutted under a building permit then I’d agree with the others. BUT, if the building was simply stopped being used, then the sprinklers would have to stay and be maintained.
When considering change-of-use, the most recent occupancy still prevails for determination so that may weigh in on the question.
I’ve run into problems with these alarms not being properly activated by the installing electrician. It was actually brought to my attention from one of my Landlords after having issues with one of his buildings. Speaking specifically about the Kidde brand (not sure the exact model), they need to first be connected to the 120 power source and then the safety seal pulled to activate the backup battery. If the safety seal is pulled before the 120 power, they don’t synchronise properly resulting in nuisance alarms.
People always try to get around the regulations by using residential equipment in a commercial setting. When looking under both OFC and OBC, the relevant clauses state “commercial cooking operations” not “commercial cooking equipment”. It’s got nothing to do with the specific type of appliance but entirely with HOW it is being used. We have a quick checklist that we use (basically is it residential and/or personal use?) if it’s not, then 96 ventilation is required.
We have one of the propane / live fire ones (don’t know the manufacture) and use it with plain water extinguishers. We simply control the fire with the switch. Does the trick, no mess to clean up and easy to refill the silver bullets. We do point out that it is a training simulation and not actually the proper extinguisher for the job. We probably do at least a dozen sessions a year.
Thanks for the responses! I knew I was missing something.
Del, you don’t happen to know which Article from that Act is the relevant one do you?
I’d also look at 6.6.4. and 6.6.5. There’s no distinction in them between a dry hydrant and one connected to a municipal pressurised system
To the best of my knowledge, there isn’t nor has been, any specific schedule here beyond the VOs and best attempt at keeping up with complaints. I’m working on developing one now but the time to sort out the properties to make the schedule hasn’t fit into my schedule yet……
I’m essentially doing a mini risk-assessment to prioritise properties and working forward from there
Hi Vince,
Here in Perth, we do not currently have anything in place. I’d actually asked my CBO about this a while ago now as another FPO brought it to me. To his understanding, there are no regulations that specifically speak to requirement to have multi-access (although he readily admits it’s good practice). I’m curious to see what others come back with.
Agreed with Nick. I learned of that problem about a year ago from one of my landlords that did a renovation. He found it buried in the fine print of the installation manual.
That being said, Kidde is the most common alarm in our new homes and haven’t had any issues there….maybe those electricians are aware of the process?
Thanks Joe. I agree with you and personally, I’d like to use a zero tolerance approach and ticket everyone, every time; but I’d need my higher-ups to buy into it including likely Council as they’d likely hear about it quick. One of the down sides to working in a small town.
I’m beyond tired of the “I didn’t know…” line.
Hello Howie,
Being part of both sides of the equation (FPO and Bldg Insp) I would agree with the Building Official you spoke with. To me, taking the door off would fall under FC 2.2.3.3. because the original design had the doors. That being said, there are many places that don’t have doors on the bathrooms to begin with (movie theatre, mall, some newer schools, etc) I’m guessing in these circumstances, the bathroom is rated the same as the corridor.
Another option to the mag hold-opens might be to consider fuseable links to keep them open as we all know it’s pretty easy to manually pull a door off the mag-hold.
Ultimately, if this were brought to me here (which as of yet it has not) I would instruct the school that to remove the doors entirely, an Architect would have to evaluate it and move forward based on their recommendations.
