Owner / Applicant Information

Stephen

Jewell

Metropolitan School District of Warren Township

9150 EAST RAWLES AVENUE

INDIANAPOLIS

46229

Phone

3172137235

[email protected]

Submitter Information

Edwin

Rensink

RTM Consultants Inc

6640 Parkdale Place

Indianaplis

Phone

3173297700

[email protected]

Project Information

Warren Central High School Pull Station Removal

9500 East 16th Street

Indianapolis

46229

County

MARION

Project Type

New

Addition

Alteration

Existing

Change of Occupancy

Project Status

F=Filed U or Null=Unfiled

IDHS Issued Correction order?

Violation Issued by:

Local Building Official

Phone:

3173275544

Email:

[email protected]

Local Fire Official

Phone:

3173275544

Email:

[email protected]

Variance Details

Code Name:

12-4-9 Maintenance of Existing Buildings and Structures

Rule 4, Section 9(a), GAR

Conditions:

Fire alarm manual pull stations will be removed from existing building areas that are fully sprinklered, constructed in 1981, 1986, 1989, 1992, and 2002. The codes in effect when these buildings were filed required manual pull stations. Those codes were Official Regulation #7, 1985 IBC, 1989 IBC, and the 1998 IBC.

The building is classified as E Occupancy and Type IIB Construction. The facility's original building area dating to 1974 (with 2003 renovation) is partially sprinklered and is not included in this variance request.

DEMONSTRATION THAT PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, AND WELFARE ARE PROTECTED:

1=Non-compliance with the rule will not be adverse to the public health, safety or w

2= Applicant will undertake alternative actions in lieu of compliance with the rule to ensure that granting of the variance will not be adverse to public health, safety, or welfare. Explain why alternative actions would be adequate (be specific).

Facts:

1.  Sec. 907.2.3, exc. 3 of the 2014 Indiana Building Code permits fire alarm pull stations to be omitted where the building is protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system, and notification appliances (horns and strobes) are activated by sprinkler water flow, and manual activation is provided from a normally occupied location.

2.  The same exception was in Sec. 907.2.3 of the 2008 Indiana Building Code.  This exception is also included in the 2015 and 2018 editions of the International Building Code.

3.  The affected building areas are protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system which initiates the building fire alarm, as required.

4.  Means to manually activate the fire alarm system by Staff will be provided in the administrative area.

5.  Based upon compliance with an exception in more recent codes, removal of manual pull stations in the public areas of the building will not be adverse to life safety.

DEMONSTRATION OF UNDUE HARDSHIP OR HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT STRUCTURE:

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of physical limitations of the construction site or its utility services.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of major operational problems in the use of the building or structure.

Imposition of the rule would result in an undue hardship (unusual difficulty) because of excessive costs of additional or altered construction elements.

Imposition of the rule would prevent the preservation of an architecturally or a historically significant part of the building or structure

Facts:

Manual pull stations in the public areas of the building present a safety threat to students and staff by allowing a convenient means for an intruder to initiate the building fire alarm system.