STATE OF LOUISIANA
Department of Public Safety and Corrections
Office of State Fire Marshal Code Enforcement and Building Safety
8181 Independence Boulevard
Baton Rouge, Louisiana  70806
225-925-4920

HENRY H. FRY
DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY

NEW CONSTRUCTION

EDWARD GREMILLION, PE, CE
DAMMON ENGINEERING INC
1095 FLORIDA AVE
SLIDELL, LA  70458-0000
RE:  P0320635
WEST SURGI SUITES 10 & 20
1030 OLD SPANISH TRAIL
SLIDELL, LA  70458-0000

NFPA 101, 2003

BUSINESS

Dear Applicant:

This is to advise that we have reviewed the drawings and specifications for the subject proposed construction and have determined that they appear to satisfactorily comply with the adopted laws, codes, rules and regulations of The State Fire Marshal subject to the following requirements:

NOTE:  THE COMMENTS LISTED BELOW IDENTIFY APPARENT DEFICIENCIES DETECTED IN OUR REVIEW OF THE DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED.

1.	NFPA 10:5.1.4  Provide portable fire extinguishers within the following travel distances (See Tables 10:5.2.1 and 5.3.1);

	a)  Travel distance to a fire extinguisher shall not exceed 75 feet for Class A, C and D fires. 

______________________________________________________________________________________

NOTE:  THE FOLLOWING COMMENTS IDENTIFY ISSUES FOR INFORMATIONAL AND CAUTIONARY PURPOSES OR ISSUES THAT COULD NOT BE VERIFIED IN THE SUBMITTED DOCUMENTS.

2.	LRS 40:1731-(Effective 8/15/95)  Provide handicapped accessibility in accordance with ADA-AG (Accessibility Guidelines - September 1994).  This does not include a review for compliance with the Federal Americans with Disabilities (Civil Rights) Act of 1990.  Compliance with state regulations and requirements does not guarantee compliance with federal law.  Particular deficiencies and paragraph references are noted as follows:

	a)  4.5  Ground and floor surfaces shall be stable, firm, and slip-resistant.

	b)  4.5.2  Thresholds shall comply with requirements of this section regarding changes in level.  (Not more than 1/2" height and beveled if over 1/4").

	c)  4.13.9  Door hardware shall comply with this section. Hardware shall not require tight grasping, tight pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate.

	d)  4.1.3(16)(a)  Provide low level mounted exit signage in accordance with 4.30.1, 4.30.4, 4.30.5 and 4.30.6 (raised character, letter size, mounting) at all required exit doors to the exterior, exit stair doors and horizontal exit doors.

	e)  4.1.3(11) and 4.1.6(3)(e)  ALL public and common use toilet rooms shall comply with requirements of this Section 4.22.

	f)  4.22.4 Accessible toilets shall comply with 4.16.

	g)  4.19  Lavatories shall comply with the following:

	1. 4.19.2  Lavatories shall be mounted with a clearance of at least 29" from the floor to the bottom of the apron.  Knee and toe clearances shall comply with Fig. 31.

	2. 4.19.4  Hot water and drain pipes shall be insulated or covered.

	3. 4.19.5 and 4.27.4  Faucets shall not require tight grasping, pinching, or twisting of the wrist to operate.

	4. 4.19.6  Mirrors shall be mounted with the bottom edge not more than 40" from the floor.

	h)  4.1.3(16)  Permanent signage shall comply with 4.30.

	1.  Signage, where provided for permanent rooms and spaces shall provide;
		a.  braille and raised lettering as per 4.30.4, 
		b.  letter/symbol to background color contrast as per 4.30.5, and 
		c.  a 60" height from floor to the centerline of the sign as per 4.30.6.

	2.  Other permanent signs which provide direction to or information about functional spaces of the building shall provide;
		a.  letter character width to height proportion as per 4.30.2, 
		b.  character height proportion based on height of sign from finish floor as per 4.30.3, and 
		c.  letter/symbol to background color contrast as per 4.30.5. 

3.	LAC 55:305  Insulation and insulation assemblies shall meet the requirements of Section 718, International Building Code, 2000 Edition.

	a)  Concealed and exposed insulation shall have a flame spread of 0-25 and a smoke developed of 0-450 in accordance with IBC 718. 
	
4.	101:7.2.1.3  Provide landings outside exterior doors level with the interior finish floor. 

5.	101:7.2.1.5.9  Doors shall be openable with ONLY one releasing operation.  A two-step release, such as a knob and an independent slide bolt, is NOT acceptable. 

6.	101:7.2.1.5  Locks on doors in means of egress shall not require the use of a key, special device or special knowledge to open in the direction of egress. 

7.	NFPA 10:1.5.3  Fire extinguishers shall be conspicuously located where they will be readily accessible and immediately available in the event of fire. Preferably they shall be located along normal paths of travel, including exits from areas. 

8.	101:8.2.2.3  Fire compartments shall be formed by fire barriers that are continuous from foundation through all intervening construction to the roof deck, from outside wall to outside wall or from fire barrier to fire barrier, including continuity through all concealed spaces, such as those found above a ceiling, including interstitial spaces. 

9.	101:8.3.5  Penetrations through rated construction shall be sealed by approved firestop systems or devices tested in accordance with ASTM E-814 or ANSI/UL 1479 or by assemblies of firestopping materials capable of preventing the passage of flames and hot gases when tested and rated in accordance with NFPA 251. (This requirement applies for elevator controls on shaft walls, electrical outlets, light switches, etc.).

	a)  Notify the District Office identified at the end of this letter for inspection of all completed fire and/or smoke barrier walls before any construction is installed that would conceal such construction and prevent a proper inspection.  Access to randomly selected areas may be required by the inspector at time of final inspection if this notification is not given.

	b)  Provide detailed instructive cut sheets of the fire penetration sealing system used to the inspector at time of inspection.  Random selective sampling by the contractor will be observed by the inspector.
( ELECTRICAL AND COMMUNICATION BOXES SHALL BE RATED THE SAME AS WALL IN WHICH THEY ARE PLACED ). 

10.	HVAC system shall be constructed in accordance with 101:9.2. 

11.	101:9.2.1  Install smoke detectors to automatically stop the fan in HVAC duct systems over 2000 cfm in accordance with NFPA 90A:6.4.2(1).  Where fire alarm system is required, duct detectors shall be connected to building alarm system. 

12.	101:42.2.9 Provide emergency lighting according to NFPA 101:7.9 including exit discharge (exterior).( AT EXTERIOR EXITS ) 

13.	Inadequate electrical systems have been found to be a major cause of fires throughout the state.  The "Professional of Record" (Architect/Engineer) if required by LRS 37:155, otherwise, the Owner shall comply with the 2002 NFPA 70, National Electrical Code, for all proposed electrical work in this submittal.  Electrical work/modifications may include, but not limited to the following: lighting fixtures (interior, exterior and site); receptacles; panelboards; panel schedules; load schedules; utility company or service transformer KVA size, number of phases, voltage and secondary short circuit amps; fixture schedules; wire type, size and circuiting; single line diagram; properly sized new and existing protective equipment, including service disconnect(s), panelboard(s), circuit breakers and fused switches, sized for available short circuit amps; properly sized system grounding conductor and grounding electrode(s); connection of the system grounding and bonding at the service disconnect enclosure(s); properly sized overload or overcurrent and short circuit protective devices for conductors, motors, transformers and equipment; properly sized conductors for equipment grounding and bonding of all metallic conduit and enclosures; installation of ground fault circuit receptacles; etc. 

14.	LRS 40:1653 and 40:1628  All work and inspections of  portable fire extinguishers shall be performed by a State of Louisiana certified agent. 

15.	NOTE: Please enclose a copy of this letter with future submittals or other correspondence pertaining to this project. 

Changes to construction in the field which are not consistent with the reviewed documents are not authorized unless reviewed by this office for compliance with Code.  Modifications to reviewed plans must be submitted to this office by the Architect/Civil Engineer for review prior to final inspection.  If an Architect or Civil Engineer is not required by RS 37:155, revisions shall be submitted by the Owner.  Submittals shall include plans, completed application, a minimum $55.00 review fee, and a copy of the most current plan review letter.

Compliance with code requirements for fire protection systems, such as Fire Alarm, Sprinkler and Suppression Systems, is determined by separate shop drawing submittal and is not included in this review.

This review shall in no way permit and/or authorize any omissions or deviations from the specific requirements of the adopted codes, rules and regulations in accordance with R.S. 40:1574.1(B).

This review is valid for 180 days from the date of this letter.  Construction permits must be issued and/or construction must commence within this time period.

This office requires certification of the completed project in accordance with the approved documents (certificate enclosed).

Occupancy of the project will not be permitted until we receive the completed certificate and a satisfactory inspection of the completed construction has been made by this office.

To arrange for inspection of the project, please contact the District Office at the phone number below two (2) to three (3) weeks in advance.  The plans stamped reviewed by this office must be available on job site at time of inspection.  Certificate of completion must be provided to the inspecting Deputy for final inspection.

REVIEWED BY:
GORDON CAMERON
ARCHITECT

CC:
K. B. Kaufmann & Co Inc
Slidell Fire Prevention*
City Of Slidell*
New Orleans District*     5042194600
Slidell Fire Prevention*