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

RENOVATION

EDWARD GREMILLION, P E, C E
EDWARD C GREMILLION
P O BOX 117715
SLIDELL, LA  70459	
RE:  P0314409
ALDERSGATE UNITED METHODIST
2515 CAREY
SLIDELL, LA  70458-0000

NFPA 101, 2003

DORMITORY
STORAGE
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:

1.	This work entails the addition of a new dormitory occupancy within the currently unoccupiable second floor of the existing building. Additionally, the ground floor is changed to a storage occupancy and subject to limited renovation as detailed in the submittal documents.

	a)  101:4.6.12  A change in use of a building shall require conformance with the requirements of this Code applying to new construction for the proposed new use.  Prior use: Assembly occupancy, proposed use: Storage occupancy. 
	
2.	This review does not apply to high hazard storage as defined by 101:6.2.2.4. Materials to be stored at the ground floor are not identified in this review.  

3.	LRS 40:1730.45 and LAC 55:V:2601  The documentation provided for the subject facility appears to comply with The Commercial Building Energy Conservation Code based on ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1- 2001, and the International Energy Conservation Code, 2000 edition, as applicable. 

4.	Contact the local building official of the applicable local political subdivision to coordinate compliance with State Uniform Construction Code requirements.  LRS 40:1730.23 mandates the enforcement of building codes by municipalities and parishes in Louisiana, as described by LRS 40:1730.28.  LRS 40:1730.27 mandates the adoption and enforcement of emergency wind and flood mitigation for the coastal region of Louisiana (effective February 28, 2006). 

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

5.	101:7.2.2.5.1.1  All inside stairs serving as an exit or exit component shall be enclosed in accordance with 7.1.3.2. Provide 1 hour fire resistance rated enclosure of new exit stairs. Openings shall be protected by 60 minute fire rated self closing door/frame assemblies. 

6.	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. 

Provide details documenting compliance of proposed fire rated wall construction. Drawing notes indicate non-compliant termination of new fire rated wall construction at existing ceiling membrane. 

7.	101:8.2.3  Fire resistive-rated building assemblies shall be of a design that has been tested and listed by an approved testing laboratory for the intended application. (NFPA 251:1-3.2 does not permit variations from test assemblies).

	a)  IDENTIFY the listed assemblies that are properly tested by Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Factory Mutual (FM), or other approved testing laboratory, in writing to this reviewer PRIOR TO CONSTRUCTION (include the project (P0#) number assigned to this review that is referenced at the beginning of this letter).  Please be advised that a failure to provide this information in a timely manner may cause substantial delays at final inspection and may adversely impact subsequent occupancy.

	1	Proposed use of RC2601 is not allowed as a wall assembly. Provide alternate compliant 1hour fire rated wall construction assembly for these locations.

Note: Where 1 hour separation is required, a wall must be listed for fire from both sides of the wall. the addition or use of 2 layers of gyp board on one side of a wall does not provide this required protection/separation of the spaces on each side of the wall. 

8.	101:28.3.7.2  Dormitory rooms shall be separated from other guest rooms or dormitory rooms by walls and floors constructed as fire barriers having fire resistance ratings of not less than ½ hour. The required separation is not indicated in the submittal.  

9.	101:28.3.6.4  Doors that open onto exit access corridors shall be self-closing and self-latching. Closers are not identified as required hardware in the submitted door schedule. 

10.	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.

	a)  Operation of "Keyed Handle" hardware designation for doors marked 1, 3, and 5. is unclear, and may not comply. 
	
11.	Table 101:8.3.4.2  Requires minimum 60 minute fire rated door/frame assemblies at 1 hour exit stair enclosures. Doors marked 2, and scheduled as 45 minute rated do not comply. 

12.	101:Exit access corridor walls shall have not less than a ½-hour fire resistance rating.  

13.	101:28.3.5.1  Provide sprinkler system "supervision" in accordance with NFPA 101:9.7.2. 

14.	LAC 55:V:303D  Provide listed portable fire extinguishers in accordance with NFPA 10.  (Refer to Appendix E for distribution information.) 

______________________________________________________________________________________

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

15.	101:6.1.14.3  Where two or more classes of occupancy occur in the same building or structure and are intermingled so that separate safeguards are impracticable, means of egress facilities, construction, protection, and other safeguards shall comply with the most restrictive life safety requirements of the occupancies involved.

This reivew has been performed as a Multiple / Mixed occupancy in accordance with 6.1.14. 

16.	Several room names or use designations are omitted in the submitted documents. these areas shall not be occupied for storage or other potentially hazardous use without resubmittal to this office for review and approval. 

17.	101:28.3.3.2  Interior wall and ceiling finish materials in the Dormitory occupancy complying with Section 10.2 shall be permitted as follows:       
	(1) 	Exit enclosures - Class A
	(2) 	Lobbies and corridors - Class A or Class B
	(3) 	Other spaces - Class A, Class B, or Class C 

18.	101:28.3.3.4. New draperies, curtains, and other similar loosely hanging furnishings and decorations in hotels and dormitories shall be in accordance with the provisions of 10.3.1. 

19.	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. 
	
20.	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. 

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

	a)  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. 
	
22.	90A:4.3.11.1.1  Egress corridors in residential occupancies shall not be used as a portion of a supply, return, or exhaust air system serving adjoining areas unless otherwise permitted by  4.3.11.1.2.1 through  4.3.11.1.2.4.   

23.	90a:4.3.10.2 The space between the top of the finished ceiling and the underside of the floor or roof above shall be permitted to be used to supply air to the occupied area, or return or exhaust air from the occupied area, provided that the conditions in  4.3.10.2.1 through 4.3.10.2.8 are met 

24.	101:28.3.4  Provide a fire alarm system in accordance with 101:9.6.  In facilities required to be fully accessible, alarm notification shall be by both audible and visual means in accordance with NFPA 72.

	a)  28.3.4.2 (2) Provide a manual fire alarm box located at a convenient central control point under continuous supervision by responsible employees.

	b)  28.3.4.3.4  In occupiable areas, other than guest rooms and guest suites, visible notification appliances shall be provided.

	c)  28.3.4.3.5  Provide Annunciation in accordance with 9.6.7.

	d)  28.3.4.3.6  Provisions shall be made for the immediate notification of the public fire department by telephone or other means in case of fire, and, where there is no public fire department, notification shall be made to the private fire brigade.

	e)  28.3.4.5  An approved single-station smoke alarm shall be installed in accordance with 9.6.2.10 in every guest room and every living area and sleeping room within a guest suite. 
	
25.	101:28.3.5  Provide supervised automatic sprinkler protection in accordance with 101:9.7.2.

	a)  8.3.5.5  Listed quick-response or listed residential sprinklers shall be used throughout guest rooms and guest room suites.

	b)  LRS 40:1625  Submit automatic sprinkler system shop drawings with plan review application and fee prior to installation of any work to this system.  Such work shall not commence until the shop drawings are reviewed and appear to satisfactorily comply with the laws, codes, rules, and regulations enforced by this office.

Be advised that a sprinkler system that satisfies the requirements of NFPA 101 Life Safety Code, NFPA 13, NFPA 13R and/or NFPA 13D may not necessarily be considered by the building insurance underwriters as "full coverage" or "fully sprinklered", for insurance purposes. 

26.	LRS 40:1653 and 40:1628  All work and inspections of fire alarm, fire suppression, automatic sprinkler and fire extinguishing systems or portable fire extinguishers shall be performed by a State of Louisiana certified agent. 

27.	Shop drawings for fire protection systems, such as Fire Alarm, Sprinklers, and Suppression Systems, that are required to be submitted to this office for review, shall be routed through the "Professional of Record's" (Architect / Engineer) office, and shall be stamped with his "Shop Drawing Review Stamp" or equivalent, indicating that shop drawings have been reviewed by him for conformance with plans, specifications, and appropriate codes. 

28.	LAC 55:V:307  Periodic observation of construction shall be made by a licensed architect or civil engineer.  The enclosed Certificate of Completion containing the signature(s) of the responsible design professional(s) shall be presented to the Inspector at time of final inspection for occupancy. 

29.	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 applies to work indicated in the drawings or specifications.  Existing portions of the facility of building unaffected by the new work shall comply with LAC 55:103B thru 55:103F.

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:
JAMES WAITE
ARCHITECT

CC:
Aldersgate United Methodist
Slidell Fire Prevention*
City Of Slidell*
New Orleans District*     5042194600
Slidell Fire Prevention*