A fire began in a mulched area underneath an overhang constructed of wood at a supermarket complex. The fire quickly spread up and into the unprotected wooden structure that was located along the entire front facade of the building. Most of the wooden structure burned away completely causing a large loss for the entire building complex.
The building codes in effect at the time of the building's construction required automatic sprinklers and the concrete and steel portions of the building were protected. The concealed space in the combustible wooden roof structure was not ever sprinklered, even though the sprinkler contractor had looked at the structure several times over the years during renovations, additions and design phases undertaken.
Drake Exhibits, working with a Hughes Associates, Inc. fire protection engineer, created a PowerPoint show that outlined: the history of the building's construction, modifications and relevant codes; illustrated the proper design for sprinkler protection under NFPA 13; and showed each instance when the contractor/maintenance company should have made the owner aware of the lack of proper protection.
for Kevin P. Smith of
The Law Offices of Robert Stutman PC
Fort Washington, PA
