Sprinklers waiver sought

Press, 22 August 1979, Page 6

Sprinklers waiver sought

Improvements to the fire safety of the United Service Hotel, suggested by a consulting structural engineer, would cost about a third of that for an automatic sprinkler system, the LicensIng Control Commission heard yesterday. The commission (Mr R. S. Pringle and Mr F. W. Austin) was hearing a resumption of the review of accom modation services, and other facilities at the hotel, in Cathedral Square. In December, 1978, the hotel’s lessee, Idris Freeholds, Ltd, asked the commission for an exemption from a requirement to install sprinklers. The commission declined the application and gave Idris Freeholds six months to meet the fire code provisions by installing a sprinkler system. A director of Idris Freeholds Mr D. McFarlane said

that the cost of installing a sprinkler system would be $130,000. With the hotel to be demolished by May 31, 1989, the company would have less than 10 years to write off that cost. Counsel for Idris Freeholds (Mr J. N. Matson) said that the hotel had an occupancy rate of 75 per cent, and up to 90 per cent in summer. It was clearly fulfilling a service, he said. The hotel had a manual fire-alarm system which was not connected to the Fire Service, the consulting structural engineer, Mr A. H. Buchanan, said. He recommended that the installation of an automaticdetection alarm, and a few minor structural changes, including a new fire door and smoke-stop door, would comply with the fire code for licensed precises. “We believe that the safety

of occupants will not be much less than if a sprinkler system were installed and certainly very much greater than at present or at any time since the building was constructed. “Taking into account the limited fife of this building this appears to be a reasonable proposal that meets the intent of the fire code in all respects," Mr Buchanan said. Mr Buchanan estimated that a fire detection and alarm system would cost about $30,000 and the structural improvements he suggested, from $lO,OOO to $20,000. Mr P. D. Woolley, appearing for the hotel’s owner, Central City Estates, Ltd, said that immediate cancellation of the United Service’s liquor licence by the commission would be "Draconian.” He asked that the

commission allow another six months for any orders it may make to be put into effect.

Mr W. H. Menzies a director of United Service Hotel (1978), Ltd, the hotel’s sub-lessee, said that the heads of all departments in the hotel had been Instructed by the Fire Service on how to use fire extinguishers and that a staff member was on duty 24 hours a day. Mr R. Cockburn, Department of Justice inspector of licensed premises, said that the commission had already heard evidence from the applicants and had declined the application for exemption from the provisions of the fire code. He submitted that the matter should finish with a formal order about when the work required by the commission should be completed. The commission reserved its decision.