On Monday, February 23 school was called on account of blowing and drifting snow. However, several church workers were already planning to come help complete numerous smaller projects around the school building. That’s when we received a surprise visit from the Inspector from the Office of the State Fire Marshal. 

The inspector spent a considerable amount of time inspecting our school’s building and identifying violations to the state fire codes. When we received the report the inspector had identified 13 different codes we had violated, several of them multiple times!

So … the workers got to work!

VIOLATION: “CREATIVE” SOLUTIONS TO THE LACK OF OUTLETS

Several violations are a result of the building having been constructed in 1968 and expanded in 1975. There are many more reasons to plug something in now than there were more than 50 years ago. Teachers and others have adapted, using extension cords as well as power “taps” and “strips” often plugged into an extension cord or another power strip in an attempt to power multiple devices when a single duplex outlet is available.

SOLUTION: Our workers have added outlets in many areas over the years in a safe and helpful manner, eliminating the need for extension cords and often power strips. They did the same in several rooms and we may need to do the same in one or two classrooms this summer.

VIOLATION: SPACE HEATERS USED INAPPROPRIATELY

In several classrooms or offices teachers and staff supplemented the heating system with a space heater. Unfortunately, unattended space heaters are a huge cause of fires, especially if they are not plugged into a wall outlet and sufficiently distanced away from combustible material.

SOLUTION: Remove the space heaters when not in use and limit their use.

VIOLATION: BROKEN OR NON-FUNCTIONING EXIT LIGHTS & EMERGENCY LIGHTING

Three different fixtures were found to be broken or not functioning during the inspector’s visit. 

SOLUTION: Fortunately the fixtures are easily available. An order was placed the next day and the new fixtures were installed the next week.

VIOLATION: MISSING ELECTRICAL COVER PLATES

Any place where a junction is made of electrical wires, a box and cover is required … even if it is just low-voltage keyless access cable.  

SOLUTION: Install the boxes and covers we purchased months ago!

VIOLATION: INCOMPLETE PROJECTS LEAVE HOLES IN CEILINGS

Workers have installed what seems to be miles of new cable for our expanding computer network and keyless access controls. In the school office the new HVAC unit required removing a vent between rooms that left a large hole in the wall. Unfortunately these have to be closed up to help prevent smoke from travelling from room to room through ceilings and walls.

SOLUTION: One of the workers had a leftover piece of fire-rated drywall sitting around! Pieces were cut to the appropriate size and put in place. Now all that’s left is to complete the work with some tape and joint compound.

VIOLATION: MISSING INSPECTION REPORTS

Our fire alarm system (which is working just fine) must be inspected regularly and records of every fire drill needs to be available to the inspector.  Since we have not had our fire alarm system inspected for some time, we obviously failed in this area.  Fortunately our school leaders make sure we are current on all of our emergency drills!

SOLUTION: Contact the vendors who currently help us by working on our fire control systems, and make arrangements to complete the necessary inspection ASAP.

The biggest challenge will be the rules about the fire-retardant properties of all items hung from the ceilings or on the walls of our classrooms. Some items can easily be treated with fire-retardant spray while others will need to be removed from our classrooms. Since we provide our teachers with plenty of freedom to decorate their classrooms, and student work is so easily displayed in our classrooms and hallways, it may be a difficult challenge to meet all of these rules!

We are grateful for the many volunteers and leaders who have swiftly jumped into action to remedy these violations and care for the upkeep of many other projects around the building. To those volunteers: Thank you! And thanks be to God for your time and talents!