DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Public Safety Committee: High-rise Inspection Program Briefing Follow-up
SUMMARY:
In November of 2017, the San Antonio Fire Department briefed the City Council Public Safety Committee on the progress of the high-rise inspection program and the stage of compliance for the buildings required to perform a fire sprinkler retrofit. Committee members requested additional information regarding the stakeholder process and how the 12 year compliance timeline was developed. This memo serves as a follow-up to the high-rise program briefing and will address the committee's questions.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In February 2015, the (SAFD) requested approval of the Public Safety Committee to establish a stakeholder group to study the feasibility of a retroactive fire sprinkler requirement for high-rise buildings following the tragic events at the Wedgewood Apartments in Castle Hills. The stakeholder group met 5 times and included the San Antonio Housing Authority, the San Antonio Apartment Association, representatives from the Building Owner and Manager's Association, insurance industry representatives, sprinkler contractor representatives, various fire protection engineers, condominium owner's groups, and others. The ordinance was approved, effective January 2016, and an inspection program was established along with a compliance schedule for the fire sprinkler retrofit. The compliance schedule includes a 12 year timeline as recommended by the International Code Council for full installation of the fire sprinkler system. The 12 year timeline also coincides with the timeline passed in HB 3089 for retroactive fire sprinklers in specific elderly and mobility impaired residential high-rises. A letter of intent is required one year from the date of adoption, a compliance plan submitted within three years, a water supply established within six years, half of the buildin...
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