Additional fire suppression and a variance for the planned lift to the second floor are the latest challenges facing the Town Hall Construction Committee. Massachusetts State Fire Marshal Steve Coan has identified about $29,000 of additional work needed to make the building code-compliant for fire suppression. Coan, who didn’t get the design documents before the project went out to bid, cited the need for additional alarms and lighting as well as larger sprinkler pipes. The issue was raised by Town Administrator Tim Bragan at the committee’s June 2 meeting. Bragan said that Fire Chief Rick Sicard did not agree with everything on Coan’s list, and that he will meet with Sicard, LLB Architects, and project manager Vertex this week to discuss the items on the list.
In addition, the lift, which is being installed instead of an elevator, may require a variance from the state Architectural Access Board (AAB) because it will have to rise 3 inches more than the maximum distance allowed, which is 12 feet. The committee briefly discussed building a ramp that would eliminate the need for the extra 3 inches, but Bragan said that Building Inspector Gabe Vellante thought that even a small ramp would require railings and that obtaining a variance would be a better solution. The committee agreed and directed Bragan to ask LLB Architects to acquire the variance.
Fire shaft required?
The lift installer has also informed the town that a fire-rated elevator shaft is required by code. The lift was designed with no shaft, and the specific code referenced for the design stated that no shaft is required for a lift that travels only one floor. There are multiple codes, however, with discrepancies among them. If a shaft is required, there is enough space to install one. The committee is reaching out to Chief Sicard and Building Inspector Vellante for their input. Ultimately, the decision will probably rest with the state Architectural Access Board.
Bragan also reported that he was pressing hard for a schedule from the contractor, GPW, and he said he thought the town would receive one in the next few days. Meanwhile, demolition continues. The fire escape has been taken down, and the chimney demolition on the west side of the building is complete down to the floor. The back wall of the stage has been opened up, and demolition of the stage itself has begun. A revelation was made when the sliding stage doors turned out to be yellow pine, not oak as originally thought, but Bragan said, “It still took four guys to move them.”
