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UD fire sprinklers installed years ahead of deadline 12:02 p.m., Nov. 17, 2004--The University of Delaware has completed installation of fire suppression sprinklers in student residence halls five years ahead of a deadline set by Delaware law. UD spent $15 million to install sprinklers in buildings where they were not already present and upgrade to a state-of the-art fire detection and alarm system in a total of 3,543 rooms (6,468 beds). The new, computer-controlled system continually monitors fire and heat detection devices to make sure they are working properly, David Hollowell, executive vice president and treasurer, said. “The tragic events at Seton Hall in January of 2000 raised awareness at many universities of the need to provide sprinklers in residence halls, but UD had already begun the process of installing sprinklers in 1997, as part of the planned renovation of its residence halls on The Green and on-campus sorority houses,” Robert Stozek, associate vice president for facilities, said. Stozek said a special effort to speed up the process and complete the installation of sprinklers was launched in 2001, and the project was completed on schedule last summer. The Delaware legislature in 2003 passed a law that requires all student residence facilities to have fire suppression systems in place no later than July 2009. “The only buildings that have not been fitted with sprinklers are those in the Pencader Residence Complex, which are scheduled to be demolished and replaced over the next two years by the new residence halls currently under construction,” Stozek said. “Meanwhile, the existing Pencader rooms have fire detection and alarm systems and exterior doors that permit easy evacuation in the event of a fire.” Article by Martin Mbugua To learn how to subscribe to UDaily, click here. |
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