RICHMOND COMPANY FIRES WORKER FOR INACCURATE FIRE SPRINKLER REPORTS

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 12, 1993                   TAG: 9303120164
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: SANDRA BROWN KELLY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium
RICHMOND COMPANY FIRES WORKER FOR INACCURATE FIRE SPRINKLER REPORTS
A Richmond sprinkler inspection company said Thursday it has fired an employee responsible for inaccurate reports on fire suppression systems in three large Richmond buildings.
An inspector for Richmond Sprinkler Inc. reported that systems in Tobacco Row Associates, Super Flea Market and Alloy Polomers Inc. were functional. However, the systems had problems when inspected by the Richmond fire marshal's staff.
In one building, water pipes had been disconnected. In another, some spaces did not have sprinklers and existing sprinklers had been painted over or were covered with duct tape. The third building had some sprinklers in the wrong place.
Richmond Sprinkler, in a consent agreement with the city, said that in the future it will put in writing the National Fire Protection Association or Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code standard used in making an inspection.
The company did not admit to any blame in the agreement, which settled the Consumer Protection Act complaint filed against it by the city.
Richmond Fire Marshal Harold Beavers said the agreement means future inspections will be more thorough. He has asked all private inspectors to follow the lead of Richmond Sprinkler and mention the standard used for the inspection.
The Richmond suit coincides with the discovery that a former tenant in a Roanoke city-owned building had installed a false sprinkler system in his office.
The false system was not found by the private inspection company that inspects the building. Charles L. McGhee, owner of Magic City Sprinkler Co., said his inspectors do not look behind the ceiling to verify hookups of sprinkler heads. That type of inspection is done by city staff at the completion of the work. However, since the Roanoke renter never got a mechanical permit for his system, no one ever inspected it.
The problems in Richmond and Roanoke will reinforce efforts of fire officials and private inspection companies to push for regulations for inspectors or inspections, Beavers said.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB