SULLIVAN — On Thursday, Aug. 11, Assistant State Fire Marshal Rich McCarthy conducted a fire safety inspection of both the new Charles M. Sumner Learning Campus and the old Sumner Memorial High School. The purpose of these inspections was to determine which school is safer for students to attend based on their respective fire safety measures.

This comes after it has been confirmed that the new school building does not have the adequate water supply and pressure for its fire suppression sprinkler system. Alternative safety measures are being considered until a cistern is constructed to provide the system with an adequate water supply.

Although McCarthy found five safety issues with the new building, he found 35 issues in the old one. Based on the findings, Regional School Unit 24 (RSU 24) Superintendent Michael Eastman said the new school is the safest option for students and the district will move ahead with plans to begin the school year there.

“Those inspections create a compelling argument that we should begin in the new school,” Eastman said. “We believe the issues can be resolved.”

McCarthy’s report on the new building included findings of five issues that need to be addressed. These were that the school is currently still under construction, that the final fire alarm testing is scheduled for Aug. 23, that not all of the fire and smoke doors are hung in their final positions, that some exit signs are missing, and that the sprinkler system is not in compliance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, which is the standard for fire sprinkler installation. This is due to the aforementioned lack of water supply and pressure.

“A follow-up inspection would be required to verify that all code requirements are met before occupying the building,” McCarthy wrote in his report.

Eastman said he is confident that the issues highlighted in the inspection report can be addressed, and that the school will be ready to occupy in a matter of weeks.

“We’re told that from the general contractor we can occupy the building on August 29,” Eastman said.

The first day of school is Sept. 6, according to the district’s 2022-2023 school calendar.

McCarthy’s inspection of the existing Sumner Memorial High School building found 35 safety issues of varying severity, ranging from the building’s wood frame construction that makes it more combustible, to open electrical junctions above the ceilings.

The sprinkler system in the old building was deemed inadequate as well, partially because it has the same insufficient water source as the new school building, but also because the sprinklers are over 50 years old and failed their last inspection in 2021. Several rooms also lack sprinklers in the old building, including the chemical storage room in the lab, part of the kitchen, part of the library and the portable classroom, which also does not have a functional exit.

RSU 24 also had an additional inspection of both school buildings conducted by Carpenter Associates Consulting Engineers. The report from this inspection deemed neither school building ready for occupation, but found that the new building was safer than the old due to the amount of hazards present in the old building.

“Fire protection for both schools is clearly non-compliant and unreliable,” Randy Bragg of Carpenter Associates wrote in his report. “However, if all other critical components were completed at the new school, it is logical for the School Board to conclude that the new school may be the better selection for students.”

Eastman said that despite the issues highlighted in all the inspections, they confirmed his feelings about the new school being the safer of the two buildings.

“I think that third party went a little more in depth in regards to the building,” Eastman said. “It confirmed what we already believed, that the new building is built with fire safety in mind.”

The reports are not the deciding factor in whether the new building will be awarded a certificate of occupancy. While recommendations from the state Fire Marshal’s Office are of great importance, that office does not actually issue the certificates, leaving that up to local authorities.

“When it comes to jurisdiction, our office does have jurisdiction over public buildings and this building is public, but our office does not issue occupancy permits,” McCarthy said before conducting the inspection.

In Sullivan, local ordinance dictates that the official in charge of issuing certificates of occupancy is the code enforcement officer for the town. In order for the new building to be occupied, the code enforcement officer must sign off on the certificate.

Request your password here. Or contact our help desk at (207) 667-2576 during normal business hours or send us an email.

Advertise your business here. Call Kelley Wescott at (207) 667-2576 or send an email .