Commissioners, design firm preparing to install fire suppression system in jail

YORK – When the York County Courthouse and jail were built in the 1980s, fire suppression systems weren’t required in public buildings. So the lack of suppression in the jail has been allowable (grandfathered) – up until now.

​Earlier, the commissioners decided to create a small addition to the south side of the courthouse but were informed the state fire marshal’s office won’t allow any more additions to the courthouse until a fire suppression system is installed at the county jail.
The commissioners had already enlisted the assistance of Davis Design to help with the south-side addition, so it was a natural transition for them to also look into the fire suppression system project.
Steve Severson from Davis Design spoke with the county commissioners this past week, to talk about what will likely need to happen.
“In March, we began work on the small expansion on the south side of the courthouse and we requested a review from the fire marshal’s office,” Severson explained. “He let us know that any more additions would require this suppression project in the jail, as current standards don’t allow for an unsprinkled facility. This project is much different than what we had started with.”
The engineering company is asking for upper-end agreement with a cost of $49,500 to do the work with the jail improvements.
“This is also more complicated as we will need tamper-free equipment. It will take about four months of design time and we haven’t talked with the corrections staff yet regarding phasing,” Severson said.
Phasing of the project will obviously be needed as the physical work will have to take place in certain places at certain times as the jail is constantly occupied by inmates.
They haven’t yet heard back from Jail Standards regarding requirements, either.
“I’d say we make no decisions until we hear back from Jail Standards,” said Commissioner Chairman Randy Obermier. “It’s obviously a good idea to get this up to code.”
It is estimated the cost of this project will be about $10-12 a square foot. The jail measures 10,500 square feet. So a rough construction estimate is between $105,000 and $126,000.
“And we will be digging into an old building so that could bring more cost,” Obermier added, “and there is just the fact we are working within a jail facility.”
Severson agreed, noting all workers “will need to go through background checks and all the tools will have to be checked in and checked out,” as the project is done, to ensure safety and security.
“So we won’t act on this today as we wait for Jail Standards, but we will be moving forward,” Obermier said.