ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 13, 1996 TAG: 9610140074
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-9 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Beaumont Juvenile Correctional Center had to replace automatic sprinkler heads in eight prison buildings because they had been painted and could have imperiled up to 300 teen-age inmates if they'd failed during an emergency.
A letter written by Beaumont's acting superintendent, and obtained by The Associated Press, showed that the practice of painting sprinkler heads was far more widespread than previously indicated. State fire marshal records had said the damaged sprinklers were in three buildings that house about 120 youths at the state's largest juvenile prison.
``This institution is in the process of replacing 149 sprinkler heads in eight cottages [prison buildings] and two office buildings which have been identified as previously painted or possibly contaminated,'' John Coble said in a letter to the fire marshal. He wrote the letter Wednesday, the day after AP reported that the fire marshal's office had repeatedly cited Beaumont for painting sprinklers.
Painted sprinklers pose especially deadly hazards in prisons where inmates depend on a corrections officer to unlock exits, State Fire Marshal Ed Altizer has said. Paint causes sprinklers to fail by clogging water holes and preventing thermal sensors from working.
Beaumont, built in the 1930s to hold 200 youths, has more than 400 inmates, 300 of whom live in the eight prison buildings, said Cari Brunelle, spokeswoman for the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Coble wrote that some of the sprinkler systems at Beaumont were installed 33 years ago. State fire inspector Carolyn Williams said she was told by a Beaumont official this summer that inmates had been painting and cleaning the sprinkler heads for 20 years.
Fire safety rules require replacement of painted heads.
Coble's letter said he anticipated having the sprinkler heads replaced by 5 p.m. Monday, but Brunelle said the replacement work was completed Friday.
She noted that of the 560 sprinkler heads in the 10 buildings, fewer than one-third had been painted. And state housing director Warren Smith, who oversees the fire marshal's office, said it's possible that painted heads would work in an emergency.
Smith had said earlier that it is not unusual for inspectors to encounter painted sprinkler heads, especially in older buildings.
The fire marshal cited sprinkler violations in the three prison buildings at Beaumont in early June, late August and on Oct.7.
Each time, the Powhatan County prison was given a week to fix the problem.
The State Fire Prevention Code states that if a violation is not corrected by a deadline set by the fire inspector, ``the fire official shall request ... appropriate legal proceedings ... or require removal or termination of the unlawful use of the building or structure.''
The fire marshal did not seek legal action or order evacuation of the three buildings.
Asked why the five other prison buildings and the two office buildings had not been written up, Smith said: ``I don't know the answer to that question.''
LENGTH: Medium: 61 linesby CNB