QUESTION
What are the cost implications of the proposed smoke damper legislation and why are malfunctioning smoke dampers not considered a major problem?
1:38:52
·
145 sec
Assistant Chief of Fire Operations Kevin Woods explains that while smoke dampers are useful, the proposed inspection regime by the council is an expensive proposition and not seen as the best use of resources due to lack of widespread noncompliance.
- Smoke dampers are acknowledged as useful, but widespread noncompliance with current code has not been observed.
- The proposed inspection regime by the council is viewed as a costly and inefficient use of Fire Department resources.
- Potential costs include processing tests, personnel, issuing and prosecuting violations, and preparing reports for the council.
- The department currently lacks data on the pervasiveness of damaged smoke damper systems.
- Council Member Carmen N. De La Rosa expresses interest in data regarding fires related to malfunctioning smoke dampers.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:38:52
I have a question about the smoke dampers.
1:38:54
So you testified today that it would be very high cost.
1:39:01
Possibly for the smoke damper legislation?
1:39:04
Do you have more details as to the backing of what that cost looks like?
1:39:08
And also You said smoke dampers malfunction you don't consider ineffective or malfunctioning smoke dampers to be a persuasive problem.
1:39:17
But yet, here the legislation has identified it as a as a persuasive problem.
1:39:22
So what what is the disconnect and and what is the department's position on the smoke damper issue?
Kevin Woods
1:39:30
So this would We know smoke dampers are useful.
1:39:37
We understand that.
1:39:41
We have not seen white spread noncompliance with the existing code for smoke campers.
1:39:48
We're we're talking smoke campers in an HVAC system.
1:39:50
Right?
1:39:52
So we don't think the inspection regime proposed by the control by the council would necessarily be the best use of the resources.
1:39:59
For the fire department.
1:40:00
It's a very, very expensive proposition.
1:40:04
So I don't know the cost, but we would have to process all the submissions of the good tests and the faulty tests.
1:40:10
Obviously, personnel costs.
1:40:13
Right?
1:40:14
Headline of each location.
1:40:17
Issuing violations to adhere to the deadline and prosecute in those violations and preparing reports for the council about all of this.
Carmen N. De La Rosa
1:40:39
Does the department currently track fires that may be related to Okay.
1:40:46
Well, I'll look forward to a follow-up.
Kevin Woods
1:40:47
Yeah.
1:40:48
Thank you.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:40:48
Thank you.
1:40:50
Thank you, council member, Dela Rosa, and just I think you you just answered this question, but just to Make sure you don't have the data today about the pervasiveness of damaged smoke damper systems.
Kevin Woods
1:41:04
No.
1:41:04
I don't have that information.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:41:05
Okay.
1:41:06
It it would be it would be helpful to to receive that for our consideration.
Kevin Woods
1:41:11
Okay.
Pierina Ana Sanchez
1:41:12
Thank you.
1:41:13
Thank you, Council member Dela Rosa.
1:41:15
And I'd like to turn it over to Council member Feliz.