IDAHO FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Prevention Bureau

th

525 8 Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

(208) 612-8497 fax (208) 612-8565

Bonneville County Courthouse

605 N Capitol
Idaho Falls ID 83402
ATTN: Sgt. Alisa Prudent
July 16, 2009
RE: Life Safety Survey
Sgt. Prudent
Following our recent walk through of the Bonneville County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Building, I have come up
with the following list of recommendations to help you prevent fires or reduce damage and loss of life if a fire does occur. I
have prefaced some recommendations with applicable sections from the 2006 International Fire Code as adopted by
IDAPA 18.01.50. These are in italics.
Although the address 605 N Capitol has been used for both buildings, city building dept records indicate that the address
number 565 has been assigned to the LEB. Could you please contact Brian Tomsett at 612-8274 to reconcile this and
then make sure your address numbers are properly posted. I have attached a copy of a letter we have been distributing to
local businesses explaining the importance of address numbers to emergency responders. We all know where your
buildings are, but it would be helpful if you set a good example for your neighbors.
508.5.4 Posts, fences, vehicles, growth, trash, storage and other materials or objects shall not be placed or kept near fire
hydrants, fire department inlet connections or fire protection system control valves in a manner that would prevent such
equipment or fire hydrants from being immediately discernible. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from
gaining immediate access to fire protection equipment or fire hydrants.
The most common problem here is vehicle parking. I have seen where responding engines have driven past hydrants
obscured by parked cars. The fire hydrant at the west end of the LEB was blocked by a car during my visit.
We would also like to see the approach to the sally port from Capitol marked Fire Lane- No Parking. This will keep
access to the fire dept connection located there open.
901.6.1 Fire protection systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the referenced standards
listed in Table 901.6.1.
901.6.2 Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the referenced standards shall be
maintained on the premises for a minimum of three years and shall be copied to the fire code official upon request.
Your fire sprinkler and alarm systems must be serviced annually by a qualified contractor. I have provided a list of
contractors licensed to provide these services by our office.
We were unable to locate the control panel for the alarm system in the LEB. It is possible this was unlawfully removed
during a past remodel, disabling the system. The last record we have of this system is the plan review for the 1999
remodel.
Activation of the sprinkler heads in your basement will be delayed if ceiling tiles are removed allowing heat to collect
above them. This can lead to the system being overwhelmed and failing to control a fire. If the fire alarm is also disabled a
late night fire in your basement could destroy the building before we are called.
315.2.1 Storage shall be maintained 2 feet (610 mm) or more below the ceiling in nonsprinklered areas of buildings or a
minimum of 18 inches (457 mm) below sprinkler head deflectors in sprinklered areas of buildings.
Combustible storage to close to sprinkler heads can block pattern development and prevent them from controlling a fire in
the early stages. The 2 ft rule is to allow firefighters to spray water over the top of storage in rooms that are to hot to
enter. This rule does not apply to storage racks that are against walls.

IDAHO FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Prevention Bureau
th

525 8 Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

(208) 612-8497 fax (208) 612-8565

315.2.3 Combustible material shall not be stored in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms or electrical equipment rooms.
As you know from your fire investigation experience, fire prevention is about separating ignition sources and fuels.
These rooms contain significant ignition sources and must not be used to store anything which will burn.
605.3 A working space of not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in width, 36 inches (914 mm) in depth and 78 inches (1981
mm) in height shall be provided in front of electrical service equipment. Where the electrical service equipment is wider
than 30 inches (762 mm), the working space shall not be less than the width of the equipment. No storage of any
materials shall be located within the designated working space.
This is to allow quick access to panels in emergencies, and to keep bad connections inside of them from starting a fire.
The video I sent you of the factory fire illustrates why this and the last section on storage in equipment rooms are
important.
nd
The decorative covers you asked about over the panels on the 2 floor are allowed by code.
605.5 Extension cords and flexible cords shall not be a substitute for permanent wiring. Extension cords and flexible cords
shall not be affixed to structures, extended through walls, ceilings or floors, or under doors or floor coverings, nor shall
such cords be subject to environmental damage or physical impact. Extension cords shall be used only with portable
appliances.
The extension cord running through the storage loft and into the attic space in the old courthouse concerns me because I
dont know what it may be connected to or if there are any pinch points or mechanical damage. I will attach a flyer on
extension cords and adaptors for you to share with all employees.
607.3 Keys for the elevator car doors and fire-fighter service keys shall be kept in an approved location for immediate use
by the fire department.
1008.1.8 Except as specifically permitted by this section egress doors shall be readily openable from the egress side
without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort.
The portion of the LEB still being used to hold prisoners was designed as an I-3 occupancy and is exempt from this rule
under section 1008.1.8.3.
Doors in all other areas of your building which may stand between an occupant and the public way may not lock from the
inside. During my visit I noted multiple vault doors in the old courthouse with functioning locks and no way of opening
them from inside. While these vaults have been there long enough to be exempt from modern codes, recommend you
consider the possibility of someone being either accidently or maliciously locked in and have the locks disabled or
modified.
604.3.2 Written records of the inspection, testing and maintenance of emergency and standby power systems shall
include the date of service, name of the servicing technician, a summary of conditions noted and a detailed description of
any conditions requiring correction and what corrective action was taken. Such records shall be kept on the premises
served by the emergency or standby power system and be available for inspection by the fire code official.
In the event of a power outage it is important that people can see well enough to locate exits. This section applies not only
to the emergency generator but also to the individual emergency lighting units in the hallways and assembly rooms. Often
people neglect to change batteries in these lights until they fail completely. You should keep records to ensure these
batteries are being replaced at the intervals recommended by their manufacturer.
703.2 Opening protectives shall be maintained in an operative condition in accordance with NFPA 80. Fire doors and
smoke barrier doors shall not be blocked or obstructed or otherwise made inoperable. Fusible links shall be replaced
promptly whenever fused or damaged. Fire door assemblies shall not be modified.
The central corridors on all levels and the stairwells at the ends of the LEB were built to provide protected escape paths in
the event of a fire. All openings into these areas other than from the outside should be protected by rated fire door
assemblies; Fire door assemblies include the frame, door, closer, latch, hinges, and smoke seals. The installation of
devices such as kick-down props on these doors is prohibited. Blocking these doors open by any means defeats their
purpose of protecting escape paths.

IDAHO FALLS FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Prevention Bureau
th

525 8 Street, Idaho Falls, ID 83402

(208) 612-8497 fax (208) 612-8565

There are other fire barriers incorporated into your buildings which may be useful in planning emergency evacuations.
Examples are the fire wall separating the jail from the rest of the building and the horizontal exits between the courthouse
and LEB. These are shown on building plans I have at my office and Id be happy to meet with you and review them.
Although you do not have areas of refuge as defined in section 1007.6, you do have a horizontal exit between the
courthouse and LEB which may be used to move handicapped occupants to an unaffected building. Please note that
if the fire doors in these connecting links are not maintained, you may also be moving smoke and fire between buildings.
If you have any additional questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Joe Nichols, Fire Inspector

Idaho Falls Fire Prevention Bureau
(208) 612-8496