No Sprinkler Systems in HUFSD Buildings; Annual Fire Inspection Coming Up

Following the fire that destroyed an elementary school in West Babylon over the winter break, it was noted that most of Long Island's schools do not have sprinkler systems.

Director of Facilities Paul Rispoli confirmed that is true for  Huntington School District's buildings, as well.

"Most of our buildings were built in the 1950s. Our newest building—Jack Abrams Intermediate—was built in 1969 and it was not required then. Also under state law, pre-existing buildings are 'grandfatherd' in," Rispoli said. "If we were to build new construction, then it would be required."

Rispoli said that all of the schools are connected to 'central station' via ADT Fire and Security Systems.  "If we have a fire then notification goes to ADT which notifies the school district and the police and fire stations," he said.

Also, a change in the New York State Education Law, effective March 19, 2001, added a new section requiring every public and nonpublic school statewide to submit copies of school building plans and specifications to their respective local fire and law enforcement officials.

Each school is inspected as per the requirements of NYSED annually. Huntington buildings were last inspected in April 2009 and will be inspected again next month. "Schools must be issued a certificate of occupancy each year. It's not like getting one for a home where you get it once and that is it until you do more construction. And it's done according to fire safey inspection laws," Rispoli said. "Each year, it moves up a month so since it was April last year, it is March this year. It is scheduled for March 22."

According to NYSED, all school district inspections are required to be performed by a code enforcement official or code compliance technician who has been certified by the State Fire Administrator.

The inspection looks for such varied things as whether wood floors are finished or treated with oil and floors—they shouldn't be— and whether places of assembly are provided with emergency lighting to illuminate exits and buildings have a telephone that can be used in an emergency.

In addition, each school is required to have 12 fire drills each year and an evacuation route is posted in each classroom and the buildings are equipped with fire extinguishers, he said. Eight of the required fire drills in the fall must be conducted before December 1. Four must be conducted in the spring before the end of the year. Schools that hold summer sessions must hold at least two drills, with one of the drills being held during the first week of the summer session, according to NYSED law.

Huntington has seen two electrical fires that Rispoli can recall in his 30 years with the district.
"We had one in Flower Hill about five years ago and one in the main office at the high school about 15 years ago," he said. "Both of them started in the middle of the night and both of them were electrical."
He said that while the damage was extensive in both instances, the schools were not closed.
"They didn't end up closing whole school entirely," he said. "Flower Hill was closed for a few days and the high school main office was isolated while they fixed the damage but the school still operated."