Grand jury: School fire systems vary in safety

Daily Journal Staff Report


Quality of fire systems in local schools vary at each site, however each meet or exceed state standards, according to a county Grand Jury report released yesterday.

The group began looking into the fire systems after an alarm was sounded during lunchtime in 2008. There was little emergency action since there was no connection between the school’s alarm and local agencies. In the 21-page report, the jury details the three kind of alarms on campuses (manual, addressable and automated), determines all schools meet current state requirements and recommends upgrades to the latest system on campuses not already at those levels.

School construction approved prior to January 2008 is under old rules. New schools or modernization projects over $200,000 require the installation of fire systems that link directly to a supervising station; these alarms are called automated. Manual alarms consist of a pull station or smoke detectors which trigger an alarm. Addressable systems trigger a campus-wide trigger when one is activated as well as send a signal to the school office noting the exact location of the problem.

Although systems are within the law, the jury recommended upgrades to ensure public safety.

Recommendations include:

• Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary and Cabrillo Unified school districts should perform a feasibility study within 90 days to upgrade manual pull station fire systems, according to the report.

• Leaders in the Pacifica, Las Lomitas Elementary, Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary, Portola Valley Elementary, San Carlos Elementary, San Bruno Elementary, Hillsborough City and San Mateo-Foster City school districts have schools with automated alarms without direct connection to alarm companies or public safety agencies. Policies and procedures should be reviewed at these schools. Additionally, districts should budget for upgrades.

• Leaders in the Ravenswood City Elementary, Millbrae Elementary, Bayshore Elementary and San Mateo-Foster City school districts, which have schools in the process of upgrading fire systems or are planning upgrades, should ensure compliance with 2007 California Fire Code.

• Leaders in the Cabrillo Unified and La Honda-Pescadero Unified school districts, which have schools under modernization, should ensure compliance with 2007 California Fire Code.


To view the full report visit www.sanmateocourt.org/grandjury/.

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