The school board continued to talk about the railing in the pool area at last night's school board meeting. Tom Berkebile, project manager of PJ Dick, said the height of the portion in question was "26 inches above the bleachers." He also said that the viewing area in that section has been temporarily roped off until they make changes in the railing height. Elaine Cappucci was quick to jump in and say that the railing meets code and passed inspection. Remely was more concerned about safety and was in favor of raising the height of the railing. Good for you, Dan!
I understand that yellow caution tape is being used to rope off the area. A letter was sent out by the Mt. Lebanon Aqua Club Board President on November 19, 2013, as posted on Just when I wanted to give up...Updated 3X. How long is this going to take?
An audio clip of the meeting concerning the pool railing is here. It is 3:36 minutes long.
10 comments:
http://www.peterli.com/spm/resources/articles/archive.php?article_id=1131
"Every year, close to 20,000 men, women, and children fall out of bleachers and suffer injuries. Sometimes, a fall victim dies. Are your bleachers safe enough?"
Mr. Huston,
The architect is well aware of the building codes which apply to the pool seating area, and did not use the wrong part of the code in the railing design. Furthermore, they are aware that the pool seating area does not contain a cross aisle.
The guardrail design conforms to the requirements outlined in the 2009 International Building Code which was adopted by the Municipality of Mt. Lebanon and the State of Pennsylvania at the time the High School building was being designed. The 2009 International Building Code is the sole source for code requirements and is enforced by the Municipal Building Inspector.
The applicable paragraphs for the guardrail can be found in the IBC Section 1028, Assembly and more specifically in part 1028.14.2, Sightline-constrained guard heights.
As we stated at the meeting last night, the current design meets the code requirements, but in the interest of public safety, the District is having the design professionals assess the railing and possible changes that could be made to it. In the future, please remember that the District and our project staff are happy to answer questions about the building project and this might provide a more fruitful conversation than making false accusations regarding the project design.
For the Board,
Elaine Cappucci
President, Mt. Lebanon School Board
ecappucci@mtlsd.net
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: David Huston
Sent: Tuesday, January 14, 2014 12:26 PM
To: School Board Email list
Subject: Raise the railing of the pool spectator balcony
Hello,
The architect used the wrong part of the code to design the railing.
The space in front of the first row if seats of the pool balcony is not a cross aisle.
This is a cross aisle: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/ma0460.photos.076367p/
The definition of (h), below, is for the railing behind the last row of seats in front of the cross aisle.
The height of the rise from the balcony to the pool deck exceeds 21 inches.
The railing in front of the first row of seats should be at lease 30 inches high.
See (i) below:
PA CODE TITLE 34 CHAPTER 50. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS—BUILDINGS
§ 50.94. Fixed seating.
(h) The fascia of boxes, balconies and galleries shall have substantial railings not less than 26 inches above the floor. Aisles which intersect the fascia shall have railways along the fascia not less than 30 inches above the floor for the width of the aisle. Stairs which intersect the fascia shall have railings along the fascia not less than 36 inches above the floor for the width of the stair. Cross aisles shall have railings not less than 26 inches above the floor except where the backs of the seats on the front of the aisle project 24 inches or more above the floor of the aisle.
(i) In balconies, galleries or other locations where seats are arranged on platforms or successive tiers and the height of rise from one platform to another below and in front of it exceeds 21 inches, a substantial railing not less than 30 inches high shall be placed at the edge of platform along the entire row of seats.
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/034/chapter50/s50.94.html
Please have the architect correct their mistake at no charge, before someone is killed or injured by their mistake.
David Huston
Has Mt. Lebanon adopted and applied the wrong building Code ? Does the PA Code have no standing or authority; or, does the IBC trump the PA Code ? Has the 2009 IBC version subsequently been amended or superseded, unbeknownst to our local's entrusted with compliance ?
Old or new roof?
https://twitter.com/joeswindal/status/423496679514714112/photo/1
Hi Joe,
Thanks for the pic. I would imagine that is the old roof. Isn't that in Center Court?
Elaine
In that link offer at 7:11 from School Planning and Management, their article advises--
"Bleacher Safety
by Michael Fickes
Every year, close to 20,000 men, women, and children fall out of bleachers and suffer injuries. Sometimes, a fall victim dies. Are your bleachers safe enough?
Here’s a scary thought: Experts in bleacher design and bleacher safety say that most facility directors responsible for bleachers probably don’t think much about bleacher safety issues — until someone has an accident.
That may be one reason why Googling“bleachers” on the Internet produces so many advertisements sponsored by personal injury attorneys.
In fact, research by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) suggests that bleacher safety should probably command more attention from facility directors, especially those managing equipment that is more than 15 years old.
CPSC research indicates that falls from bleachers killed 19 people between 1991 and 2003. Hospital emergency rooms treat an average of 19,100 injuries stemming from bleacher accidents ever year.
During 1999, bleacher accidents killed two children and caused 22,100 injuries. Approximately 6,100 of those injuries occurred when an individual fell from — or through — a stand of bleachers to the ground below. Children under the age of 15 accounted for about 4,910 of these incidents.
"• Guard Rails: Do your bleachers have guardrails for walking surfaces higher than 30 inches from the ground? Does the infill configuration eliminate openings large enough for a four-inch diameter sphere to past through? You should also check whether guardrails extend at least 42 inches above seat height."
So the board's response to the pool railing shouldn't be "it meets code." With all the money the district is spending on this project shouldn't the board's response be "is this bleacher area as safe as we can possibly make it, especially for kids?" Glad to hear Remely question the height.
12:09 that leaky roof is definitly the one over Center Court which I believe will be eliminated when and if they ever tear down bldg. C.
This area is in close proximatey to where the proposed tennis courts would go.
Elaine Cappucci writes:
"As we stated at the meeting last night, the current design meets the code requirements, but in the interest of public safety, the District is having the design professionals assess the railing and possible changes that could be made to it. In the future, please remember that the District and our project staff are happy to answer questions about the building project and this might provide a more fruitful conversation..."
May I remind the District, this was brought to your attention in NOVEMBER. In addition, there is no such thing as a fruitful conversation with you. It is either:
(Said through clenched teeth) "This has already been discussed." Or "File a Right To Know."
Elaine
Elaine,
With the governor visiting and the emphasis on test scores, there just isn't much time for safety. Unless of course, you are referring to a student dressed in costume for a school assignment and who arrives early for school. We take that sort of situation quite seriously.
From,
Your Friendly Fictional District Adminstrator
Oh, let me tell you how much fun it was to bring my child to watch her sibling at his first practice in the new pool! I'm sorry I don't have my 5 year old medicated on ADHD drugs, but she does not like to sit still, especially on cement. Tons of sibling were enthralled with the new observation deck/seating.
Who would walk down these pylon seats when you can jump down! Despite my stopping her it was a very scary experience!
IF A FIVE YEAR OLD could easily lean over the railing quite innocently and fall to its death don't we have something wrong here?
You know a. Mistake was made, so give yourself some respect! Quit making excuses that you are in compliance with regulations (which you interpreted incorrectly). Just say you make a mistake and we will fix it immediately!
Did any of the architects even look at Bethel Park's new Facility? Their railing is at least 48" High made of ttempered glass. Great view.
Signed,
taxpaying anonymous spineless blogger.
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