AO ARMY: Blackrain Paintball in danger

[Smoke]

As some of you may know, Blackrain Paintball in Racine Wisconsin is in the process of moving to a larger facility. Total, it's about 19,000 square feet as opposed to the 10,000 square foot building they were at. We are about 80% done wiht the field, and it could be up and running in about 2 weeks.......that's if the building inspector wasn't such a moron. He hasen't even been IN the building yet and he's already demanding that fire sprinklers be put in. His reasoning is that because there will be kids in the building there has to be sprinklers in, which could run up to 40k. The town council of Caledonia is pissed now because they were looking forward to having their kids play there, but now BR may not even exist.

Chris (the owner) is thinking of either rolling it altogether of moving back to the old place. I however would like to see them open at the new building because it's 1000 times better. That's why I'm asking you, the AO Army to see what you can do. If you happen to sell or know anybody that sells fire sprinklers let me know. If you or someone you know can either donate money OR help us fight this decision it would be greatly appreciated. Chris needs the business so he can't afford to wait another month or two, something needs to happen.

Let me know if you or anybody you know can help save Blackrain Paintball. Without this field, almost all of the kids in SE Wisconsin will have nowhere to go.

[RoadDawg]

I know fire sprinklers aren't cheap but they really are necessary. Good luck with everything and let us know how it turns out.

[Smoke]

Well, the building we just moved out of was 10,000 square feet, and before that opened a year ago they said we didn't need sprinklers. Now, we move into this new place (10,000 is the field/staging area, the other 9,000 is offices) and without even looking inside, the inspecter is saying no way. Kinda stupid because this building was used as a warehouse, and there is already a fire detection system in there.

[Lohman446]

In Michigan, when we built our shop, they originally pegged the occupancy at 240 people - but since noone is allowed in back it was ridiculous, by the way this would have required sprinklers. We dropped the occupancy down to 84 people (have to consider this where you are, I mean... whatever the magic number is, is it enough?). Generally the requirement of sprinklers is tied to the occupancy allowance of the building.

[Smoke]

Originally posted by Lohman446
In Michigan, when we built our shop, they originally pegged the occupancy at 240 people - but since noone is allowed in back it was ridiculous, by the way this would have required sprinklers. We dropped the occupancy down to 84 people (have to consider this where you are, I mean... whatever the magic number is, is it enough?). Generally the requirement of sprinklers is tied to the occupancy allowance of the building.

Generally yes, but this guy hasn't even set foot inside, and he refuses to. Without even taking such tings as occupancy into consideration, he's demanding the sprinklers because there will be kids inside.

[Muzikman]

Safty first. Think of it this way, those 100+ people might still be a live in RI if there were sprinklers in that night club. Public safety is a good thing...good luck.

[shartley]

[Crighton]

Find a different building with sprinklers already installed.

[Smoke]

Originally posted by Crighton
Find a different building with sprinklers already installed.

There is no such building in this area, and probably won't be for years.

Shartly: There is no way in hell we can afford sprinklers, but what I'm wondering is this: is there a way to overrule this inspector's decision without going through months of red tape? None of the indoor fields in SE WI have sprinklers (I might be wrong but I doubt it).

[SlartyBartFast]

Originally posted by automagfreek
None of the indoor fields in SE WI have sprinklers (I might be wrong but I doubt it).

Maybe they changed the code recently. When codes are changed older installations are often given "grandfather" clauses or given a time in which to comply.

But I have to agree with others that sprinklers are a good thing and who ever was responsible for writing them into the code did a good thing.

If the space is rented, have the owner install them and adjust the rent accordingly. If the paintball operator is purchasing the building, tack it onto the cost to the morgage.

Either way, insurance costs should come down.

Don't try to fight the inspector unless you can quote the code to him. Go learn the applicable building codes and if you have a case, present it.

[shartley]

Originally posted by automagfreek


There is no such building in this area, and probably won't be for years.

Shartly: There is no way in hell we can afford sprinklers, but what I'm wondering is this: is there a way to overrule this inspector's decision without going through months of red tape? None of the indoor fields in SE WI have sprinklers (I might be wrong but I doubt it).

[Crighton]

Dedicated just started an indoor field in madison and as far as I remember (only been there once) it didn't have sprinklers.

[SlartyBartFast]

Originally posted by shartley

Besides, I doubt there are many lawyers or building code experts familiar with the codes in question on AO.

Hire an independant building inspector or building code expert to study the situation. That's the only way to get a coherant and useful answer.

[MarkM]

Building codes I do understand are different between our two countrys. But if you open say a restaurant in this country from scratch you have to include disabled access and disabled toilets, if you buy an existing restaurant then you don't have to install the disabled access and toilets, this is due to the already cleared usage.
This is what you have come up against, you are swapping the building designation so you have to install all the faciltys of the current codes...you wouldn't have gone with an existing building with all these features already installed as that would have cost more...and now you are complaining that you have to install these features, the inspector doesn't intially need to enter the building as the council will already have in their offices what is installed inside due to the standing designation for the biulding..so the inspector knows you don't have a sprinkler system, doesn't need to walk in and say that does he? Leisure use is a minefield here and there as you have found out. If you supply gas or air you will have to guard that area, if you supply cooked food you will have a bunch of things to deal with there so sprinklers are the least of your worries but you have to abide by the building regs regardless of what you think things should be like. It might mean that the site usage fee (entrance cost) may have to be increased but where would you sooner play? Somewhere safe at a higher cost or somewhere not so safe and cheap...I can't put a price on my life so I will pay the higher fee. Take a look at the PSP World Cup the staging area was an open sided tent but under Florida if not all US regs it is a building and so we were not allowed to smoke inside the open sided tent..that is wrong but since when did building usage regs make sense.

[1stdeadeye]

Originally posted by automagfreek


There is no such building in this area, and probably won't be for years.

Shartly: There is no way in hell we can afford sprinklers, but what I'm wondering is this: is there a way to overrule this inspector's decision without going through months of red tape? None of the indoor fields in SE WI have sprinklers (I might be wrong but I doubt it).

Have you looked into the local codes? This inspector could be talking out of his rectum. Look up the local ordinances first. Also if the town council is behind him, he should go before them to ask for a variance to the ordinance if there is one. As the council codefies the towns laws, they may also grant variances. Have you spoke to the inspectors boss, the local planning or zoning board?

The way around it is asking for a variance! If it is not in the code, and he is still demanding it, a threatening letter from your attorney will move it along very quickly, especially if BR Paintball can show monetary damages caused by the inspectors delay.

You should be taking this campaign to the proper people: Your town council, Planning Board, or Zoning Board. They can have an immediate impact!