Written: 1/7/09
Marvin Pirila & Gail Francette are still waiting to move into their new home at the Old Washington School they have owned for more than two years. Why? The building inspector, John Gulland, states that they must have higher hand rails installed. The existing hand rails fail to meet new building codes that state that hand railings must be 36 inches high and be continuous. They must also have a guard rail installed above the new hand rail that sits 48 inches above the floor. “It’s a life issue,” Mr. Gulland explains.
Owners Pirila and Francette couldn’t disagree more. “This building has been here for more than 100 years without one claim of injury due to low hand-railings or the lack of guard rails. Literally thousands of adults and children have used these stairs, since the school was first built in 1907. Grades K-12 went to school here for decades before becoming the Township offices for 13 years. In fact, John Gulland himself, spent two evenings a week in that very building for those 13 years,” Marvin explained. “How many houses or apartment buildings do you see with an original hand railing, a new one at 36 inches, and a guard rail at 48 inches. It’s ridiculous.”
“If the state, counties, and townships, are going to enforce these codes, why aren’t they mandated to upgrade their facilities statewide to comply?” Marvin asks. “I’ve heard Mr. Gulland tell me numerous times that it’s a life issue. If that’s true, they are putting countless employees and residents at risk in their own buildings. In fact, if it’s such a life issue, why isn’t in every home, business, and building in the country.
Mr. Gulland claims that many of these buildings have been grandfathered in, making it different from Pirila’s and Francettes home. The code, as interpreted to them by the Townships inspectors, is that it is a “Change in Use’ from Township use to Residential. This means it is considered a new building and subject to all relevant codes for new buildings.
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