#15 FW: Allowable occupancy of the Multi Purpose Room at the Modular Classrooms

Deja Vu All Over Again....

Paperwork Problems At Hamilton Avenue Modular Classrooms: Joseph Benoit doesn't recall and didn't take notes

Benoit Will Blame School Principal Don Strange And Other School Officials For Giving Incorrect Information If A Small Child Gets Hurt Or Is Killed.

These email addresses have been put on notice of an improper fire inspection at a publc school:

sue_wallerstein@greenwich.k12.ct.us valerie.maze@greenwichct.org peter.siecienski@greenwichct.org peter.tesei@greenwichct.org

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From: lauradibella@msn.com
To: joseph.benoit@greenwichct.org
CC: sue_wallerstein@greenwich.k12.ct.us; valerie.maze@greenwichct.org; peter.siecienski@greenwichct.org; peter.tesei@greenwichct.org
Subject: RE: Allowable occupancy of the Multi Purpose Room at the Modular Classrooms
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:13:40 -0700


Deputy Chief Benoit -

I thank you for your response.

Please be advised that I accompanied Chris Doyle during his inspection and was with him when he measured the multipurpose room. He did not, in fact, rely on information provided him by employees, he visually inspected the room in question.

Inspector Doyle utilized a rolling tape measure and measured the room by length and width, from wall to wall.

Inspector Doyle took notes, including what equipment was in the room, as well as the actual measurements.

Having done all of the above - it would appear that Inspector Doyle's numbers should have been higher than yours, thereby allowing an even higher occupancy.

I have very serious concerns regarding the difference between Inspector Doyle's numbers and yours.

Laura J. DiBella

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Subject: Allowable occupancy of the Multi Purpose Room at the Modular Classrooms
To: lauradibella@msn.com
CC: sue_wallerstein@greenwich.k12.ct.us ; Valerie.Maze@greenwichct.org
From: Joseph.Benoit@greenwichct.org
Date: Fri, 29 Aug 2008 10:07:18 -0400

Dear Ms. DiBella:

Inspector Doyle was not the Fire Marshal at any time.

The number of persons that he determined were allowed in the Multi Purpose room at the
> time he did an inspection, was based on information that was relayed to him by employees of the school. Specifically where food serving equipment was to be located and the furniture layout of the room. From that information and a measurement of the available space Inspector Doyle determined that was the allowable occupancy.

I do not know what measurements he took nor do I know the points that those measurements were taken from.

I went to the modular classroom building on June 10, 2008 at 1430 hours at the request of Donald Strang then acting principal of the Glenville School. I was requested to go there specifically to inspect the Multi Purpose Room of the facility.

The room was vacant of any furniture or service equipment.

It was obvious to me based on indentations in the floor covering where the food service equipment had been located.

Don Strang and others that were present confirmed that the marks on the floor were from the food service equipment, and that the same equipment would be returned to the room at a later date, and placed in the same locations.


Based on that information and a 100' tape measure I measured the room by length and by width up to the area that would be taken up by the food service equipment.

I do not recall what the specific measurements were and I did not take notes.

Whatever measurements of length X width totaled out to be were
> divided by fifteen square foot per person. The number 15 square feet per person is derived form the Connecticut Fire Safety Code specifically under the chapter that deals with "Places of Assembly". That 15 square foot per person number is what the Fire Code has set as the allowable per person area when calculated for tables and chairs.

Whatever the net square footage number was on June 10, 2008 when divided by 15 square foot per person came out to 69. something, which was then rounded up to 70.

That number 70 determined that the Multi Purpose Room at the modular classrooms could safely be occupied by that number of persons, when the room was being used as a cafeteria. The room if used in a more concentrated use such as a lecture room, utilizing folding chairs could safely hold almost twice that number of people, again as per the requirements of the Connecticut Fire Safety Code.

I am confident that the measurements that I took on June 10, 2008 are accurate and that the Multi Purpose Room at the Modular Classrooms may safely be occupied by up to 70 persons when used in a cafeteria arrangement.

Should you have any additional questions please contact me directly.

Thank you.

Joseph H. Benoit, Jr.
Deputy Chief/ Fire Marshal

Please See:

Selectmen Briefed by Town Attorneys; Transparent Government is Key

17 Dec 2007

By Anne W. Semmes

... Fire Marshal Joseph Benoit); with pending litigation or claims discussion; for matters of security or in purchasing real estate that would impact the price; or for discussing records exempt from disclosure from the FOI Act. ...

Right to Know Coalition of Nova Scotia - http://nsrtk.blogspot.com/

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Castleford High School Fire 1