Montour to Test Alarm System for Occupancy Permit

The Montour School District has tapped the Cranberry-based firm Simplex Grinnell to ensure that its newly renovated high school meets Robinson fire codes in time for the upcoming school year. 

The district's school board on Thursday approved $9,720-worth of work with the firm, including a testing and inspection of the $52 million building's alarm system, which Robinson officials said does not meet code. 

Robinson Township has not issued a for the high school, which opened last fall. The building has been operating under a temporary permit. 

Township manager Aaron Bibro a secondary access road leading the facility does not meet a grading requirement. He told Patch emergency personnel would not be able to reach the school via the road with an ambulance or fire truck. 

The township's code inspector John Barnett also said in a June 27 letter to the district that the high school could not receive a permit until its alarm and sprinkler system were tested. 

Maintenence director Robert Capo said the testing is performed annually, but cannot be done during the regular school year. 

"Those inspectors know that we can't do that testing during the school year," Capo said. "I was a little confused about it. We can't do that testing (of the sprinkler system) until the summer months." 

Capo said the fire-system testing would be completed prior to July 20. 

Montour Superintendent Donald Boyer said told members of the school board that the testing will be performed soon. 

"We want to get this out of the way as soon as possible to avoid any friction," Boyer said. 

Relations between Robinson and the school district have been strained in recent months: Montour has requested a $300,000 refund from the township for an earlier building permit granted for the high school project, claiming that the township overcharged for services related to the school's renovation. The township has denied the refund, Bibro said.