This project provides funding for installation of modern life safety systems to protect the County's facilities and to protect buildings in the event of fire emergencies. Implementation of this project will help to minimize the dangers to life from fire, including smoke and fumes. The scope of the project encompasses fire alarms with voice addressable capabilities, sprinklers for fire suppression, fire and smoke detection, smoke control systems, and emergency generators.

FY19 & 20: Siemens Fire Alarms in the Judicial Center, Judicial Center Annex, and the Executive Office Building; FY20: Bethesda Library, Alternate Emergency Communications Center, Colesville Health Center, Lawton Community Center

Increase is due to the need to replace the fire alarm system in the Judicial Center, the Judicial Center Annex, and the Executive Office Building, and the addition of FY23 and FY24 to this ongoing project.

Numerous existing facilities are in need of modern, basic life safety systems. In many older facilities, there are no emergency generators, fire alarms or sprinklers. Emergency generators are critical to support fire alarms and fire pumps during power outages. Some facilities are 24-hour residential facilities. In case of fire, there could be a significant potential exposure to loss of life and property. Most of the facilities do not meet code and have outdated fire alarm systems for which spare parts are no longer available and which can no longer be kept in reliable operation. Many of these County facilities were built years ago, and thus, were grandfathered under the fire code since the occupancy category has not changed. The outdated systems need to be replaced and upgraded to provide improved protection to County employees and County properties. "The Third Report of the Infrastructure Maintenance Task Force (March 2010)" identified an annual level of effort for life safety systems based on a 25-year lifespan.

Expenditures will continue indefinitely.

Departments affected by Life Safety Systems projects, Department of General Services