[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6750878,"mediaKeyId","5357080-afbc4e37f8aee8426b660047e534e73f","parentId",5357080,"title","Board deadlocks on Taft Middle School interim occupancy request; asks district for refuge square footage and emergency plan","audioSeconds",4659,"startMs",229000,"endMs",4888000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5357080-afbc4e37f8aee8426b660047e534e73f&start=229&end=4888","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5357080-afbc4e37f8aee8426b660047e534e73f/thumbnail_229000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6750878/Oklahoma/Board-deadlocks-on-Taft-Middle-School-interim-occupancy-request-asks-district-for-refuge-square-footage-and-emergency-plan","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750878-a18a8b07f002c422856a88e88f725b1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135494&Signature=KpywMf5HrDuljGLzf9OvUds681KjemMcABgeN6uXQiHGaRi7LPStNjmUAxygIHoGGX-ZVyj5lCJJHXyVVOVbb9cM0UTUKcVOnD64XoL3KOZ9jFSp0S-za~HnFKCcvnFh4FvyMcwhuwIfinrcBDqMiuf~EPZ87no8ZKoKOVdSRc3RnWzCDsxKgPgfDYyDJ0f0rto8DToG6AmcRih9Qz02q4rqv~OXNkvGZxDkcH8XYUSYoruBmJ1Zng0qSGw7WLhGMCmKMIA4QLplRrJ7XOlRXaz5FWc8hcDNMgBJPdvwNnjMtgQgQnxDxOfQBUcHbnqlKr02v0RPjx2EqJ86QkKuAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Oklahoma","date","2025-07-09T21:24:11Z","article","The Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals on July 9 considered BOAB202500001, an appeal by Oklahoma City Public Schools seeking to allow students to use a new academic wing at Taft Middle School while the project’s ICC 500 storm shelter is completed in a later construction phase. The board initially split 3–3 on a motion to permit interim occupancy using the school’s existing ‘‘best available area of refuge’’ and then voted to continue the case pending additional documentation.

Architect Evan Sack of Butser Architects described the bond-funded renovation and phasing plan, saying the district plans to open a new west academic wing in August 2026 and complete the ICC 500 shelter in phase 2 by August 2027. “The crux of what we're appealing and what we're asking today is that the board consider the interpretation of the language of the IEBC and IBC, for how we identify what that increase in intensity of use is defined,” Sack said, explaining the district intends to cap interim enrollment to seventh and eighth graders and that the interim on-site population would be about 541 students—down roughly 38 from present levels.

District interim operating officer Deborah Deck told the board the district monitors weather threats daily, cancels school when forecasts warrant, conducts mandatory drills and intends to finalize its emergency plans each year before classes start. “We have a safety department that goes to the meetings with the weather center,” Deck said. She described existing practice of using interior corridors and a basement as the campus’s current area of refuge and said the district would provide the detailed emergency action plan the board requested.

Staff and the fire marshal raised concerns about whether the existing basement and hallways can reliably accommodate the interim occupant load and whether those spaces meet ICC 500 structural and impact-resistance criteria. Scott (staff) said the required square footage for a shelter for the interim occupant load would be roughly 2,750 square feet. Oklahoma City Fire Marshal Mike Wilson said the office’s main concern was that phase 1 adds 36 classrooms without an ICC 500 shelter in place and asked for verification that the available refuge areas would safely fit the interim population. “Our biggest concern, obviously, is that the first phase is to build … 36 classrooms, and they won't have any shelters,” Wilson said.

A motion to allow a temporary certificate of occupancy for the one-year interim between completion of phase 1 and phase 2, using the historic areas of refuge, was made and seconded but failed on a 3–3 tie (tie vote defeated). The board then voted unanimously to continue the appeal and requested the school provide: (1) measured square footage of the existing basement spaces and interior corridors that would be relied on in phase 1, and (2) the district's emergency action plan and related documentation of drills and procedures.

The board’s continuation does not alter the permit status described by staff: phase 1 construction was allowed to begin under a permit that includes conditions on final occupancy tied to shelter completion. The district and the applicant team said they will supply the requested square-footage measurements and the emergency plan for the board’s next review.

If the board’s future review finds the submitted refuge square footage and operational procedures adequate, it could change the board’s position; if not, the board may require further mitigation or deny interim occupancy. The case will return to the board for consideration when the requested materials have been submitted and reviewed.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Oklahoma City Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals - July 9, 2024","oneSentenceSummary","The Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals on July 9 considered BOAB202500001, an appeal by Oklahoma City Public Schools seeking to allow students to use a new academic wing at Taft Middle School while the project’s ICC 500 storm shelter is completed in a later construction phase. The board initially split 3–3 on a motion to permit interim occupancy using the school’s existing ‘‘best available area of refuge’’ and then voted to continue the case pending additional documentation.","taxTitle","Other Public Meetings, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma","taxId",69689,"location","Oklahoma","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6750875,"Board continues three Capitol Hill appeals after debate over IEBC chapter 13 vs. local sprinkler requirement",570,5076000,5646000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5357080-afbc4e37f8aee8426b660047e534e73f&start=5076&end=5646","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5357080-afbc4e37f8aee8426b660047e534e73f/thumbnail_5076000.jpg","/articles/6750875/Oklahoma/Board-continues-three-Capitol-Hill-appeals-after-debate-over-IEBC-chapter-13-vs-local-sprinkler-requirement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6750875-c329485867ed0f56a7e3eb405962ef3d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771135494&Signature=HPztqk2yY-IWoO-zZhYLVjvPpsSRakQKfukRCkp~NK0b8MtPRBEmeHtfStAHINjNlcWKw~1P-CSL1nHRPaMyrsepw2zLhnuUUnX3uVLwpGA0agOHtqo-bj8k012QILthAs76rkYjo3-G~LR5snhF9qMgWkzgJ1CmkLOnKqA1hWuMLLiw6D9x9FhGSdmbcWC3XTLpGZlB~6prcuAk4p97R4v2bmWf53WROySvz4ynwB-HZ0SyjdggTBwKg4I1UdN89WS8k79Hfe7BU8Bnw5uQTbNQ7b0UW5gEtg~NtmUPqdoJ4EpQt1U1kF7fJE67ajRAkTzLTEWvH29w8zzvNKRFHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Building and Fire Code Board of Appeals on July 9, 2025 continued three related appeals by developer Trey Mastin that challenged the city’s interpretation of the International Existing Building Code (IEBC) and a local amendment requiring fire suppression for certain residential remodels.

Mastin told the board he is rehabilitating three multifamily properties in Ward 4 to produce 12 affordable units and asked to use the IEBC chapter 13 points‑based compliance method rather than retrofitting automatic sprinklers. “The chapter 13 method does not lower the bar. It provides a measurable, structured way to ensure life safety, fire protection, and egress,” Mastin said, adding that his team’s score sheet shows the projects meet the chapter 13 threshold.

City staff and the fire marshal described a long-standing local policy requiring sprinklers for residential remodels when a building permit is pulled. Oklahoma City Fire Marshal Mike Wilson said the department has been ‘‘very adamant about fire suppression in residential occupancies’’ and emphasized sprinklers’ role in early fire suppression and occupant safety. “When we do have fires in sprinkled buildings, the sprinklers put it out,” Wilson said.

Applicant counsel Johnny Blassingame pointed to the city’s resolution adopting the 2018 code, which includes language that chapter 13 may apply (“or” phrasing), and argued that the adopted resolution permits the chapter 13 alternative. City staff acknowledged the apparent conflict between two adopted amendments—one in chapter 3 referencing §302.7 and another amending 13.01.2 with the word “or”—and said further administrative or legal review was necessary.

After discussion, the board voted to continue all three appeals to allow staff and legal to reconcile the local amendment requiring sprinklers and the chapter 13 applicability language. The continuance preserves the applicant’s ability to return with the matter resolved administratively or to be scheduled again for a hearing.

","A developer appealed local staff enforcement requiring fire sprinklers for remodels; the board continued three related appeals to give city staff time to resolve an apparent conflict between the city's IEBC amendment and chapter 13 applicability language.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board deadlocks on Taft Middle School interim occupancy request; asks district for refuge square footage and emergency plan

Board continues three Capitol Hill appeals after debate over IEBC chapter 13 vs. local sprinkler requirement