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Rockfield Foundation, town spar over fire‑sprinkler requirement as renovation continues
Summary
The Rockfield Foundation told Bel Air commissioners its building addition and ongoing construction were stalled after Harford County reviewers required a sprinkler system because of the second‑floor use; the foundation says it will share costs and has engaged a fire prevention engineer as construction proceeds.
Bel Air — Leaders of the Rockfield Foundation told the Board of Town Commissioners on Jan. 28 that a change in Harford County’s interpretation of the building code has forced them to address a required sprinkler system for the historic Rockfield building even though the current construction project was not the original trigger.
"The cause for the sprinkler system is the second floor," Donna Dickey, a Rockfield board member, told commissioners, saying the foundation’s permit was denied in August because the county had no plan for sprinklers. "Even if we halted our progress with the addition . . . we would still have to upgrade the building to standard code. They're assuming that that second floor is used as event space, which, it's not."
Rockfield executive Kelly Kaltoff said the foundation prioritized safety and had hired a fire prevention engineer, Jeff McBride, to advise on options…
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