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Bel Air officials approve design contract for Rockfield Manor sprinkler system; design cost $47,572
Summary
Town staff told commissioners Jan. 14 they will contract KCI Technologies to design a sprinkler system at Rockfield Manor; estimated design fee is $47,572, with 50% of the design cost to be shared by the Rockfield Foundation. The building’s historic fabric and distance to the nearest water line present technical challenges.
Bel Air — Town officials on Jan. 14 presented plans to design a fire sprinkler system for Rockfield Manor after the county disapproved a permit for an addition that triggered a sprinkler requirement.
Steve Klein, who presented the item to commissioners, said the town piggybacked on a Howard County contract with KCI Technologies and solicited a design proposal. The design-only contract is priced at $47,572, Klein said; the town has an agreement that 50% of the design and installation costs will be shared by the Rockfield Foundation.
Klein described technical constraints that could raise the installation price: Rockfield Manor is a roughly 125-year-old historic building; portions will require retrofit work behind plaster walls, which can reveal unknown conditions; and the nearest adequate water line is about 900–1,000 feet away on Ewing Street, which means the project may require installing an 8‑inch line and a hydrant on site to meet International Fire Code standards.
Klein said the $47,572 figure covers design only; the construction cost is not yet known. He told commissioners the design phase should take roughly two to three months, after which staff expects to have construction estimates and a clearer schedule. Town staff said Rockfield Manor would like to re-open for events by July of next year, and the town may consider doing some excavation work in-house to lower contractor costs.
Klein and other staff confirmed the sprinkler requirement was driven by code and public-safety considerations. Commissioners and staff said they did not intend to seek waivers of fire-code requirements and said they prefer to meet code for safety reasons.
The Rockfield Foundation agreed to cost sharing and told staff it intends to pursue the project; staff also said the town could front-load costs and work out a reimbursement plan with the foundation to reduce immediate financial pressure.
No formal contract award vote was recorded in the work-session transcript; staff presented the proposal and commissioners asked questions. Staff said a future update from the Rockfield Foundation is scheduled for the next work session.
