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Engineers recommend fire-suppression design for York County jail addition; board defers pending jail-standards guidance
Summary
Davis Design proposed hourly design work (not-to-exceed $49,500) and a rough construction estimate of $105,000–$126,000 to add modern fire suppression to the county jail. The board deferred final action, asking staff to seek clarifying guidance from jail standards and the state fire marshal.
Consulting architect Steve Severson of Davis Design told the York County Board of Commissioners on Nov. 12 that a lifecycle and code review of a planned south-side courthouse expansion shows the state fire marshal’s office will hold future additions to a higher, "new detention occupancy" standard. That standard makes unsprinkled jail additions unlikely to be permitted.
Severson said the firm has been working with Ferris Engineering on a proposed fire-suppression design and recommended an hourly design agreement with an upper limit of $49,500 to complete the plans. He emphasized uncertainty in scope because the county still lacks definitive direction from corrections and jail standards on phasing and occupation requirements.
On construction costs, Davis provided a rough estimate of $10–$12 per square foot for the jail facility, which the consultant said is roughly 10,500 square feet. That yields a construction range of about $105,000 to $126,000, "very rough" estimates that Severson said could change depending on phasing and unforeseen work inside an older facility.
The board agreed the proposal "is a good idea" to bring the building up to code but deferred authorizing design spending until county staff receives written guidance from jail standards and completes further coordination with corrections staff. Commissioners noted that working inside a detention facility adds complexity — tamper-resistant materials, background checks for workers, and tool logging to reduce risks.
What’s next: Staff will continue outreach to jail-standards personnel and the state fire marshal for definitive direction. The board did not approve the design contract at the Nov. 12 meeting and will return to the matter when the county obtains clearer requirements.
