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State reclassification forces Waveny House fire-alarm upgrade; selectmen authorize $38,510 contract
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Summary
After the state reclassified a planned "lift" as an elevator, the town must upgrade Waveny House’s fire-alarm system to an addressable system tied to elevator controls; the board approved a contract to replace detectors and the control panel, with work expected to be discreet but comprehensive.
New Canaan officials told the Board of Selectmen on April 7 that a state inspection reclassified a planned open "lift" at Waveny House as an elevator, triggering code requirements that force a full-building upgrade to an addressable fire-alarm system that integrates with elevator controls.
DPW staff (S2) explained the technical consequence: an addressable system will allow the elevator to react appropriately when a detector trips (for example, moving to a safe floor and locking out). That integration requires replacing detectors and the central control panel and tying the wiring throughout the building. Officials emphasized the work is intended to keep people out of elevators when there is a fire and to create a clear "place of refuge" on stair landings for those who cannot use stairs.
The board approved a contract listed in the meeting materials for $36,675 plus a $1,835 contingency (total $38,510) to supply and install the addressable fire-alarm system. S2 said the upgrade will be as discreet as possible in Waveny’s historic spaces and noted modern detectors and head units are smaller and less obtrusive than older equipment.
S1 pressed for scheduling clarity because the building had an upcoming event in mid-April; S2 reported structure and glass installation timelines and said crews expect most external work completed in late April with interior fine-tuning to follow and a meeting with schedules planned the week after the approval.
Quote
"We're calling that an elevator... it needs to have this," S2 said of the state reclassification, adding the alarm system "was going to be tied into the elevator" so the elevator behaves according to alarm signals.
Why it matters
The change in state classification created a compliance obligation that affects not just the elevator shaft but the whole building’s alarm infrastructure. The upgrade will bring Waveny House in line with current code and add diagnostic capability for future maintenance.
What comes next
Staff will schedule installation with the vendor and coordinate with the fire marshal and event planners to minimize impacts during near-term events. The board agreed S2 should return with a confirmed schedule and completion milestones for the public record.
Ending
The board approved the work unanimously and directed staff to coordinate timing and preserve the building’s historic character while installing the system.
