Orcutt looks to douse sprinkler standards for ag buildings
Posted in Fire Sprinkler Fittings |

Ed Orcutt says barns and other agricultural buildings don’t need fire sprinkler systems, the same claim a Woodland couple has made battling Cowlitz County about reassembling a historic barn on their property.

Orcutt, R-Kalama, introduced a bill (HB 2975) last week that bans county or state sprinkler requirements for agricultural buildings. He said it’s not connected to Rena and Kent Bellika’s barn in rural Woodland. Instead, Orcutt was contacted about a proposed new barn near Woodland that might not go up if the owners have to meet sprinkler standards. The new barn was scheduled to be 3,600 square feet and anything more than 3,500 square feet requires a sprinkler system. Orcutt said the requirement adds too many costs to the project.

“I want to keep our farmers farming and not put them out of business,” he said. “If we could get someone to build a barn this year I’d certainly like to see that happen and I know our construction folks could sure use the business.”

The Bellikas ran into a similar problem with their 1920 barn which county officials wanted brought up to modern day standards. One of the main stumbling blocks was a sprinkler system that Rena Bellika said was too expensive and unnecessary in a historic barn.

Bellika hasn’t talked to Orcutt about his bill but said she’d be in favor of having the regulations for agricultural buildings eased. It’s unclear if Orcutt’s bill would help the Bellikas because their barn and building permit already are under way.

Cowlitz County Commissioner Axel Swanson hadn’t read the proposed legislation but said on its face it sounds like something he’d support to ease conflicts like the one the Rena Bellika brought to commissioners earlier this month.

Swanson organized a meeting with the Bellikas and county Building and Planning Department last week and said afterward that they believe they’ve found ways to meet most of the requirements without undue burdens.

Orcutt’s bill, co-sponsored by five lawmakers including Vancouver Democrat Deb Wallace, has been referred to the Local Government & Housing Committee for review.

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