STORRS, Conn. – The University of Connecticut’s (UConn) board of trustees has agreed to fund the installation of sprinklers in the attic of the Charter Oak Suites dormitory.
The board approved $605,000 for the project, which will take place this summer. The wood-constructed suites had been on 24/7 fire watch due to safety concerns.
For an additional $3 million, attic sprinklers are slated for installation at three other wood-constructed dorms: the Charter Oak Apartments, Hilltop Apartments and Husky Village. The installations should begin in about a year or 18 months.
All four dormitories are relatively new yet have experienced several fire and building code issues. Although the attic sprinklers are not required by code, UConn’s insurer recommended their installation.
UConn officials are currently being investigated because they are suspected of having known that some of the buildings had fire and safety code problems, yet let students move in anyway.