Contributed WATER DAMAGE – Exit signs at the Fort Steuben Mall won't light u due to water damage.

STEUBENVILLE — The Fort Steuben Mall ownership, already dealing with major building code violations, now must bring the facility into compliance with state fire regulations as well.

City firefighters reported 13 code violations during the mall’s biennial fire inspection, two of which were easy fixes and already have been completed. Fire inspections are required every two years for commercial properties.

Fire Chief Joe Ribar said for inspection purposes, the mall has three zones: sections with outlying stores, including 7 Ranges and JCPenney, which all met code; individual storefronts inside the mall, which also were up to code; and the overall mall structure, where the violations were detected.

“You’re talking main corridors, the detection system and suppression system, exits that are public exits out — that’s the part that has the violations,” he said, explaining inspectors found three major life-safety issues that already have been addressed.

“There was an exit corridor where the doors were chained,” he said. “That’s been resolved. There was another exit corridor that had doors that seemed to be jammed and just wouldn’t open — they closed that exit off to the public. They also had a portion of their suppression system shut off, so there was no sprinkler system in that portion of the mall. They had a company come in and turn it on, so that’s been resolved.”

“There are lots of violations for them to come into compliance with,” he said.

Some of the easier fixes have been completed. Staff already have unlocked exit doors that had been chained shut and removed piles of flammable cardboard boxes from empty rooms.

But major issues still must be addressed, including:

— Illuminated exit signs in egress hallways malfunctioning because of water damage;

— A backup generator that missed its annual servicing, jeopardizing emergency egress lighting;

— Missing ceiling tiles affecting the effectiveness and functionality of the sprinkler system;

— Electrical hazards in multiple locations requiring maintenance;

— Numerous open junction boxes and wire splices;

— Fire extinguishers missing from numerous egress hallways;

— Annual inspections of the main fire alarm system not being completed; and

— Multiple locked exits on the west side of the building.

Ribar said the mall’s owner, Total Finance, was given until June 26 to show intent to bring the property into compliance — an interesting twist, since Steubenville’s chief building enforcement officer previously gave the owners until June 27 to decide whether they will undertake repairs to leaks, broken skylights, black mold, shifting storefronts and floor issues that violate state code.

Planning Director Jessica Gumm said the city has not received the required documentation from a qualified engineer detailing how Total Finance plans to address the building code violations.

“We have not heard anything from (the owners),” she said. “So the June 27 deadline is still in play.”

Ribar said his department is willing to work with the owners, provided they continue to show a willingness to address the problems. That is why they were given 30 days to begin addressing the fire code violations.

“We were really concerned with the sprinkler system that was shut off, that and barricades on exits and signs not lighting up, that’s why we gave them limited time to have it resolved,” he said. “The other violations, all of them are important — there’s just so many of them. That’s the issue. How quickly are they going to be able to address all of them? Fire inspections are done every two years, so a lot of these things have accumulated since the last inspection two years ago.”

Whatever the mall’s management team ultimately decides to do, “They still have 11 violations to address,” he said.

“Even if the mall shuts down or is condemned, we would still require them to maintain the sprinkler and detection system. 7 Ranges and Penneys are still attached to the mall, so we would require them to maintain those. Others pertain to open electric boxes, exit signs, ceiling tiles that are missing … that all affects the sprinklers you see in the ceiling. If there’s a fire above sprinklers, there’s nothing that sprinkler is going to do, so open ceiling tiles are a violation.”

Ribar said the department will reinspect the property after the 30-day period expires and make a determination at that time.

“Typically, if they’re making progress — if we were to go in and 10 of 12 exit signs were fixed, for instance, and they have a company coming in (for the rest), we’ll give them another extension,” he said. “If it appears nothing is going on and it’s staying the same, that’s when we’ll have to start citing them into court for code violations.”

Should Total Finance decide not to proceed with the fixes, Ribar said officials would need to “make sure the suppression and detection systems (are) working because if there’s a problem it would change our operations. That’s a big concern of ours. If a building is condemned, what happens in there? As with every building that becomes vacant, people worry someone is going to get inside and what conditions will be like if they get inside.”

City Manager Mike Johnson said Friday that, taken together, the building inspection and fire inspection reports “illustrate the mall is in very poor condition.”

“It will likely take millions of dollars in repairs to bring the mall into compliance with the building code,” he said. “Whether or not the current owner will commit the financial resources necessary to address the building code issues remains to be seen. Tenants that have reached out to the city are justifiably concerned regarding the mall’s future. (I’ve been told) the mall owner plans to submit a report addressing the code violations to the city before the June 27 deadline. I eagerly await that report and I will not prejudge it without seeing it.

“But the city remains committed to enforcing the building codes and ensuring the safety of the citizens of Steubenville, the customers of the mall and the employees of the mall.”

Should Total Finance opt not to move forward with repairs, Johnson said he hopes that, if businesses must relocate, they will remain in Steubenville.

“But if that is not possible, then I hope the businesses are able to relocate to one of our neighboring communities,” he said. “As long as businesses are able to relocate to any community in our area and preserve employees’ jobs, then I will be happy.”