Fifty residents of the Devon Park apartments on Stanley Pt last night demanded that the North Shore City Council lift a dangerous building notice.
The notice was served after Fire Service dissatisfaction with safety measures in the 12-storey building, which does not have sprinklers or smoke detectors.
Requirements for immediate remedial work would not be discussed until the council withdrew the notice, said the chairman of the building's body corporate, James Verstoep.
"It is like a pistol at our heads," he told a meeting of residents with the mayor, George Wood, and deputy mayor, Dianne Hale.
Mr Verstoep, a retired civil engineer, said the building's fire safety engineer felt the 33-year-old building was not dangerous.
He said the notice arose from a fire drill where the manual alarm did not sound because of a flat battery.
The body corporate, he said, was willing to discuss improvements, including installing smoke detectors that would automatically trigger the alarm. The work could cost $100,000.
But not all residents of the 60 apartments believe major work is necessary.
A penthouse owner, Jack Scott, a National Government cabinet minister from 1963-69, said earlier yesterday that he wanted residents to join him in refusing to agree to any improvements.
He said the building was being subjected to regulations that did not come in until 1992.
"The Fire Service cannot apply that legislation retrospectively. If the notice is not removed I will ask the High Court to remove it."
Mr Wood promised the meeting that councillors would meet officials this afternoon to discuss the notice.
Residents dig toes in over fire notice
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