ZELIENOPLE — The move-in date for residents of the newly built Abundant Life Center at Passavant Retirement Community has been delayed for months so that sprinklers can be installed in the attic.

The $57 million, 223,767-square-foot building was dedicated Wednesday by Lutheran SeniorLife and Passavant officials, but the sprinkler issue will delay move-in by an estimated eight months.

Despite having plans approved before construction began in September 2011, the administration found out in early May that it would be required to add the sprinklers in the attic to get approval for occupancy, said Laura Roy, Passavant executive director.

Roy said the building’s sprinkler system covers all of the areas used by people. The attic, which currently lacks sprinklers, is sealed and empty, though it could be used for storage later, she said.

The requirement for attic sprinklers was due to a “new interpretation of the zoning” and building code, from the state Department of Health and the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said Brad Boal, architect of the project.

To be granted occupancy, the building must be inspected by the state and by the borough building inspector. Since Passavant accepts Medicare and Medicaid, it also is subject to building and safety requirements from the federal government, Boal said.

Passavant officials were surprised to learn they needed additional sprinkler coverage.

“The sprinklers are an issue we’ve never had come up before,” Boal said.

He is the senior associate on a team of six architects from Noekler and Hull Associates in Chambersburg, Pa., who designed the Abundant Life Center. It specializes in retirement community designs including other Lutheran SeniorLife buildings.

Holli Senior, deputy press secretary for the state Department of Health, said in an e-mail that occupancy for new health care facilities is not granted until they are in full compliance.

“When a new building is opening, that is part of a facility that is licensed by the Department (of Health). They must be in compliance with the Life Safety Code (LSC) for state licensure and federal certification purposes.” she said.

According to a memo from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services survey and certification group dated Aug. 16, 2013, all nursing homes that take Medicare and Medicaid must be fully sprinklered or else face a citation. August 2013 was the end of a five-year phase-in ordered by the agency that included existing nursing homes and new construction.

“We’re certainly disappointed that our move was delayed, but we also recognize our obligation to comply with the codes. We’re going to do everything we have to do to comply and not delay the move any more than necessary,” Roy said.

Roy said the cost and time needed to install the new sprinklers and to have the building ready for approval is still unknown, though she said Passavant officials hope it would be within eight months.

The facility was built by Pittsburgh-based DCK Construction, but the plumbing and the sprinklers were handled by a subcontractor, she said.

When asked about the sprinkler issue, a representative of DCK said: “As far as we are concerned the grand opening is on schedule.”

The Abundant Life Center is a new building on the campus that will replace the current Olde Main building, which has independent living, assisted care and nursing.

Residents of Olde Main originally were supposed to move over starting on June 22, but now that date has been postponed due to the certification issue.