HomeMy WebLinkAbout4424 ORDINANCE /-//,~.~4 ~/
AN ORDINANCE adopting the 1991 Uniform Fire Code to ensure public safety in
all structures, amending Title 18 of the Bremerton Municipal Code.
THE CITY OF BREMERTON DOES HEREBY ORDAIN:
Section 1. New Chapter. A new chapter 18.02, CITY FIRE CODE, is adopted to
read as follows:
18.02.010 TITLE. The ordinance codified in this Chapter shall be known as the City
Fire Code.
"' 18.02.020 PURPOSE. The purpose of the City Fire Code is to prescribe regulations
consistent with nationally recognized good practice for safeguarding, to a reasonable degree
of protection for the life and property of our citizens from the hazards of fire and explosions
arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices,
and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the use or occupance of buildings or
premises, hazards of fire and explosion, arising from the storage, handling and use of
hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or
property in the use of occupancy of buildings or premises.
18.02.030 ADOPTION. The Uniform Fire Code as amended is adopted by
reference as follows, subject to the modifications and amendments set forth in this chapter.
(a) The Uniform Fire Code, 1991 Edition and the Uniform Fire Code Standards,
1991 Edition as published by the International Conference of Building Officials and the
Western Fire Chiefs Association, as amended by the Washington State Building Code
Council on November 8, 1991, and published as Chapters 51-24 and 51-25 Washington
Administrative Code; together with appendixes (I-B, II-B, II-C, II-D, II-F, III-A, III-B, IV-A,
V-A, & VI-A), 1991 Edition, along with The Uniform Fire Code Standards.
(b) The National Fire Protection Association Codes, N.F.P.A.Nation Fire Codes are
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 1
adopted by reference.
18.02.040 CONFLICTS AMONG CODES. In cases of conflicts among codes, the
most restrictive shall apply. Determination of which code is most restrictive shall be subject
to appeal as set forth in The Uniform Administrative Code Sec. 204(a).
18.02.050 AMENDMENTS TO THE UFC.
(a) UFC Sec. 10.301 Premises Identification shall be changed to read as follows:
50' from street or less: 12" minimum height;
50' to 100' from Street: 18" minimum height;
More than 100' from Street: 24" minimum heightl
18.02.060 CITY OF BREMERTON FIRE SPRINKLER CODE.
(a) Group A Occupancies.
1. Exhibition and display rooms. An automatic sprinkler system
shall be installed in Group A Occupancies which have more
than 10,000 square feet of floor area which can be used for
exhibition or display purposes.
(b) Group B, Division 2 Occupancies.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in retail sales
rooms classified as Group B, Division 2 Occupancies where the
total floor area exceeds 10,000 square feet.
(c) Group R, Division 1 Occupancies.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all
Group R, Division 1 Occupancies three or more stories in
height or 10,000 square feet or more or containing 5 or more
dwelling units.
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 2
(d) Basement Access and Fire ProtectiOn in Existing Buildings.
1. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in
basements or stories exceeding 1,500 square feet in area and
not having a minimum of 20 square feet of opening entirely
above the adjoining ground level in each 50 lineal feet or
fraction thereof of exterior wall on at least one side of the
building. Openings shall have a minimum clear dimension of
30 inches.
If any portion of the basement is located more than 75 feet
from required openings, the basement shall be provided with an
approved automatic sprinkler system throughout.
If the basement is used exclusively for service of the building or
storage or materials not highly combustible or high fire hazard,
an automatic fire sprinkler system shall not be required, but the
basement shall be provided with an approved automatic fire
alarm system. For the purposes of this section, maintenance
offices and similar uses shall not be considered as providing
service to the building. If the basement is sealed to prevent
access, no sprinkler system or alarm system shall be required.
(e) For commercial construction of Five Thousand ($5,000.00) or
more in valuation, the purchase of one (1) "Storz" adapter will
be required. For commercial construction of Fifty Thousand
Dollars ($50,000) or more in valuation, the purchase of two (2)
"Storz" adapters will be required. Such "Storz" adapter(s) will
be installed by City crews on a fire hydrant closest to the
Fir¢-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 3
construction site not already so equipped.
18.02.070 CITY OF BREMERTON FIRE ALARM CODE.
(a) Required Installations.
(1) General: When required by this section, an approved
fire alarm system shall be installed and maintained in a
fully operational condition, including 24-hour off-
premises monitoring, in all structures, whether occupied
or not. The installation and maintenance shall be the
responsibility of the building owner.
(2) Type of System: An automatic fire alarm system shall
be maintained in a fully operational condition, with 24
hour off-premises monitoring, and shall be installed in
accordance with the following:
(i) In all new unsprinklered construction over 5,000
square feet gross floor area.
(ii) In all remodels of existing unspfinklered buildings
over 5,000 square feet gross floor area, when the
value of any remodel work exceeds 50 percent of
the building's valuation.
(iii) In any unspfinklered building over 5,000 square
feet gross floor area when a change in occupancy
use classification occurs.
(iv) In the following occupancy classifications as
defined by the Uniform Fire Code:
(A) Group A, Divisions 1, 2, and 2.1
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 4
occupancies.
(B) Group E occupancies with an OCcupant
load of 50 or more persons.
(C) Group H occupancies used for the
manufacture of organic coatings, and all
Group H, Division 6 occupancies.
(D) Group I occupancies.
(v) In common areas of all multi-family residential
units having three or more units which exit
through a common interior egress corridor.
(vi) In existing unsprinklered apartment and
residential structures three or more stories in
height.
(vii) In buildings equipped with fire sprinkler systems,
for the monitoring of water flow indication and
main water supply shut-off valve tamper switch,
and to provide manual sending stations.
(b) General Requirements for Installation:
(1) Plans and Specifications: Complete plans and specifications of
all fire alarm systems shall be submitted for review and
approval by the Bremerton Fire Department prior to system
installation. Plans and specifications shall include, but not be
limited to, a floor plan, type and location of all initiating
devices, control and trouble signalling equipment, annunciation,
power connection, battery calculations, wiring type and sizes.
Fire-Cod.Oral - 7/7/93 5
(2) System Design: Fire alarm systems, automatic fire detectors,
emergency voice/alarm communication systems and notification
devices shall be designed, installed and maintained in
accordance with UFC Standards 14-1 and 14-2; NFPA 70,
National Electrical Code; NFPA 72, Standard for the
Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Protective Signaling
Systems; NFPA 72E, Standard on Automatic Fire Detectors;
NFPA 72G, Guide for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use
of Notification Appliances for Protective Signaling Systems;
NFPA 72H, Guide for Testing Procedures for Local, Auxiliary,
Remote Station, and Proprietary Protective Signaling Systems;
and any other nationally recognized standards as required by
the Bremerton Fire Department.
(3) Equipment: All systems components shall be listed in the plans
and specifications, shall be compatible with each other, and
shall be approved by the Underwriters Laboratory, Factory
Mutual, or other nationally recognized testing agency.
(4) Acceptance Test: Upon completion of the installation or
alteration, a satisfactory test of the entire system and its
functions shall be made in the presence of a designee of the
Fire Chief within two weeks of completion of installation. Prior
to the acceptance test, written documentation shall be provided
to the fire department certifying that the system has been
installed in accordance with the approved plans and
specifications.
Fire-Cod.Oral - 7/7/93 6
(5) Location/Security: The control unit, remote annunciator panel
and access keys to locked fire alarm equipment shall be
installed and maintained in a location approved by the
Bremerton Fire Department. Alarm panel access keys and
building access keys or master keys shall be provided and kept
in an on-site wall mounted entry key safe provided by the
building owner and shall meet specifications of the Bremerton
Fire Department. Location and mounting of the key safe shall
be specified by the Bremerton Fire Department.
(6) Instructions: Written operating instructions for the fire alarm
system shall be provided and kept in an on-site wall mounted
entry key safe provided by the building owner and shall meet
specifications of the Bremerton Fire Department. Location and
mounting of the key safe shall be specified by the Bremerton
Fire Department.
(7) Maintenance: Maintenance of the alarm system shall be
provided and all required tests and maintenance procedures
shall be performed in accordance with the equipment
manufacturer's specifications, UFC Standards 14-1 and 14-2;
NFPA 72, Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use
of Protective Signaling Systems; NFPA 72E, Standard on
Automatic Fire Detectors; NFPA 72G, Guide for the
Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Notification Appliances
for Protective Signaling Systems; NFPA 72H, Guide for Testing
Procedures for Local, Auxiliary, Remote Station, and
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 ' 7
Proprietary Protective Signaling Systems; and other nationally
recognized standards as may be required by the Bremerton Fire
Department.
(c) Smoke Detectors in Dwelling Units and Guest Rooms.
(1) Smoke detectors shall be installed as required by U.B.C.
Section 1210(a) in all dwelling units and hotel or lodging house
guest rooms. Detectors may not be interconnected into a fire
alarm system.
(d) Alarm System Malfunction or Failure.
(1) In the event of malfunction or failure of any fire alarm system,
rendering the system inoperative, the Fire Chief, or his
representative, may require on-site firewatch personnel be
maintained at the owner's expense. Firewatches shall be
maintained for a period as determined by the Fire Chief or his
representative. Each firewatch shall have access to either a fire
department two-way radio or a telephone for immediate
communication of any fire or emergency. All personnel
assigned for firewater duties shall first receive approval of the
Fire Chief, or his representative, after a satisfactory
demonstration of fire knowledge and emergency procedures.
(e) Existing Buildings.
(1) No existing buildings, except those stated in Section III of this
code, shall be made to conform with the provisions of this code,
except where structural deficiencies affecting life or fire safety
are involved, and in the opinion of the Fire Chief, such
Fire-Cod. Ord- 7/7/93 8
continued use would be hazardous to the safety of the
occupants.
(f) Sprinklered Buildings.
(1) When buildings are completely sprinklered, they shall not be
required to have a full automatic detection system other than
that required for smoke and combustion products detection.
Automatic detection systems shall include the approved
installation of manual sending stations, and shall provide for
monitoring of sprinkler flow and tamper switches.
18.02.080 CITY OF BREMERTON FALSE ALARM CODE
(a) For the purposes of this Section, a fire alarm shall be deemed and
construed as being any act as follows:
The giving, signaling or transmitting of a fire alarm to any public fire
station, fire company, fire officer or any employee of the jurisdiction
who has normal responsibilities for public safety, or to any central
station monitoring agency whose purpose is to monitor fire and/or
public safety, whether by telephone, spoken word, electronic
conveyance or otherwise, any information to the effect that there is a
fire or emergency at or near the place indicated by such signal or
transmission.
(b) It shall be unlawful for any person to give, signal, or transmit or for
any person to cause or permit to be given, signaled, or transmitted, in
any manner any false alarm.
(c) It shall be unlawful for any person to tamper with or maliciously injure
any fire alarm system or equipment maintained for the purpose of
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 9
transmitting fire alarms to the fire department.
(d) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit the sounding of any such signal
essential for the carrying o~ out of any system maintenance or fire
drill.
The
Fire
f.
......... :-~ "'~' ~'^ his designated
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representative, or the responsible central station monitoring agency
shall be notified in advance when such signal will be sounded.
(e) Any person, firm or corporation who is found to have signaled or
transmitted a false alarm shall be guilty of a civil infraction and shall
be fined as follows:
(1) For a fire department response to premises at which no other
false alarm has occurred within the preceding six months'-
period-, hereinafter referred to as a "first response" , no fee shall
be cha ged k.., ,.
(2) For a fire department response to a premises within six months
after a first response, ~o a fee of One Hundred Dollars
($100 00) hall b h ged
s e c ar ,
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 10
(3) For a fire department response to a premises for three Or more
occurrences within any six months- period, ~'* ........
*~'~ ~"~* ....... fee of T Hundred
Dollars ($200.00} shall be charged,- for each occurrence and
Definitions:
False Alarm: False alarm shall mean the activation of a fire alarm at
a time when no conditions attributable to a fire or smoke condition are
found to exist upon arrival of the fire department
Fire Chief: Fire Chief shall mean the Chief of the Fire Department,
or his designated representative.
Person: Person shall mean any person, firm, partnership, association.
corporation, company or organization of any kind.
Preventable Alarm: Preventable false alarm shall mean a false alarm
caused or initiated or allowed to be caused or initiated by the premises
owner, or by a representative, assignee, or other persons that function
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 1 1
under the direction or control of the owner, whether caused by direct
intent, malicious action or by system neglect or improper system
maintenance.
Unpreventable Alarm: Unpreventable false alarm shall mean a false
alarm caused by power failures or interferences unrelated to the
operation of the premises.
~ Any person having or maintaining a fire alarm shall, within three
working days after notice by the Fire Chief at the scene of a false
alarm, shall make a written report to the Fire Chief setting forth the
cause of such false alarm, the corrective action taken, whether such
alarm has been inspected by an authorized service person, and such
other information as the Fire Chief may reasonably require to
determine the cause of such false alarm and the prescribed action
necessary.
hLh_~ The determination whether or not a false alarm was preventable shall
be made by the Fire Chief or his designee. Any fee resulting from a
determination that a false alarm was preventable shall be billed by the
City Treasurer's Office and shall be deposited in the General Fund.
18.02.090 PENALTY FOR VIOLATIONS. Unless otherwise more specifically
provided, any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Uniform
Fire Code, Fire Sprinkler Code, Fire Alarm Code, or False Alarm Code shall be deemed
to have committed a civil infraction and shall be deemed to have committed a separate
offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the
provisions of the fire code is committed, continued or permitted.
Fire-Cod.Ord - 7/7/93 12
18.02.100 APPEALS BOARDS.
(a) Appeals of the Uniform Fire Code, City of Bremerton Fire Sprinkler Code, City
of Bremerton Fire Alarm Code and City of Bremerton False Fire Alarm Code shall be
heard by the City of Bremerton Building Appeals Board.
Section 2. Repeal. Chapter 18.12 FIRE ALARM CODE of the Bremerton
Municipal Code is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 3. Effective Date. This ordinance shall become effective ten (10) days from
passage and publication.
APPROVED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton this/.~ day of
.. , 1993.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Bremerton this ,r~// day of
~ , 1993.
/
//
EILEEN FITZ, Council President
A. PPROVED this ~__dayof ~,e~/; ,1993.
'" LOUIS' ME r
ATTEST:
KATHLEEN Y, City Clerk