Chapter 15.40
Fire Alarm Systems
Sections:
15.40.020 Fire alarm system required when.
15.40.030 Installation--Approval of plans and specifications required.
15.40.040 Building permit and certificate of occupancy --Issuance permitted when.
15.40.050 Alarm system specifications.
15.40.060 Owner liable for costs.
15.40.070 Malfunction--Notification--Repair.
15.40.080 Applicability of state provisions.
15.40.100 Right of entry for inspection.
15.40.010 Definitions.
When used in this chapter the following terms shall have the following meanings:
(1) "Alarm system" means any mechanism, equipment, or device or any combination of such items, including, but not limited to, pull boxes, smoke detectors, and alarm bells, which is designed to operate either automatically or manually, through the use of public telephone facilities or otherwise, to transmit a signal, warning, or message, directly to the city's fire station direct alarm system.
(2) "Approved" means accepted by the responsible official as a result of his investigation and experience, or by reason of testing, listing by the Underwriter's Laboratories, Inc., the National Fire Prevention Association, the International Association of Building Officials by and through their officially adopted standards, or other nationally recognized testing agency.
(3) "Building" means any structure coming within the following classifications:
(A) "Apartment house" means any multiple-unit dwelling structure having six or more units and having a common hallway, the units of which are intended to be let to a tenant for a period of one month or longer.
(B) "Hotel or motel" means any multiple-unit structure containing six or more dwelling units, whether self-contained or not, intended for rental on a daily or weekly basis.
(C) "Nursing home" means a structure, whether publicly or privately owned, which provides in-resident nursing care for five or more persons, in exchange for consideration, whether paid by the individual or otherwise.
(D) "School" means a structure, whether publicly or privately owned and/or operated, wherein classes are taught and instruction given, for purposes of studying a curriculum established by the state of Washington for completion of the educational requirements established for the completion of primary, intermediate, or secondary curriculum.
(4) "Person" means any person, persons, firm, corporation, or partnership, or school district.
(5) "Responsible official" means the fire marshal appointed by the chief of the Montesano fire department or such other person designated by the fire chief. (Ord. 1041 §1, 1977).
15.40.020 Fire alarm system required when.
On and after the effective dates established by Section 15.40.040, no person shall own or operate any apartment house, hotel, motel, nursing home, convalescent or rest home, as said structures are defined in Section 17.08.290, boardinghouse, as defined in Section 17.08.070, roominghouse, as defined in Section 17.08.500, or school except and until it is protected by an approved alarm system meeting such requirements as may be established by the responsible official, as those requirements are specified in this chapter or other portions of this code or by rules issued by the responsible official and approved by the city council. (Ord. 1107 §1, 1979: Ord. 1041 §2, 1977).
15.40.030 Installation--Approval of plans and specifications required.
No alarm system shall be installed in any building until the plans and specifications therefore shall have been submitted to the responsible official and approved thereby.
Subsequent to the approval, no changes or alterations in the plans, installation, or system shall be made without the approval of the responsible official. (Ord. 1041 §3, 1977).
15.40.040 Building permit and certificate of occupancy --Issuance permitted when.
No building permit for any building subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be issued by the city until the responsible official has approved the design and plans for the alarm system. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued by the city until the alarm is installed, operable, and approved as conforming by the responsible official. (Ord. 1041 §4, 1977).
15.40.050 Alarm system specifications.
(a) Any alarm system required pursuant to this chapter shall comply, as a minimum, with the following standards and contain at least the following components:
(1) Approved smoke detectors shall be installed in all common hallways, common stairways, common laundry areas, and meeting or social rooms made available to the tenants, occupants, students or residents of an apartment house, hotel, motel, or school.
(2) Heat detectors of an approved type shall be installed in all living units and storage areas. A combination fixed-temperature/rate-of-rise detector shall be used wherever reasonably possible; provided, that in the event that the owner or builder wishes to not use such a unit that non-use and the device to be used in place thereof shall be approved in advance by the fire marshal.
(3) Alarm bells and/or horns shall be located, structured and installed as to be ten decibels louder than the normal operating level of the occupancy, are to be of a sound different from any other signal system employed in the building, and shall produce a minimum of seventy decibels at the most remote location.
(4) All detection and audible-alarm equipment shall be of an approved twenty-four-volt DC power type and be connected to a central control panel placed in such location in the structure as is approved by the responsible official. The panel shall at all times be accessible to the Montesano fire department.
(b) The power system shall have an auxiliary power source consisting of a twenty-four-volt DC battery and attached charger which shall be capable of operating the alarm system for a period of not less than twenty-four hours without outside supplied electrical energy.
(c) If an alarm system protects more than one building or floor, then a zone panel shall be installed showing the location of the alarm or alarms located within the zone. The zone panel shall be placed at such location as is approved by the responsible official. (Ord. 1168 §1, 1982: Ord. 1041 §5, 1977).
15.40.060 Owner liable for costs.
All costs incurred in the installation of an approved alarm system, its maintenance, its connection by direct telephonic line to the central alarm panel located at the fire station, and the maintenance of the telephonic line shall be the sole responsibility of the owner. (Ord. 1041 §6, 1977).
15.40.070 Malfunction--Notification--Repair.
In the event that the owner, or any agent or employee of the owner, becomes aware of any malfunction or defect within an alarm system, they shall immediately notify the responsible official of the malfunction or defect. The owner shall immediately undertake repairs necessary to place the alarm system in an operable condition or to remove the malfunction or defect. (Ord. 1041 §7, 1977).
15.40.080 Applicability of state provisions.
To the extent that state law shall impose any requirement or requirements more stringent than those imposed by this chapter, such state law shall control. (Ord. 1041 §8, 1977).
15.40.090 Violation--Penalty.
Any person violating an of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished as provided by Section 1.08.030. (Ord. 1041 §9, 1977).
15.40.100 Right of entry for inspection.
Every building coming within the scope of this chapter shall be subject to inspection at all reasonable times by the responsible official named in Section 15.40.010 to insure proper compliance with the provisions of this chapter. (Ord. 1041 §10, 1977).