Chapter 16.04
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE1
Sections:
16.04.010 Short title – Adopted.
16.04.011 Fire code official defined.
16.04.015 Emergency vehicle parking.
16.04.020 Repealed.
16.04.025 Local amendments of International Fire Code.
16.04.030 Violation – Penalty.
16.04.010 Short title – Adopted.
(1) The International Fire Code is adopted by reference, and shall be in effect in the city of Puyallup. The International Fire Code may be referenced as the “fire code” in this chapter.
(2) The International Fire Code shall be the 2015 Edition of the International Fire Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc., including those standards of the National Fire Protection Association specifically referenced in the International Fire Code, as adopted by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-54 WAC, as it now exists or is hereafter amended; provided, that notwithstanding any wording in this code, participants in religious ceremonies shall not be precluded from carrying hand-held candles. The following appendices are specifically adopted:
(a) Appendix B, Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings;
(b) Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution;
(c) Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads;
(d) Appendix E, Hazard Categories;
(e) Appendix F, Hazard Ranking;
(f) Appendix H, Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS) Instructions. (Ord. 3130 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 3043 § 1, 2013; Ord. 2962 § 1, 2010).
16.04.011 Fire code official defined.
For purposes of this chapter, and any other provisions of the city code addressing, applying, enforcing or interpreting the fire code, the term “fire code official” shall mean any designee authorized by the city manager to serve as the fire code official. (Ord. 2962 § 2, 2010; Ord. 2801 § 1, 2004).
16.04.015 Emergency vehicle parking.
Section 1. Definitions: The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter.
(A) Emergency Vehicle Lane: That area within any public right of way, easement, or private property designated for the purpose of permitting fire trucks and other fire fighting or emergency equipment to use, travel upon or park.
(B) Park, Parking, Stop, Stand or Standing: Means the halting of any vehicle, whether occupied or not, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the directions of a police officer or fire official, traffic control sign or signal.
(C) Vehicle: A machine propelled by power, designed to travel along the ground or rail by use of wheels, treads, runners or slides and transport persons or property, or pull machinery, and shall include, but not be limited to, automobile, truck, trailer, motorcycle, tractor, buggy, wagon and locomotive.
Section 2. Requirements/Standards: When required by the Fire code official, emergency vehicle lanes shall be provided around facilities which by their size, location, design, or contents warrant access which exceeds that normally provided by the proximity of City streets.
(A) Lanes shall provide a minimum, unobstructed width of 20 feet and vertical clearance of 13 feet, 6 inches.
(B) Lanes shall be identified by a 4 inch wide line and block letters 2 feet high, painted in the lane, at 50 foot or such other intervals which the Fire code official determines to be reasonable, stating “Emergency Vehicles Only,” color to be determined by the Fire code official (bright yellow), and by posting of signs stating “Emergency Vehicles Only - No Parking - Violator Vehicles Subject to Impound.” Signs shall be posted on or immediately next to the curb line, or on the building. Signs shall be 12" x 18" and shall have letters and background of contrasting colors, readily readable from at least a 50 foot distance. Signs shall be posted at a minimum no further than 50 feet apart, unless a greater distance is deemed reasonable by the Fire code official, nor shall they be more than 4 feet from the ground unless a greater height is determined necessary by the Fire code official.
C. Emergency Vehicle Lanes shall be either asphalt or concrete, per current City of Puyallup Standards.
D. Where Emergency Vehicle Lanes connect to City streets or parking lots, adequate clearances and turning radii shall be provided. All proposed plans shall have City Engineer and Fire code official approval.
Section 3. Parking Prohibited: Except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or in compliance with the direction of a police officer or fire official or traffic control sign, signal, or device, no person shall:
A. Stop, stand or park a vehicle, whether occupied or not at any place where official emergency vehicle lane signs are posted, except:
1. Momentarily to pick-up or discharge a passenger or passengers; or
2. Delivery vehicle for the purpose of and while actually engaged in loading or unloading.
Section 4. Emergency Vehicle Lanes as Part of Driveways and or Parking Areas. The Fire code official may require that areas specified for use as driveways or private thoroughfares shall not be used for parking. These areas when specified, shall be marked as identified in Section 2(B).
Section 5. Existing Buildings. When the Fire code official determines that inaccessibility for fire apparatus exists around existing buildings or structures, then he may require emergency vehicle lanes to be constructed and maintained.
Section 6. Enforcement. It shall be the duty of the Puyallup Police and Fire Code Official and/or their authorized designee(s) to enforce this Section.
Section 7. Penalties. A violation of any provision of this Section shall constitute a Class 3 civil infraction as defined in Chapter 1.02 PMC.
Section 8. Impound of Illegally Parked Vehicles. In addition to the penalties provided for in Section 7, any vehicle improperly parked in violation of any of the provisions of this Section shall be subject to impound.
(Ord. 3130 § 1 (Exh. A), 2016; Ord. 2801 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2604 § 1, 1999; Ord. 2548 § 1, 1998; Ord. 2156 § 1, 1988; Ord. 1986 § 1, 1983).
16.04.016 Permits and fees.
In addition to the International Fire Code, the following provisions shall apply to permit requirements:
(1) Permit Fees. All fees for permits or other approvals required in this title shall be as currently exist or as may be amended from time to time in writing by Executive Order of the City Manager. Copies of all fee schedules, and any subsequent amendments thereto, shall be maintained and available for public review at the offices of the fire chief and the development services department during regular business hours.
(2) Permit Inspection Fee. An inspection fee, the hourly rate for which shall be established by resolution of the City Council and which shall be in addition to any permit fee required, shall be charged for any inspection requiring more than one hour. The inspection fees shall be assessed in 30 minute increments with the first 30 minutes or any portion thereof being charged the full hourly rate.
(3) Revocation. The fire code official is authorized to suspend or revoke a permit when it is determined after a hearing by the fire code official that the permittee failed, refused or neglected to pay required permit fees within 90 days following mailing of an invoice to the permittee requiring payment. Mailing shall be accomplished by First Class Mail of the U.S. Postal Service.
(Ord. 2801 § 1, 2004; Ord. 2604 § 2, 1999; Ord. 2015 § 1, 1984).
16.04.020 Conflict with international codes.
Repealed by Ord. 2962. (Ord. 2801 § 1, 2004; Ord. 1951 § 3, 1982).
16.04.025 Local amendments of International Fire Code.
The International Fire Code adopted by reference in this chapter is hereby amended as follows:
(1) IFC Section 102.7 is amended to read as follows:
102.7 Referenced codes and standards. The codes and standards referenced in this code shall be those that are listed in Chapter 45 (where standards are referenced within the IFC) and such codes and standards shall be considered part of the requirements of this code to the prescribed extent of each such reference as determined or modified by the fire code official. Where differences occur between the provisions of this code and the referenced standards, the provisions of this code shall apply.
(2) IFC Sections 108.3, 109.3 and 111.4 are hereby repealed.
(3) IFC Sections 503.1, 503.1.1, 503.1.2, 503.1.3, 503.2, 503.3 and 503.4 are hereby adopted in the city of Puyallup.
(4) IFC Section 503.1 is amended to read as follows:
503.1 Where required. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 503.1.1 through 503.1.3 and Appendix D.
Exception: If a single family residence was legally in existence prior to July 1, 2011, a cumulative square foot addition of not more than 25 percent of the original square footage may be constructed.
503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall extend to within 150 feet of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.
Exception: The fire code official is authorized to increase the dimension of 150 feet where:
(a) The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.
(b) Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed because of location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, and an approved alternative means of fire protection is provided.
(c) There are not more than two Group R-3 or Group U occupancies.
503.1.2 Additional access. The fire code official is authorized to require more than one fire apparatus access road based on the potential for impairment of a single road by vehicle congestion, condition of terrain, climatic conditions or other factors that could limit access.
503.1.3 High-piled storage. Fire department vehicle access to buildings used for high-piled combustible storage shall comply with the applicable provisions of Chapter 23.
503.2 Specifications. Fire apparatus access roads shall be installed and arranged in accordance with Sections 503.2.1 through 503.2.8.
503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches.
Exception: The fire code official shall have the authority to approve a decrease in the minimum access width.
503.2.2 Authority. The fire code official shall have the authority to require an increase in the minimum access widths where they are inadequate for fire or rescue operations.
(5) IFC Sections 503.2.3, 503.2.4, and 503.2.7 are amended to read as follows:
503.2.3 Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities and meet City of Puyallup road design standards.
503.2.4 Turning radius. The required turning radius of a fire apparatus access road shall be determined by the fire code official and City of Puyallup road design standards.
503.2.5 Dead ends. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150 feet in length shall be provided with an approved area for turning around fire apparatus.
503.2.7 Grade. The grade of the fire apparatus access road shall be within the limits established by the fire code official based on the fire department’s apparatus, Appendix D, and City of Puyallup road design standards.
503.2.8 Angles of approach and departure. The angles of approach and departure for fire apparatus access roads shall be within the limits established by the fire code official based on the fire department’s apparatus.
503.3 Markings. Where required by the fire code official, approved signs or other approved notices or markings that include the words NO PARKING-FIRE LANE shall be provided for fire apparatus access roads to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. The means by which fire lanes are designated shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and be replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility.
503.4 Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles. The minimum widths and clearances established in Section 503.2.1 shall be maintained at all times.
(6) IFC Section 503.6 is amended to read as follows:
503.6 Security gates. The installation of security gates across a fire apparatus access road shall be approved by the fire chief. Where security gates are installed, they shall have an approved means of emergency operation. The security gates and the emergency operation shall be maintained operational at all times. Electric gate operators, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. Gates intended for automatic operations shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F 2200. The main entry gate and any other electronic gate of all residential, commercial, or industrial developments shall be constructed in a manner which includes the installation of a key controlled device and an emergency vehicle preemption system to open all such gates to allow for immediate entry of fire apparatus into the development. Such system shall be a priority control system that employs data-encoded infrared communication to identify the fire apparatus vehicle. The type of system to be installed must be compatible with the traffic signal priority control system used by the city of Puyallup. The design and final installation of the system must be approved by the city of Puyallup. A security gate serving one or two single family dwellings or any non-electronic gate shall be provided with a key controlled device approved by the fire chief. All gates will require a review by the traffic division. When required, a plan shall be submitted to the fire code official and traffic division to determine the area required for the stacking of vehicles and other vehicle turning maneuvers.
(7) IFC Section 505.1 is amended to read as follows:
505.1 Address identification: New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of 6 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) for buildings that are within 50 feet of the street, 12 inches high for buildings that are 51-100 feet from the street, and 18 inches high for buildings that are over 100 feet from the street. Where access is by means of a private road or driveway and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure.
(8) IFC Section 507.1 is amended to read as follows:
507.1. Required water supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for fire protection shall be provided to premises upon which facilities, buildings or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction.
Exception: If a single family residence was legally in existence prior to July 1, 2011, a cumulative square foot addition of not more than 25 percent of the original square footage may be constructed.
(Ord. 3043 § 2, 2013; Ord. 2979 § 2, 2011; Ord. 2962 § 4, 2010).
16.04.030 Violation – Penalty.
(1) It is unlawful for any person or entity to violate any provision of this chapter, or any code adopted herein, or to erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, change, convert, demolish, equip, use, occupy or maintain any building, structure or equipment, or to use any land contrary to, or in violation of, any of the provisions of this chapter, or any code adopted herein.
(2) A violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be a Class 1 civil infraction pursuant to Chapter 1.02 PMC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a violation of a stop work order, a notice of violation or use of unsafe structures or equipment after notice shall be a misdemeanor.
(3) Each violation of the provisions of this chapter or the International Fire Code shall constitute a separate infraction or offense.
(4) Each day that a particular violation exists shall constitute a separate infraction or offense.
(5) In addition to fines or penalties, the violator shall, as a condition of continued occupation of the property or structure in violation of this chapter or the International Fire Code, immediately abate the violation. Furthermore, a violator shall be liable for all costs and expenses occasioned by such violation. (Ord. 2962 § 5, 2010).
Prior legislation: Ords. 1370, 1460 and 1598.