Chapter 15.16
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE
Sections:
15.16.010 Fire code adopted.
There is adopted, and by this reference made a part of this chapter as though fully set forth herein at length, that certain code known as the International Fire Code, 2021 Edition, as amended by Chapter 51-54A WAC, including the standards referenced in the International Fire Code; provided, that Sections 105.2.3, 105.3.1, 105.3.2; Sections 503.1.1, Buildings and facilities; 503.1.2, Additional access; 503.1.3, High piled storage; 503.2, Specifications; 503.3, Marking; and 503.4, Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads; and 503.4.1 Traffic calming devices, not adopted in Chapter 51-54A WAC, are adopted; and further, the exceptions to 507.3, Fire flow, and Section 113 are not adopted. Finally, such adoption shall include Appendix B, Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings; Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution; Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Road, except for D103.1, D103.4, D103.6.1 and D103.6.2; Appendix E, Hazard Categories; Appendix F, Hazard Ranking; and Appendix G, Cryogenic Fluids – Weight and Volume Equivalents; Appendix H, Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS) Instructions, and that those sections of the International Fire Code set forth in TMC 15.16.015 are amended to read as follows.
(Ord. O2024-001, Amended, 05/21/2024; Ord. O2021-005, Amended, 03/02/2021; Ord. O2016-031, Amended, 12/06/2016; Ord. O2013-008, Amended, 06/18/2013; Ord. O2010-017, Amended, 12/21/2010; Ord. O99-038, Amended, 12/07/1999)
15.16.015 Amendments.
A. Section 101.1, Title. These regulations shall be known as the fire code of the city of Tumwater, hereinafter referred to as the “fire code” or “this code.”
B. Section 105.1.1 shall be amended to read as follows:
105.1.1. Permits required. Permits required by this code shall be obtained from the Building Official. Applications and construction permits shall be obtained at the Tumwater Community Development Department. A fee for each permit shall be paid in accordance with the fee schedule established by resolution of the Tumwater City Council. Issued permits shall be kept on premises designated therein at all times and shall be readily available for inspection by the inspector.
C. Section 503.2.3 shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 503.2.3. Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be paved asphalt or concrete and designed to meet the City of Tumwater Development Guide residential street design standards. Fire access roads shall be maintained by the property owner to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus. Alternate surfaces such as turfstone or grasscrete may be used for construction of fire lanes on private property when approved by the Building Official and the Fire Chief.
D. Section 901.4.7 shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 901.4.7 Pump and riser room size. Where provided, fire pump rooms and automatic sprinkler system riser rooms shall be placed on the exterior wall of buildings, designed with adequate space for all equipment necessary for the installation, as defined by the manufacturer, with sufficient working space around the stationary equipment. Clearances around equipment to elements of permanent construction, including other installed equipment and appliances, shall be sufficient to allow inspection, service, repair or replacement without removing such elements of permanent construction or disabling the function of a required fire-resistance-rated assembly. Fire pump rooms shall be separated from all other areas of the building per 913.2.1. Other than one and two family Dwellings, Automatic sprinkler system riser rooms shall be separated from all other areas of the building with min. 1 hour fire barrier in accordance with section 707 or 711 or both in type IV & V construction. Provide doors and unobstructed passage-ways large enough to allow removal of the largest piece of equipment or Min. 36 inches x 80 inches.
E. Section 901.4.7.1 shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 9.1.4.7.1 Access. Automatic sprinkler system risers, fire pumps and controllers shall be provided with ready access by the means of an approved exterior door. Where located in a fire pump room or automatic sprinkler system riser room, the door shall be permitted to be locked provided the key is available at all times.
F. Section 903.2 shall be amended to read as follows:
Section 903.2. Where Required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures shall be provided in all buildings and locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12.
Additional Sprinkler Requirements. There are additional sprinkler requirements in all structures or buildings where the gross square footage, basements included, exceeds 7,500 square feet, or in all structures or buildings more than three stories in height (unless other sections of this code are more restrictive). The area and height increases specified in IBC Sections 504, 506, and 507 shall be permitted. For the purposes of this section, portions of buildings separated by a four-hour (4) area separation wall(s), constructed without openings and provided with a thirty-inch-high parapet may be considered as separate buildings, except that the entire gross floor area of all floors will be used to determine fire sprinkler requirements.
In addition, in all buildings, including single family residences, where the fire perimeter access or access roadways for fire apparatus cannot be provided due to design and/or location, fire sprinkler systems may be required.
G. Section 907.2 shall be amended to read as follows:
1. Section 907.2. Where Required – new buildings and structures. An approved automatic fire alarm system installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72 shall be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.23 and provide occupant notification in accordance with Section 907.5, unless other requirements are provided by another section of this code.
2. Manual fire alarm boxes shall be provided at all exit door locations to initiate a fire alarm signal for fire alarm systems employing automatic fire detectors or water-flow detection devices.
3. Wherever the term “manual fire alarm system” is used in this code it shall be replaced with “automatic fire alarm system.” All automatic fire alarm systems shall be addressable systems. In addition, all occupancies regardless of use hereafter constructed which contain 7,500 square feet or greater gross floor area, or are greater than two stories in height shall have an approved automatic fire alarm system installed throughout. For the purpose of this section, area separation walls shall not define separate buildings.
H. A new Section 907.12 shall be added to read as follows:
907.12. Problematic systems and systems out of service.
1. 907.12.1. In the event of a temporary failure of fire alarm equipment or circuitry, the Fire Chief may order all emergency response actions discontinued until repairs can be made.
2. 907.12.2. False alarms. In each instance involving more than one false alarm that occurs from any one properly maintained fire alarm system, within any twelve month period, a penalty fee established by resolution of the Tumwater City Council may be charged against the owners or persons responsible for the system. The Fire Chief shall also notify the responsible party in writing that they will be held responsible for the cost of responding to false alarms if they continue to occur. The cost to respond shall be based on the fee schedule established by resolution of the Tumwater City Council.
3. 907.12.3. Improperly maintained or unaccepted fire alarm systems. The Fire Chief may bill the responsible party for the cost of responding to false alarms in fire alarm systems that are not properly maintained according to this code and NFPA Standard 72 or have not been accepted by the Community Development Department. The cost to respond shall be based on the fee schedule established by resolution of the City Council.
I. Appendix B Table B105.2 shall be amended to read as follow:
|
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (Design Standard) |
MINIMUM FIRE-FLOW (gallons per minute) |
FLOW DURATION (hours) |
|---|---|---|
|
No automatic sprinkler system |
Value in Table B105.1(2) |
Duration in Table B105.1(2) |
|
Section 903.3.1.1 of the International Fire Code |
50% of the value in Table B105.1(2) |
Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the reduced flow rate |
|
Section 903.3.1.2 of the International Fire Code |
50% of the value in Table B105.1(2) |
Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the reduced flow rate |
For SI: 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
a. The reduced fire-flow shall be not less than 1,000 gallons per minute.
b. The reduced fire-flow shall be not less than 1,500 gallons per minute.
c. The reduced fire-flow of 50% may be less when approved by fire official.
J. Appendix D shall be amended to read as follows:
1. D102.1 Access and loading. Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to the fire department apparatus by the way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt, or concrete surface capable of supporting the imposed load of the fire apparatus weighing at least 75,000 pounds. Alternate surfaces such as turfstone or grasscrete may be used for construction of fire lanes on private property when approved by the Building Official and the Fire Chief.
(Ord. O2024-001, Amended, 05/21/2024; Ord. O2021-005, Amended, 03/02/2021; Ord. O2016-031, Amended, 12/06/2016; Ord. O2013-008, Amended, 06/18/2013; Ord. O2010-017, Added, 12/21/2010)