Chapter 8.15
FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS
Sections:
8.15.030 Registration of fire alarm system.
8.15.040 System certification and key boxes.
8.15.050 Inspection, testing and maintenance.
8.15.060 Fire alarm activation – Response.
8.15.070 Nuisance fire alarms.
8.15.090 Remedies and penalties.
8.15.010 Purpose.
A. The purpose of this chapter is to encourage owners and alarm businesses to properly install, use, and maintain the operational effectiveness of alarm systems in order to improve the reliability of alarm systems and reduce or eliminate false fire alarms and nuisance fire alarms.
B. This chapter governs fire alarm systems intended to summon fire department personnel, requires registration, assessment of fees for excessive false fire alarms and nuisance fire alarms, provides procedures for repeat offenders, and provides an effective date. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.020 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
A. “Adopted code(s)” means all codes, regulations and statutes adopted by the city of Walla Walla.
B. “Alarm initiating device” means a device designed to operate either manually or automatically to smoke, fire, or activation of a fire suppression system.
C. “Authority having jurisdiction (AHJ)” means the city of Walla Walla fire chief or his or her designated representative.
D. “False fire alarm” means the activation of any fire alarm system which results in a response caused by the malicious negligence or misuse of the fire alarm system by the owner, its employees, agents or any other activation of a fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke, fire, exclusive of a nuisance fire alarm.
E. “Service fee” means a monetary charge intended to defray the expense of responding to a false fire alarm or nuisance fire alarm.
F. “Fire alarm activation report” means a document issued by the AHJ indicating an alarm was deemed to be the result of a fire alarm activation due to fire, a nuisance fire alarm, or a false fire alarm.
G. “Fire alarm company” means any individual, partnership, corporation or other entity that is appropriately licensed in the state/jurisdiction to install, cause to be installed, permit to be installed, alter, maintain, repair, replace or service any fire alarm system.
H. “Fire alarm system” means a system or portion of a combination system consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and/or annunciate the status of a fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices and initiates the appropriate response to those signals.
I. “Fire watch” means an AHJ approved person or persons assigned to the premises for the sole purpose of protecting the occupants from fire or similar emergencies. A fire watch may involve at least some special action beyond normal staffing, such as assigning an additional security guard(s) to walk the premises, who are specially trained in fire prevention and in the use of fire extinguishers, in notifying the fire department, in sounding the fire alarm system located on the premises, and in understanding the particular fire safety situation.
J. “Monitored system” means a fire alarm system by which an alarm company receives signals from a UL listed fire alarm system and notifies emergency responders.
K. “Nuisance fire alarm” means the activation of any fire alarm system caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, lack of proper maintenance, misuse or any other response for which the fire department personnel are unable to determine the apparent cause of the alarm activation.
L. “Owner/responsible” means any person who owns or is responsible for the premises in which a fire alarm system is installed or the person or persons who lease, operate, occupy or manage the premises if stated in a lease agreement.
M. “Premises” means any building, structure or combination of buildings and structures which serve as dwelling units such as single-family, multi-family or any other area within a building, structure or combination thereof which is used for any purpose, wherein a fire alarm system is installed.
N. “Qualified fire alarm technician” means any person who inspects, installs, repairs or performs maintenance on fire alarm systems. This person shall be factory trained and certified, and licensed or certified by state or local authority.
O. “Record of completion” means a form, approved by the AHJ, equivalent to the record of completion form included in the national fire protection association’s national fire alarm code (NFPA 72).
P. “Registration” means the notification by an owner to the AHJ that a fire alarm system has been installed and is in use.
Q. “Report of service/repair” means appropriate documentation in a format acceptable to the AHJ that verifies proper repairs or maintenance have been performed by an alarm company or the owner.
R. “911 dispatch/Walla Walla public safety communications” means receive calls for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services. Personnel prioritize, process and dispatch these calls professionally and promptly, while maintaining radio and telephone communications. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.030 Registration of fire alarm system.
A. A registration shall be required for fire alarm systems whenever a record of completion is prepared, in accordance with adopted codes.
B. A twenty-dollar registration fee will be assessed for each registration.
C. Registrations shall not be transferable from one premises to another or from one owner to another.
D. Every fire alarm company shall notify the AHJ of the existence of a fire alarm system prior to the fire alarm system being put into operation. It shall be the responsibility of the installer to provide the owner with notice of the existence of this chapter, a registration form and a copy of the fire alarm system operation instructions in accordance with adopted codes, and the manufacturer’s instructions.
E. The registration form shall include the following information:
1. The name(s), address of the premises, mailing address (if different from the address of the premises), business and home telephone number of the owner, lessee, operator, manager or person in possession of the premises wherein the fire alarm system is installed;
2. The name, address and telephone number of a minimum of two persons who can be notified by the AHJ, in the event of the activation of the fire alarm system, and who shall be capable of responding to the premises within one-half hour of notification, and who are authorized to enter the premises;
3. The name, address and telephone number of the fire alarm company which has contracted to service the fire alarm system and proof of proper state licensing/registration with the Walla Walla fire department, if required. Proof of proper state licensing may be a valid state licensing number;
4. The date fire alarm system is placed in operation;
5. Any other documentation relevant to the property or required by AHJ.
F. When any of the information required by subsection (E)(1), (E)(2), or (E)(3), herein, is changed or modified, it shall be reported to the AHJ by the owner within fifteen calendar days of change or modification.
G. The fire alarm installer shall complete and deliver the fire alarm system registration in the required format to the AHJ before the fire alarm system is activated or placed into service. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.040 System certification and key boxes.
A. Prior to installation or alteration of equipment or wiring of a fire alarm system, the owner or installer must submit complete plans and specifications for the proposed system to the city for review.
B. All newly installed or re-certified commercial and residential (three or more living units) fire alarm systems shall be approved by the AHJ. The certification shall indicate the fire alarm system is in compliance with adopted codes. The certification shall be signed by a qualified fire alarm technician.
C. Approved key boxes shall be installed on all commercial and residential (three or more living units) buildings with a fire alarm system. Residential occupancies with less than three units and a fire alarm system installed may be required to install an approved key box. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.050 Inspection, testing and maintenance.
A. The owner shall ensure all fire alarm systems are inspected and tested at least once per year in accordance with adopted codes.
B. The owner shall ensure all fire alarm systems are maintained per manufacturer specifications and adopted codes. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.060 Fire alarm activation – Response.
A. The owner shall be responsible for the activation of a fire alarm system.
B. A response to the activation of a fire alarm system shall occur from any officer or member of the fire department being dispatched to the premises where the fire alarm system has been activated.
1. At the time of response, Walla Walla public safety communication shall notify any person identified in the registration required pursuant to subsection 8.15.030(E) of the activation of the fire alarm system and, at that time such person is required to respond to the premises.
2. In the event the fire alarm system is a monitored system, it is the responsibility of the company monitoring the fire alarm system to notify any person identified in the registration at the request of the AHJ. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.070 Nuisance fire alarms.
A. In the event the activation of a fire alarm system is deemed by the AHJ to be a nuisance fire alarm and the system requires repair, the owner will be provided a fire alarm activation report by an officer or member of the fire department, indicating that the activation was deemed to be the result of a nuisance fire alarm.
1. Upon receipt of a fire alarm activation report the owner shall return to the AHJ a completed report of service/repair within fifteen calendar days of receipt of the fire alarm activation report to verify, to the reasonable satisfaction of the AHJ, that:
a. The fire alarm system has been examined by a qualified fire alarm technician; and
b. A bona fide attempt has been made to identify and correct any defect of design, installation or operation of the fire alarm system which was identified as the cause of the nuisance fire alarm.
2. Failure to return a report of service/repair within said fifteen calendar day period, which is satisfactory to the AHJ, may result in assessment against the owner of a fee of fifty dollars. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.080 Service fees.
A. The provisions of this section shall not apply to any newly installed fire alarm systems for a period of seven days from the date of installation, but shall apply from and after the expiration of the initial seven day period following installation.
B. Should any fee assessed pursuant to this chapter remain unpaid in excess of ninety days from the date fee is billed, a late fee in the amount of twenty-five dollars per day in excess of ninety days may be assessed and may be payable by the owner of the premises in addition to the original fee.
C. False Fire Alarm.
1. No fee shall be assessed for the first three false fire alarms at the same premises responded to by the fire department during a running six month period. Thereafter, the owner shall be assessed a fee in accordance with subsection 8.15.080(C)(5) for false fire alarms, in excess of three, responded to by the fire department at the same premises during a running six month period, except when the fire alarm company is responsible for the false fire alarm pursuant to subsection 8.15.080(C)(2).
a. In determining the number of false fire alarms, multiple alarms occurring in any twenty-four hour period shall be counted as one false fire alarm; to allow the owner time to take corrective action unless the false fire alarms are directly caused by the owner.
2. The fire alarm company may be assessed a fee of twenty-five dollars if an AHJ determines that a false fire alarm was directly caused by an on-site employee or representative of the fire alarm company. In this event, no false fire alarm shall be counted against the owner.
3. False fire alarms activated by any components connected to the fire alarm system shall be included in computing the total number of false fire alarms for purposes of this subsection.
4. The activation of a fire alarm system will not be considered a false fire alarm if the alarm is activated due to causes beyond the control of the owner.
5. The following fees shall be assessed for false fire alarms:
|
Number of false fire alarms |
Service fee per false fire alarm |
|
First to third |
0 |
|
Fourth |
$50 |
|
Fifth |
$100 |
|
Sixth and above |
$200 |
D. Nuisance Fire Alarms.
1. The following fees shall be assessed for nuisance fire alarms:
|
Number of nuisance fire alarms |
Service fee per nuisance fire alarm |
|
First to third |
0 |
|
Fourth |
$25 |
|
Fifth |
$50 |
|
Sixth and above |
$100 |
2. In the event the premises are equipped with a fire alarm system with over one hundred alarm initiating devices, the AHJ may waive one nuisance fire alarm per calendar year. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.090 Remedies and penalties.
A. The AHJ has the authority to revoke the occupancy certificate for the premises by written notice to the owner of the premises, and order a fire watch in accordance with adopted codes, due to repetitive nuisance fire alarms and/or false fire alarms, until the system is restored, and for any of the following reasons:
1. Failure to meet the requirements or pay the fees required by this chapter within fifteen days after the notice is delivered to the owner;
2. Failure of the owner to provide a written report of service/repair required by this chapter;
3. A fourth false fire alarm or nuisance fire alarm at a premises for which a fee is charged pursuant to this chapter as a result of the failure of the owner to take corrective action to eliminate the cause of the false fire alarm or nuisance fire alarm; or
4. The failure of a person notified pursuant to subsection 8.15.060(B)(1) of this chapter to appear within one-half hour after being notified to respond, if such failure to respond occurs four or more times within a calendar year. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.100 Appeals.
A. An owner or fire alarm company may appeal the assessment of fees to city hearing examiner, in writing, in manner described in the uniform fire codes, only if the appeal is filed with the AHJ, within fourteen days after the notice is delivered to the owner. An appeal fee of twenty-five dollars shall accompany the appeal. The filing of an appeal with the AHJ stays the assessment of the fee until the city hearing examiner makes a final decision.
B. In the event the assessment is upheld, the owner or fire alarm company shall also be responsible for reimbursement to the AHJ for any legal fees or costs incurred by the AHJ in enforcement of this chapter. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.110 Confidentiality.
To the extent permitted by public disclosure laws, information supplied to the AHJ shall be held in confidence by all employees or representatives of the AHJ and by any third-party administrator or employees of a third-party administrator with access to such information. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).
8.15.120 Government immunity.
Neither registration of a fire alarm system nor the provisions of this chapter are intended to, nor will they, create a contract, duty or obligation, either expressed or implied, of response. Any and all liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to a notification is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. When registering a fire alarm system, the owner acknowledges that fire department response may be based on factors such as: availability of fire department units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, and staffing levels. The city, its officers, employees and agents shall not assume any duty or responsibility for the installation, maintenance, operation, repair or effectiveness of any privately owned fire alarm system, those duties or responsibilities being solely those of the owner of the premises. (Ord. 2002-27 § 1, 2002).