FIRE ALARM ORDINANCE

 

FIRE ALARM ORDINANCE

Article V. Fire Alarm Systems

Sec. 30-117 Definitions

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section.
Approval shall mean with the approval and consent of the fire chief of the city or his/ her designee.
Required systems shall mean fire alarm systems that are required by this article or of other state, local or federal law and ordinance.  Required system shall also include systems agreed to by the city fire department and building owner/ occupant as an alternative to other code requirements that are difficult or impractical to comply with.  
Knox box entry systems shall mean approved key boxes manufactured by Knock Company that meet the specification and approval of the city fire department.  These key boxes are for the exclusive use of the city fire department for emergency purposes only.
(Ord. No. 00-7, § I, 5-8-00)

Sec. 30-118. Adoption of fire alarm systems requirements.
(a)  The installation, maintenance, operation and transmission of fire alarm systems, to which the city fire department may respond including non-required systems, shall be in accordance with the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association 72 (National Fire Code) 1996 Edition or currently adopted edition.  In addition fire alarm systems shall be subject to the amendments set forth in section 30-120  of this article.

(b)  This article adopts by reference the following codes and standards as they apply to automatic fire alarm systems.
       NFPA 72  National Fire Alarm Code 1996 Edition;
       NFPA 70 National Electrical Code;
       NFPA 13  Installation of Sprinkler Systems1996 Edition

(c)  If there is any conflict between the language of this article and the language of the aforementioned codes and standards, the most restrictive shall apply.
(Ord. No. 00-7, § I, 5-8-00)

Sec. 30-119 Applicability

These requirements of this article shall apply to all new buildings within inspection boundaries of the city fire department.
(1)  New buildings should comply with the requirement of this article before the building is occupied or used for any purpose other than its construction.
(2)  False alarm provisions shall apply to both new and existing structures.
(3)  All costs associated with the installation, operation, transmission, and maintenance of automatic fire alarm systems shall be borne by the building owner/ and or occupant.
(Ord. No. 00-7, § I, 5-8-00)

 

Sec. 30-120.  Amendments.
The codes adopted in section 30-118 of this article are hereby amended as follows:
(1)   Transmission of alarm signals:   
a.   All alarm signals emanating from automatic fire alarm systems shall transmit by dedicated circuit.
b.   Non-required systems may transmit clear signals via digital communicator with a daily test signal or other means to a UL listed central station. All alarm signals received by the central station must be relayed to the city fire department alarm center via public switched telephone network at (414)248-4434 or at said number as established from time to time. A copy of the current UL listing for central station alarm receiving locations shall be on file at the city fire department. Alarm installation company shall provide for current UL listing for central stations. Note: After September 25, 1999, the area code will change to (262).
c.   Systems that transmit alarm via recorder or digital voices shall be prohibited. No fire alarm system shall be programmed to directly dial 911 or other emergency and/or non-emergency number of the city fire department.
 

(2)   Registration and permits:   

a.   All new automatic fire alarm systems, and modification to existing systems, shall be reviewed by the city fire department prior to installation or modification.
1.   A minimum of two sets of detailed plans and specifications shall be submitted to the city fire department before any automatic fire alarm system is installed or altered.
2.   A minimum of one set of approved plans and specifications shall be on the job at all times.
3.   A plan review fee of $50.00 shall be submitted with the detailed plans. A fee of $25.00 per hour will be charged for witness testing of the system.
4.   All fire alarm systems shall be inspected by and tested in the presence of the city fire department fire prevention bureau before it is placed in service. An appointment for acceptance and testing shall be made five days prior to the final testing.
5.   The authority having jurisdiction shall be authority to disconnect primary power and seal the panel a minimum of 24 hours prior to the acceptance test. If seal is broken or opened the final acceptance test will not be done that day and additional charges will be incurred.
b.   All fire alarm systems shall be registered with the city fire department fire prevention bureau on a form provided. A list of at least three key holders including home, work and pager telephone numbers shall be submitted on supplied forms prior to acceptance. It shall be the responsibility of the owner/occupant to update this registration whenever changes occur.
 

(3)   Knox Box entry system:   

a.   All new and existing occupancies having automatic fire alarm systems shall have approved Knox Box systems installed in a location approved by the city fire department.
b.   The Knox Box shall contain all keys for all locked areas of the building as required by the city fire department. Keys shall include, but not be limited to, all areas of the building, automatic fire alarm systems, pull station re-setting tools, all elevators and elevator machine rooms and sprinkler systems riser rooms.
c.   The city fire department shall be notified immediately of changes of locks and/or keys for the building to allow for the placement of new keys in the Knox Box.
 

(4)   Zoning of fire alarm systems:  Shall be, per NFPA 72, 1-5-7. 

 

(5)   Additional specific system requirements:   

a.   All fire alarm control panels shall be capable of silencing the audio notification signal without re-setting the panel. The silencing switch shall be a single switch requiring no keys, access codes or special knowledge. The re-set switch shall be a single switch requiring no keys, access codes or special knowledge.A key may be used to actuate a remote annunciator panel to silence a system.
b.   All wiring should conform to the most recent requirements of NFPA 72 (National Fire Alarm Code) and the National Electrical Code.
c.   All smoke detectors should have indicting lights that illuminate when the detector activates. When smoke detectors are installed in any location not visible from the floor area, remote indicating lights shall be provided in a location approved by the city fire department.
d.   The installation of safety guards over alarm initiating devices may be required when such devices are subject to damage or frequent malicious activation.
e.   All sprinkler system control valves and associated control functions shall be equipped with electric supervision including pump power, pump run and room temperature etc. Supervised functions shall transmit a separate and distinct supervisory alarm. Said alarm should automatically restore when the supervised function is restored to the normal position and indicates restoration at the remote alarm monitoring station.
f.   Alarm system indicating panels shall be placed so that fire fighting personnel do not have to pass through or into the structure any further than the main entrance to view or operate the alarm panel.
 

(6)   Vacant buildings:  The alarm system shall remain in operation at all times. 

 

(7)   Maintenance and repair of systems:  All building owners and/or occupants shall maintain their automatic fire alarm systems in good operating condition at all times. 

 a.   Every automatic fire alarm system shall be inspected annually or more frequently if required by NFPA 72, by a licensed fire alarm         contractor.     Systems shall be cleaned when necessary. Proof of such inspection shall be filed with the city fire department fire prevention bureau with 15 days of the inspection.
b.   If a system malfunctions or otherwise needs repair, the building owner and/or occupant shall see that said repairs are performed by a licensed fire alarm contractor or electrician within 24 hours of discovery.
c.   Automatic fire alarm systems that transmit more than two false alarms in a 24-hour period or more three false alarms in a seven-day period may be taken out of service by the city fire department. Automatic fire alarm systems taken out of service necessitates the establishment of a human fire watch, 24 hours per day until the system is repaired and the entire system is functional.
(Ord. No. 00-7, § I, 5-8-00)

Sec. 30-121.  Penalties.
(a)   False alarms, administrative charges:   
(1)   The owner or occupant shall be charged for fire protection system malfunctions and/or false alarms generating true fire alarm condition in excess of three per calendar year at the following rates:
Fourth false alarm . . . $300.00

Fifth and all subsequent false alarms (each) . . . 500.00

 

(2)   The owner or occupant shall be charged for fire protection system trouble or supervisory alarms in excess of five per calendar year, that results from any reason other than system testing, maintenance, electrical service, telephone line, or weather malfunction at the rate of $300.00 per alarm.
 

(3)   No person shall deliberately or maliciously turn in an alarm of fire when in fact that person knows that no fire exists. No person shall activate any automatic fire alarm system or installed fire protection system for purpose other than emergency, maintenance, drills or prescribed testing. A fine of $500.00 shall be charged for false alarms and/or up to 30 days imprisonment.

 

(4)   This subsection is intended to impose a strict liability on the person, business, corporation or other entity responsible for alarm connections to alarm receiving firm to which the fire department has responded and shall be applied regardless of the cause of the false alarm except those situations as defined in section 30-121(a)(2). Failure to pay such administrative charge(s) in and of itself shall constitute a violation of this section.

 

(b)   System resetting:   

(1)   No person other than a fire official, shall cause a fire alarm system to be reset once an alarm has been activated. This section will not apply to alarms generated for testing or fire drills when the fire department has been notified of the testing or drill.
(2)   Alarm system audio warning devices may be silenced by the building owner/occupant, but only after a thorough search of the building has been conducted and it is determined that no fire or other emergency exists.
(Ord. No. 00-7, § I, 5-8-00)