HomeMy WebLinkAbout2426ORDINANCE NO. ;044,
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, requiring the installation
of automatic fire sprinklers in all new
residential construction, and creating
Chapter 14.26 in the Port Angeles Municipal
Code.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES DOES
ORDAIN as follows:
Section 1 - Title. There is hereby established in the
Port Angeles Municipal Code a new Chapter 14.26 PAMC to be titled
"Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems ".
Section 2 - Policy and Purpose. The City Council finds
that automatic fire sprinkler systems are now technologically and
economically viable and can help to reduce the loss of life and
property due to fire and are therefore reasonably necessary in
order to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Further,
automatic fire sprinkler systems can help to ensure that any
fires that occur in new residential structures are reasonably
within the firefighting capabilities of the Port Angeles Fire
Department with its present manpower and equipment and will
provide a rational basis for planning public fire protection
expenditures by defining the balance between traditional fire
protection resources to be supplied by the public and the private
sectors while at the same time reducing the costs of traditional
fire protection and its related expenditures such as large water
mains, fire apparatus turn - arounds, and fire hydrants in newly
developing areas. Finally, the installation of automatic fire
sprinkler systems should help to cause a significant reduction in
homeowner insurance premiums.
Section 3 - Sprinkler Systems Required. Automatic fire
sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in all new
residential construction, including single - family residences,
duplexes, and multi - family residential construction; provided
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that for multi - family residential construction this requirement
shall become effective January 1, 1987; and provided further that
for single - family residences and duplexes this requirement shall
become effective February 1,1988, prior to which date installa-
tion of automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be allowed but not
required.
Section 4 - "Automatic Fire Sprinkler System" Defined.
The term "Automatic Fire Sprinkler System ", as used herein, is
defined as an integrated system of underground and overhead
piping, including a water supply such as a gravity tank, fire
pump, reservoir, pressure tank, or connection by underground
piping to a public main; said system complying in all respects
with the requirements for such systems contained in appropriate
standards issued by the National Fire Protection Association, one
copy of which Standards shall be filed in the office of the City
Clerk for use and examination by the public.
Section 5 - Approval by Fire Chief. No automatic fire
sprinkler system required or allowed by this ordinance shall be
installed without prior approval by the Fire Chief or his
designee of the plans for installation, testing and maintenance
of the system. Subject to the approval of the Fire Chief or his
designee, sprinklers may be omitted in rooms or areas which are
of non - combustible construction with non - combustible contents.
No residential construction for which an automatic fire sprinkler
system is required or allowed by this Ordinance shall be occupied
until testing of the automatic fire sprinkler system has been
approved by the Fire Chief or his designee.
Section 6 - Appeals. Appeals under this ordinance may
be granted after payment of a $50 application fee and a hearing
by the Fire Chief, Building Official, and member of the building
industry appointed by the City Council. Decisions of this body
shall be final and non - appealable.
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Section 7 - Building Codes Not Affected. The applica-
tion of this ordinance shall not prohibit the exercise of the
Substitution Option granted in the Uniform Building Code relating
to "Fire Resistive Substitution" and shall not affect or super -
cede the provisions of the State Building Codes as adopted by the
City of Port Angeles pursuant to Chapter 19.27 RCW.
Section 8 - Severability. If any provisions of this
ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, is
held invalid, the remainder of the ordinance, or application of
the provisions of the ordinance to other persons or circum-
stances, is not affected.
Section 9 - Effective Date. This ordinance shall take
effect as provided by law.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles
at a regular meeting of said Council held on the En,,„ day of
JD.QP..QNL-- Q_ __ , 198 4o •
ATTEST:
M
Al Aram& A ILL& .l' ! ILA A'
erri L. Anderson, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Craig D.'Knutson, City Attorney
PUBLISHED: f yjwas-e -, ,2 4 trjWL
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A
Y
0
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MEMORANDUM December 8, 1986
TO: MAYOR WHIDDEN AND THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: LARRY GLENN, FIRE CHIEF
RE: FIRE SPRINKLER STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES
The installation of fire sprinkler systems are regulated by two
standards written by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
NFPA Standard #13 is used to regulate the installation of fire
sprinkler systems in all commercial occupancies with the exception
of those housing residential occupancies. Residential occupancies
whether R -3 (single family), or R -1 (multi - family) are regulated by
NFPA Standard #13D.
The enclosed guidelines for residential fire sprinklers more clearly
defines the requirements of NFPA 13D as they would apply within the
City of Port Angelen. These guidelines have been reviewed and have
met the approvals of not only the Port Angeles Fire Department but
the Port Angeles Public Works Department as well.
We intend to intensify our public education program regarding resi-
dential fire sprinklers during 1987. Some of the activities sched-
uled and their dat:>_:, ore as follows.
1. February 23, 24, 25, 1987. An advanced installation seminar on
residential fire sprinklers to held in Olympia, Washington.
Experts from across the nation will be instructing at this sem-
inar. The materials to be furnished and the techniques instructed
at this seminar will provide almost all the items needed to gain
certification for the installation of residentail fire sprinklers
in Port Angeles. Quite a number of local participants have reg-
istered.
2. Sixteen hour residential fire sprinkler certification classes to
be held in Port Angeles, have been scheduled for the months of May
and September. Participants who complete this class with a passing
grade of at least 90 receive certification from the Port Angeles
Fire Department to install residentail fire sprinkler systems with-
in the city. This certification is only renewable if an approved
installation is completed at least each six months.
We are working in several areas hoping to gain incentives to financially
encourage not only new construction but the retrofitting of existing
homes with residential fire sprinkler systems. Nbking it financially
attractive to our homeowners will speed the conversion from traditional
fire protection to the life saving fire protection systems of the future.
Page 2
Mayor Whidden
December 8, 1986
We will keep you closely informed as to our progress in gaining
these incentives.
Exciting things are going to happen in Port Angeles regarding resi-
dential fire protection. Your strong support has made it possible.
Thank you.
LG /cp