HomeMy WebLinkAbout3124ORDINANCE NO. 3124
AN ORDINANCE of the City of Port Angeles updating the City's
fire alarm regulations to reflect changes in technology and code
requirements, reducing the size of buildings for which fire alarm
systems are required from 7500 square feet to 6250 square feet,
and repealing Ordinance 2301 and Chapter 14.22 of the Port
Angeles Municipal Code.
Section 1. Chapter 14.23 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code is hereby adopted to
read as follows:
Chapter 14.23
FIRE ALARMS
Sections:
14.23.010 Purpose
14.23.020 Definitions
14.23.030 Permits
14.23.040 General Requirements
14.23.050 Occupancy Specific Requirements
14.23.060 Manual Fire Alarm System Pull Stations
14.23.070 Notification Devices
14.23.080 Fire - extinguishing Systems
14.23.090 Acceptance Tests
14.23.100 Instructions, Zone Maps
14.23.110 Annunciators
14.23.120 Inspection, Testing and Maintenance
14.23.130 Lock Boxes
14.23.140 Signage
14.23.150 Existing Buildings
14.23.160 Residential Systems
14.23.170 Repeated Failure of Equipment
14.23.180 Violations
14.23.010 Purpose. The City Council finds that the required installation of fire alarm
systems in certain buildings will promote the preservation of human health, safety, and general
welfare and is otherwise necessary. This Chapter provides for requirements that are in addition
to those currently adopted through the Uniform Fire Code, Uniform Building Code, and nationally
recognized standards.
14.23.020 Definitions.
A. "Addressable" means that individual components (such as smoke or heat
detectors) have discrete identification that enables the status of the component to
be individually identified.
B. "Approved" means accepted by the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal of the Port Angeles
Fire Department as a result of investigation for compliance with nationally
recognized standards and by reason of test, listing or approval of a nationally
recognized testing agency.
C. "Annunciator" means a unit containing one or more indicator lamps,
alphanumeric displays, or other equivalent means, which provides status
information about a circuit, condition or location.
D. "Automatic Fire Detection System" means a system designed to detect the
presence of combustion or the products of combustion and to initiate an alarm.
E. "Fire Alarm Receiving Center" means a public or private alarm receiving agency
approved by the Port Angeles Fire Department.
F. "Fire Alarm System" means a system consisting of components arranged to
monitor and annunciate the status of fire alarm or supervisory signal- initiating
devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.
G. "Fire Department" means the Port Angeles Fire Department.
H. "Manual Fire Alarm System" means a system designed to sound an alarm as the
result of the operation of a manual pull station or the operation of a protection
system such as a sprinkler system.
A. "Owner" means any person, agent, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable
interest in a property.
14.23.030 Permits. A permit shall be required prior to the installation of commercial fire
alarm systems. The fire alarm plan review, inspection and testing fees shall apply as prescribed
in PAMC 3.70.090. Non - required systems shall not be subject to said fees.
14.23.040 General Requirements.
A. All buildings with over 6250 square feet of floor area shall be protected by an
approved addressable automatic fire detection system connected to an approved
fire alarm receiving center. Area separation walls cannot be used to reduce the
square footage of the building in order to negate the fire alarm system requirement.
B. Occupancies protected by an approved fire sprinkler system may delete automatic
detection from the fire alarm system in all sprinkler- protected areas except public
assembly areas and public egress pathways.
C. The Fire Chief or Fire Marshal may waive the requirement for an addressable fire
alarm system and allow a zoned fire alarm system when, in their opinion, a zoned
fire alarm system will provide sufficient alarm information.
14.23.050 Occupancy Specific Requirements. The occupancy types regulated in this
Section shall be defined as in the current edition of the Uniform Building Code.
A. All Group "A" occupancies with an occupant load of 300 or more shall have a
manual fire alarm system installed.
B. All Group `B" and "E" occupancies which are used for educational purposes shall
be protected throughout by an approved addressable automatic fire detection
system connected to the Port Angeles Consolidated Dispatch Center.
C. All Group "F" occupancies that are two or more stories in height shall have a
manual fire alarm system installed.
D. All Group "H" Occupancies shall have a manual fire alarm system installed.
E. All Group "I" occupancies shall be protected throughout by an approved
addressable automatic fire detection system connected to the Port Angeles
Consolidated Dispatch Center.
F. All Group "LC" occupancies shall be protected throughout by an approved
addressable automatic fire detection system connected to an approved fire alarm
receiving center.
G. All Group "R1" occupancies shall be protected throughout by an approved
addressable automatic fire detection system.
H. All duplexes, two or more stories in height, shall be protected throughout by an
approved automatic fire detection system.
14.23.060 Manual Fire Alarm System Pull Stations.
A. Protective Covers. The Fire Department is authorized to require the installation of
listed manual pull station protective covers to prevent malicious false alarms or to
provide the pull station with protection from physical damage.
B. Exceptions. Unless specifically required by other code provisions, manual fire
alarm pull stations are not required where the building is equipped with an
approved automatic sprinkler system and the alarm notification devices will
activate upon sprinkler water flow.
14.23.070 Notification Devices. With all fire alarm systems, alarm notification devices
shall be provided and shall be listed for their purpose by a nationally recognized listing agency.
A. Visible alarms. Visible alarm devices shall be provided in public and common
areas.
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B. Audible alarms. Audible alarm devices shall be installed in order to provide a
distinctive sound with a pressure level of 15 dBA above the average ambient
sound level in every occupied space within the building.
14.23.080 Fire - extinguishing Systems. When a building fire alarm system is present,
automatic fire extinguishing systems shall be connected to the building fire alarm system.
Examples of such systems include, but are not be limited to, fire sprinkler systems, spray booth
extinguishing systems, kitchen hood and duct extinguishing systems, and special agent
extinguishing systems.
14.23.090 Acceptance Tests. Upon completion of the fire alarm system installation, a
full acceptance test shall be conducted in the presence of the Port Angeles Fire Department. All
functions of the system will be tested, and all devices in the system will be tested. A Certificate
of Occupancy will not be issued by the City until such time as the fire alarm is accepted by the
Fire Department.
14.23.100 Instructions and Zone Maps.
A. Instructions. Fire alarm system operating instructions shall be posted in an
approved location.
B. Zone maps. When required by the Port Angeles Fire Department, fire alarm
system zone maps shall be posted at the Fire Alarm Control Panel and at all remote
annunciator panels.
14.23.110 Remote Annunciators. A remote annunciator may be required for all fire
alarm systems that do not allow immediate access to the Fire Alarm Control Panel, or when the
Fire Department determines that construction factors or architectural design may inhibit
emergency response.
14.23.120 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance.
A. The building owner shall be responsible for ensuring that all fire and life safety
systems are maintained in an operable condition at all times. Fire alarm service
personnel shall meet the qualification requirements of NFPA 72 for maintaining,
inspecting and testing such systems. A written record of all maintenance,
inspection and testing shall be maintained and shall be made available to the Fire
Department upon request.
B. The building owner shall be responsible for providing updates to the Fire
Department concerning the fire alarm system, system monitoring service, and
contact information.
14.23.130 Lock Boxes. All buildings equipped with fire alarm systems shall have an
approved locking keybox installed in an approved location on the exterior of the building. The
locking keybox shall contain keys to enable rapid access to the building.
14.23.140 Signage.
A. All new fire alarm control panels shall be outfitted with a permanent sign, on or
adjacent to the front panel door, as follows:
NOTICE
False fire alarms resulting from a
technician's failure to notify the
Fire Department prior to system service
shall be billed at a rate of $50 per occurrence.
The sign shall measure at least four (4) inches wide by two (2) inches high and shall have
letters that are of contrasting color from the background.
B. All new fire alarm control panels shall be outfitted with a permanent sign, on or
adjacent to the front panel door, as follows:
NOTICE
No person shall reset this fire alarm panel
until a Port Angeles Fire Department Official
determines the cause of the alarm.
Alarms may be silenced, but not reset,
only if the alarm is a false alarm and there
is no danger to building occupants.
The sign shall measure at least four (4) inches wide by three (3) inches high and shall have
letters that are of contrasting color from the background.
14.23.150 Existing Buildings. Existing buildings shall not be made to conform to the
provisions of this Chapter; provided that if the Fire Department determines that structural
deficiencies affecting life safety are involved and that the continued use of the building or
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structure without a fire alarm system would be hazardous to the safety of the occupants, the Fire
Department may require compliance with the terms of this Chapter.
14.23.160 Residential Systems. Fire alarm systems monitoring residential sprinkler
systems may be directly extended to Peninsula Communications (PENCOM) or an approved fire
alarm receiving center.
14.23.170 Repeated Failure of Equipment. The Fire Department, due to repeated failure
of equipment or circuitry, multiple fire alarms or failure to comply with all of the provisions of
this Chapter, may at any time order the discontinuance of any fire alarm system within the City.
Such notice of discontinuance shall be made in writing to both the agency supplying the alarm and
to the persons, firms and/ or corporations affected, at least 48 hours prior to the discontinuation
of the fire alarm circuit. In the event of temporary failure of fire alarm equipment or circuitry,
equipment malfunction, or multiple false alarms, the Fire Department, after notification of the
occupants of the structure, may order all emergency response actions discontinued until repairs
can be made by alarm agency personnel. Such notice shall be made in writing to the persons,
firms, and/or corporations affected as soon as possible.
14.23.180 Violations. Any willful violation of the terms of this Chapter by any person
or agency shall be deemed a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day
for each day that the violation continues.
Section 2. Ordinance 2301 and Chapter 14.22 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code
are hereby repealed.
Section 3 - Severability. If any provisions of this Ordinance or its application to any
person or circumstances, is held invalid, the remainder of the Ordinance, or application of the
provisions of the Ordinance to other persons or circumstances, is not affected.
Section 4 — Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect five (5) days following the
date of its publication by summary.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
Council held on the 1st day of October, 2002.
Mayor
ATTEST:
Becky J. ,? ity Cle
APPRO ED AS TO FORM:
Craig D. Kn on, City Attorney
PUBLISHED: October 6 , 2002
By Summary
F:I ORDINANCES &RESOLUTIONS\2002- 23.ord.wpd
September 3, 2002
Summaries of Ordinances Adopted by the
Port Angeles City Council
on October 1, 2002
Ordinance No. 3123
This Ordinance of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, amends the City's Zoning Code by
adding to the purposes of the Zoning Code, by identifying what development should take place
in each zone to accomplish the desired urban design of the City and to reduce conflicts between
adjacent land uses, and by adding definitions for special uses, and amends Ordinance 1709 as
amended and Title 17 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code.
Ordinance No. 3124
This Ordinance of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, updates the City's fire alarm
regulations to reflect changes in technology and code requirements, reducing the size of
buildings for which fire alarm systems are required from 7500 square feet to 6250 square feet,
and repeals Ordinance 2301 and Chapter 14.22 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code.
Ordinance No. 3125
This Ordinance of the City of Port Angeles, Washington, grants the City Manager authority to
waive permit fees for certain economic development projects and activities and amends
Ordinance 2932 as amended and Chapter 3.70 of the Port Angeles Municipal Code.
The full texts of the Ordinances are available at City Hall in the City Clerk's office or will be mailed
upon request. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. These Ordinances
shall take effect five days following the date of publication by summary.
Becky J. Upton
City Clerk
Publish: October 6, 2002