As used in this Code, the following terms shall
have the meanings indicated:
BONFIRE
An unconfined fire or open burning of any type and shall include, but not be limited to, the burning of vegetative matter and brush where land is being cleared and similar projects. (See §
97-29)
FIRE LANE
Those aisles, roadways, passageways, or other areas located
on private property which are designated by the Fire Marshal as fire
lanes to insure ingress and egress of fire or other emergency vehicles
for the protection of persons and property and where such areas, when
blocked or congested, would interfere with the free movement of such
emergency vehicles. A fire lane shall be designated by a solid line
or lines and by signs establishing such lanes which read "No Parking
by Order of the Fire Marshal" or similar wording. In the event of
a fire lane adjacent to a building, it shall be no less than 30 feet
in width and there shall be a painted yellow line established 30 feet
from the building, curb, or border, whichever is applicable, and signs
placed at intervals and heights as prescribed in the Vehicle Code
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for parking regulatory signs.
"Fire lane" shall also mean any thirty-foot wide area, designated
by a yellow line(s) in front of any fire hydrant or fire department-type
connection, whether attached to or remote from any building or structure.
FIRE OFFICIAL
The Fire Marshal or the Assistant Fire Marshal of the Borough
of Chester Heights.
Traffic signaling devices installed in the Borough
shall have an emergency traffic control system attached for use by
the Fire Company. Specifications for the traffic control system shall
be as follows:
A. The system shall be approved by the Borough Fire Chief.
B. The system shall be compatible with existing systems
used on fire company vehicles.
C. The system shall be triggered optically at least 1,200
feet from the start of the intersection. The triggering device shall
be capable of being mounted in the fire company vehicles. Operation
of the triggering device shall be continuous without operator assistance
until the signal is no longer required for a fire vehicle to clear
the intersection.
D. The receiving circuitry shall be capable of assigning
priority traffic movement to one of two channels on a first come,
first served basis. Each channel shall be connected to select a traffic
movement from those normally available from within the controller.
E. The selector shall be capable of recognizing a "commit
to green" signal and the selector shall switch and hold for a minimum
of four seconds; even if the optical signal is lost.
F. The receiving sensors shall be mounted so that the
triggering device can optically "see" the sensors continuously up
to the point of intersection.
G. Upon losing the optical signal, the traffic selector
will release the controller to resume normal operation.
H. The sensors shall be mounted so that the triggering
device can trigger the system from any traffic direction.
I. Maintenance of this device shall be the responsibility
of the same government body that has responsibility for maintenance
of the traffic signal.
J. One transmitter shall be provided per installation
to the Chester Heights Fire Company for use on emergency vehicles
as necessary.
Automatic sprinklers shall be installed and
maintained throughout the buildings of the type set forth below, hereafter
erected, converted or altered: (See BOCA Fire Code for specific terms
and definitions.)
A. High-hazard occupancy buildings.
B. Hospital and other institutional-type buildings.
C. Sanitariums, nursing homes, convalescent homes, homes
for the aged, mentally retarded, housing bed-ridden or ambulatory
patients.
D. Non-fire-resistive buildings used as places of public
assembly.
E. Schools, dormitories and other type buildings used
for educational purposes.
F. Fire-resistive buildings having an undivided floor
area of 10,000 square feet, or more, per floor used in whole or in
part for a Group H or Group F type occupancy. In addition, any Group
S type occupancy where combustible goods are stored. This shall include
but not be limited to stores, restaurants and supermarkets. (Refer
to BOCA Building Codes for Group definitions).
G. Non-fire-resistive buildings used in whole or in part
for a Group H or Group F type occupancy. Also, any Group S type occupancy
where combustible goods are stored. This shall include but not be
limited to stores, restaurants and supermarkets.
H. Non-fire-resistive buildings used as offices over
5,000 square feet.
I. Motels, hotels and occupancies of temporary and transient-type
habitation.
J. Multiple-family dwellings and apartments where there
are more than three units in one fire area, or where there is a common
entranceway for two or more units.
K. Any nonresidential occupancy two or more stories in
height. The height shall be taken from the lowest point of grade exposed.
Automatic sprinkler equipment shall be installed
and maintained in accordance with and comply with NFPA 13. All fire
protection equipment shall be connected to an adequate water supply,
as determined by the system calculations and any additional requirements
for hose streams that the Fire Marshal deems necessary. All fire protection
systems shall be tested once every 12 months by an organization approved
by the Fire Marshal. The results of these tests shall be forwarded
to the Fire Marshal.
Before any automatic sprinkler equipment is
installed and/or altered in any building, detailed plans and calculations
thereof shall be first submitted to and approved in writing by the
Fire Marshal. The drawings and calculations must be certified as complying
with NFPA 13 in writing by the sprinkler installer. If the Fire Marshal
deems it necessary, the plans shall be signed by a licensed professional
engineer.
Dry fire standpipes shall be installed and maintained
in any building more than 30 feet in overall height. The installation
shall be done in accordance with the NFPA 14. A dry fire standpipe
is not required in the following:
C. Sprinkled buildings, provided that they are not more
than three stories in height.
Any building other than a residential building
which has a fire alarm system or other fire protection system shall
provide a secure key box installed in a location accessible to the
Fire Company in case of an emergency. This box shall contain keys
to the fire alarm panel(s), building access, and all other keys needed
to gain access to the building and its systems or other means of access
acceptable to the Fire Marshal.
Smoke alarms are required in all residential
and commercial buildings according to the following schedule:
A. In residential buildings they shall be placed so as
not to exceed 1,200 square feet per detector or one per level, whichever
is greater.
B. In commercial buildings they shall be placed so as
not to exceed 800 square feet per detector. They shall be wired so
that all detectors in one "fire area" shall sound upon the activation
of a single detector.
C. The smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance
with the manufacturer's recommendations.
A false alarm is any alarm, responded to by
the Fire Company, where no fire, significant smoke or other emergency
is found. False alarms shall be charged to the occupant (or owner
in case of common areas) according to the following schedule:
A. One false alarm in any twelve-month period: no charge.
B. Two false alarms in any twelve-month period: warning.
C. Three or more false alarms in any twelve-month period:
billed per schedule.
Fire drills shall be conducted in all buildings
as specified by NFPA 101, and records of these drills shall be maintained
for two years for review by the Fire Marshal.
The Fire Marshal shall have the power to interpret
and/or grant relief from a strict interpretation of the BOCA National
Fire Prevention Code when, upon application in writing by the owner
or lessee, or their duly authorized agent, there appear to be practical
difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of said Code; provided,
however, that the spirit of the Code shall be observed, public safety
secured, and substantial justice accomplished; provided further, however,
that no such interpretation by the Fire Marshal shall be made without
prior approval of the Borough Council and the Fire Chief. The particulars
of such proposed interpretation, when granted, shall be entered upon
the records of the Fire Marshal and a signed copy shall be sent to
the applicant. A signed copy shall be retained by the Borough Secretary.
The Borough Council and the Fire Marshal shall
act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected
persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or
occupancies which shall alter the requirement for permits as enumerated
in this Code. The Fire Marshal shall post such a proposal in a conspicuous
place in the Borough Fire Hall at 222 Llewelyn Road, Chester Heights,
Pennsylvania and distribute copies thereof to interested persons so
that they may have an opportunity to be heard.
All gates, chains or other methods of blocking or restricting access to a private road, public road, pathway or other clearing capable of supporting vehicular traffic shall provide, at the expense of the property owner, a method of access according to §
97-21, Secured key access.