Town of Mount Airy, MD Chapter 60 Fire Prevention

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Town of Mount Airy 9-14-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-5.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Building construction — See Ch. 47.

Open burning — See Ch. 79.

Property maintenance — See Ch. 85.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 60, Fire Prevention, adopted 1-13-1963, as amended.

§ 60-1 Adoption of standards.

There is hereby adopted by the Town of Mount Airy, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, the Fire Protection Code, known as the NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code™, as amended from time to time, except any such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended by the Town Code. These standards are as amended and as it may be amended in the future.

§ 60-2 Office of Fire Official.

A. The office of Fire Official is hereby created, who shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of the Council.

B. The Fire Official or his or her designee shall enforce these ordinances.

C. The State Fire Marshal may also enforce these ordinances.

D. The fire officials indicated in Subsections A through C above shall be permitted to inspect all structures and premises, except single-family dwellings and dwelling units in two-family and multifamily dwellings for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire, interfere with fire-fighting operations, endanger life or any violations of the provisions or intent of these regulations, of the fire prevention code or any other ordinance affecting fire and life safety.

§ 60-3 Prevention of fires. [1]

No waste fuel, shavings, wastepaper, trash, leaves, yard waste, debris or other combustible waste matter shall be burned in the open within the Town limits.

[1] Editor's Note: See also Ch. 79, Open Burning.

§ 60-4 Fire/Emergency equipment.

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly give a false alarm or remove any fire or life safety apparatus or equipment belonging to the Town or the Mt. Airy Volunteer Fire Company from its proper place except in the case of fire or other public necessity. In addition, it is unlawful to tamper with or remove life safety apparatus or equipment, including fire sprinkler systems, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and fire alarm systems with the intention of eliminating or interfering with its life safety function, except in the case of fire or other public necessity.

§ 60-5 Smoke alarms.

A. All residential properties, as set out in Subsection B, shall be equipped with working smoke alarms inside each room used for sleeping purposes, on each level adjacent to sleeping areas, and on each story.

B. Every new residential property, including single- and two-family homes, townhouses, apartments and multifamily dwellings, shall be equipped with listed single- or multiple-station smoke alarms complying with UL 217 (as it may be amended in the future) and installed in accordance with the household fire-warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, as amended from time to time. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in all of the following locations:

(1) On the ceiling or wall adjacent to sleeping areas and in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.

(2) In each room used for sleeping purposes.

(3) In each story within the dwelling unit, including basements, but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics.

C. Existing residential properties, as set out in Subsection B, may have smoke alarms which are not interconnected, and which may be powered by battery power.

D. All existing residents shall comply by January 1, 2010.

§ 60-6 Maintenance of smoke alarms and emergency equipment.

A. Smoke alarms, fire alarm and fire detection systems, sprinkler systems and other fire or life safety equipment shall be maintained in good working order at all times. Residential sprinkler systems and other water-based fire protection equipment shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 25, Standard for Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, as amended from time to time. Residential smoke alarms, fire alarms and fire detection systems shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, as it may be amended in the future. Life safety systems and equipment shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 101, Life Safety Code, 2008, as amended from time to time.

B. For reasonable cause and upon reasonable notice, the Town, including the Fire Official, State Fire Marshal or other designee, shall have the right to inspect all premises, including single-family dwellings and dwelling units in two-family and multifamily dwellings, for compliance with this section.

C. Upon the transfer of ownership or lease of property and a transfer of any water and sewer account, a certification acceptable to the Fire Official must be filed with the Town specifying compliance with this chapter. No water and sewer account may be established in the absence of this certification, which shall be on a form as prescribed by the Town. The Town shall also have the right to inspect the property for compliance with this section as provided in Subsection B above.

§ 60-7 Fire sprinkler systems.

Note: See also Chapter 47, Building Construction and Chapter 85, Property Maintenance, specifically § 85-21.

A. Fire sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained in all new one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes in accordance with NFPA Standard 13D, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One and Two Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, and in all other new residential occupancies up to and including four stories in height in accordance with NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height, as promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), as modified and adopted by the Maryland State Fire Prevention Code (COMAR 29.06.01), as amended from time to time.

(1) The requirement for sprinkler systems of this § 60-7A shall apply to all new construction but shall not apply to the rebuilding, refurbishment, renovation or alteration of a residence in existence as of January 6, 2003, unless such existing structure is razed and replaced by a new principal structure, or unless the accumulated refurbishment, renovation or alteration affects more than 50% of the structure's total area, in which case the refurbished, renovated, or altered portion of the structure will be required to have sprinklers in accordance with this chapter.

(2) The requirement for sprinkler systems shall not apply to detached, accessory or uninhabitable structures on residential lots (such as carports, garages, greenhouses, and sheds), unless the distance from the principal residence is less than 15 feet and the structure is of such size and height that the Town Fire Official or State Fire Marshal recommends installation of sprinkler systems.

(3) Fire sprinkler systems required under this § 60-7A may be connected to the domestic water supply serving the residence, provided the domestic water supply is of adequate pressure, capacity and sizing for the combined domestic and sprinkler system requirements, and proper backflow valves are installed.

B. Commercial and industrial structures.

(1) Fire sprinkler systems meeting the requirements of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, as amended from time to time, shall be installed and maintained in all new buildings where required by the International Building Code. For nonsprinklered buildings, the maximum area set by the applicable International Building Code after all modifications have been applied shall be reduced by 50%.

(2) The requirement for fire sprinkler systems shall not apply to the rebuilding, refurbishment, renovation or alteration of an existing building unless such existing structure is razed and replaced by a new principal structure, or unless the accumulated refurbishment, renovation or alteration affects more than 50% of the structure's total area, in which case the entire structure will be required to have fire sprinklers in accordance with this chapter.