All inspectable occupancies shall adhere to the following:
A. If more than 50% of the interior area of the building is remodeled and/or added to, the entire building shall be brought into compliance with the requirements of this chapter.
B. If less than 50% of the gross interior area of a building is remodeled, added to, or both, that part of the building which is remodeled, added to, or both, shall be brought into conformance with this chapter.
C. If the use of any existing building is changed and becomes more hazardous as determined by the Chief Fire Inspector, the building shall be brought into compliance with this chapter.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning indicated in this section. Other terms used in this chapter shall be as defined in Ch. ILHR 51, Wis. Adm. Code A, and are adopted herein by reference.
ALARMS An automated system for the purpose of alerting occupants and emergency personal. Types of fire alarms transmitted to the Fire Department include:
A. ACCIDENTAL FALSE ALARMAn alarm set off and transmitted through accidental operation of an automatic or manual fire alarm device; frequent causes are low air pressure on automatic sprinkler dry valves, excessive heat from industrial process or the sun, cold weather, and smoke detector sensitivity adjustment.
B. FALSE ALARMAn alarm for which no fire actually exists. Examples include: burnt food, system activated by steam from a shower, and improper maintenance of system and components.
C. MALICIOUS FALSE ALARMAny person, firm or corporation who or which shall negligently or willfully cause an alarm of fire to be transmitted to the Fire Department dispatcher, as opposed to an accidental false alarm. Malicious false alarms may be the result of maintenance, removal of component parts from the alarm system, intentionally setting off a system or calling in a false alarm.
APPROVAL Approval by the Chief of the Fire Department or Chief Fire Inspector of the Fire Prevention Bureau, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, as applied to a material, device or mode of construction.
APPROVED AGENCY An agency accepted or acceptable to the Fire Prevention Bureau.
AREA OR SQUARE FOOTAGE OF BUILDING Refers to the total square footage of the sums of all basements, floor levels, balconies and mezzanines.
A. The area for basements and floor levels shall be measured from the outside perimeter of the outside walls.
B. The area for mezzanines shall be determined from the product of the length times the width.
C. For the purpose of determining square footage, fire division walls will not be accepted as outside walls or area dividers.
D. Buildings that are in close proximity to each other will have their building square footage added together to arrive at the total square footage. For the purpose of determining proximity the following will hold true:
(1) Single-story buildings: 30 feet apart or less.
(2) Two-story buildings: 60 feet apart or less.
(3) Three-story buildings: 60 feet apart or less.
(4) All other multiple-story buildings: 60 feet apart.
ASSEMBLY HALLS or PLACES OF ASSEMBLY All buildings or parts of buildings, other than theaters, which will accommodate more than 100 persons for entertainment, recreation, worship or dining purposes. The following table, per § ILHR 55.06, Wis. Adm. Code, includes various types of occupancies within the scope of this definition, together with the method for determining the capacity. No greater number of persons than the number thus established shall be permitted in any theater or assembly hall.
Use of Occupancy | Basis for Capacity (square feet per person) |
---|
Arenas and field houses | 4 |
Assembly halls with stage | 7 |
Banquet halls | 10 |
Churches (auditoriums) | 7 |
Churches (dining rooms) | 10 |
Dance halls | 10 |
Dining rooms | 10 |
Gymnasiums | 6 for seated space; 15 for unseated space |
Lecture halls | 7 |
Lodge halls | 6 for seated space; 15 for unseated space |
Skating rinks | 45 |
Theaters | 7 |
Theater lobbies | 7 |
ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof by a gathering of 100 persons or more.
ATCP Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION The Fire Chief, Fire Inspector or designee of the Fire Chief to enforce this chapter and the laws of the State of Wisconsin pertaining to the prevention of fires and public safety and approving equipment, installation, or procedure as outlined in NFPA standards.
AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE One which functions without human intervention and is actuated as a result of predetermined temperature rise, rate of rise of temperature, combustion products or smoke density.
BUSINESS OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving of professional services, including offices.
CEILING The upper surface of a space, regardless of height. Areas with a suspended ceiling would have two ceilings, one visible from the floor and one above the suspended ceiling.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL All materials not classified as "noncombustible" are considered combustible. This property of a material does not relate to its ability to structurally perform under fire exposure. The degree of combustibility is not defined by standard fire test procedures.
COMMON AREA With reference to Ch. ILHR 57, Wis. Adm. Code, Occupancies, refers to any area in the building that can be accessed by more than one person from different families at one time.
DAY-CARE CENTER Any place which receives at any one time, for compensation, four or more persons for care and supervision, for less than 24 hours a day, for more than 10 days a month, without the attendance of a parent, relative or legal guardian.
DWELLING Any building or portion thereof designed or used as the living and/or sleeping place of one or more persons, and including:
B. TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGA detached building containing not more than two individual dwelling units which are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors, unpierced except for access to the outside or common basement.
DWELLING STRUCTURE Any structure containing one or more rooms providing sleeping and sanitary facilities, but not including a hotel, hospital, nursing home, dormitory, or fraternity or sorority house.
DWELLING UNIT One or more rooms, which may include a kitchen or kitchenette, sleeping areas, dining areas, and sanitary facilities, designed as a unit for occupancy by not more than one family.
EDUCATIONAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof by persons assembled for the purpose of learning or of receiving educational instruction.
FAMILY UNIT Two or more individuals who are related to each other by blood, marriage, adoption or legal guardianship. For purposes of this chapter, a group of not more than four persons not necessarily related by blood or marriage, living together in a single living unit, will be considered equivalent to a single family.
FIRE DEPARTMENT The Fire Department shall be the Town of Vernon Fire Department.
FIRE LANE Any legally established public thoroughfare or all-weather hard surface area 20 feet or more in width, whether designated or not by name or number, such as avenue, boulevard, circle, court, drive, lane, place, road or way. The street must extend at least 50% of the length of the side of the building and must be accessible to fire-fighting equipment.
FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU The Fire Prevention Bureau is made up of the following personnel: the Chief of the Town of Vernon Fire Department, the Chief Fire Inspector and the Fire Inspectors and/or any designee of the Fire Chief.
FIRE-RESISTIVE That type of construction in which the structural members, including walls, partitions, columns, floor and roof construction, are of noncombustible materials with fire-resistant ratings not less than those specified in § ILHR 51.03, Wis. Adm. Code.
FIRE SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT, AUTOMATIC A system of piping connected to an adequate water supply and provided with approved automatic fire sprinklers or devices so arranged and located as to discharge water automatically to the seat of the fire. Installation shall comply with National Fire Protection Association No. 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, or other applicable NFPA code.
FIRE WALL A. A wall which has a fire-resistance rating of not less than four hours and which divides a building or separates buildings to restrict the spread of fire. A three-foot parapet wall may be a required part of a fire wall in accordance with § ILHR 51.02(13), Wis. Adm. Code.
B. For the purpose of determining square footage, fire walls shall not be considered as area dividers.
C. For the purpose of determining square footage as it relates to the sprinkling of a building, fire walls shall not be considered as area dividers.
FLOOR, BASEMENT That level where less than half the height between the floor and ceiling is above the average level of the street, sidewalk or finished grade.
FLOOR, GROUND That level of a building on a sloping or multilevel site which has its floor line at or not more than three feet above exit discharge grade for at least 1/2 of the required exit discharge.
HIGH-HAZARD OCCUPANCY Any building which, by reason of its construction or highly combustible occupancy, involves a severe life hazard to its occupants, as determined by the Town of Vernon Fire Prevention Bureau.
INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof for assembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging or processing operations, except when classified as a high-hazard occupancy.
INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof by persons harbored or detained to receive medical, charitable or other care or treatment or by persons involuntarily detained.
MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof for the displaying, selling or buying of goods, wares or merchandise, except when classified as a high-hazard occupancy.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING An apartment house or a building designed for occupancy by three or more families living independently of each other and containing three or more dwelling units, including but not limited to row houses, garden or elevator apartments and rooming houses.
NFPA The National Fire Protection Association.
NONCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL One which, in the form in which it is used, meets one of the requirements listed below. Materials used adjacent to or in contact with heat-producing appliances, warm air ducts, plenums and chimneys shall be classified as noncombustible only on the basis of Subsection A. "Noncombustible" does not apply to the flame-spread characteristics of interior finish or trim materials. No material shall be classed as noncombustible building construction material which is subject to increase in combustibility or flame-spread classification (FSC) beyond the limits herein established through the effects of age, moisture or other atmospheric conditions. (See note on flame-spread rating in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.)
A. Materials which pass the test procedure of ASTM E-136 for defined noncombustibility of elementary materials when exposed to a furnace temperature of 1,382° F. for a minimum period of five minutes and do not cause a temperature rise of the surface or interior thermocouple in excess of 54° F. above the furnace air temperature at the beginning of the test and which do not flame after an exposure of 30 seconds.
B. Materials having a structural base of noncombustible material as defined in Subsection
A, with a surfacing not more than 1/8 inch thick which has a flame-spread classification (FSC) not greater than 50 when tested in accordance with the method of test for surface burning characteristics of building materials (ASTM E-84).
OWNER Includes his duly authorized agent or attorney, a purchaser, devisee, fiduciary or person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
PUBLIC BUILDING Includes any structure, including exterior parts of such building, such as a porch, exterior platform or steps providing means of ingress or egress, used in whole or in part as a place of resort, assemblage, lodging, trade, traffic, occupancy, or use by the public or by three or more tenants.
REMODEL To remodel or alter, or both, means to change any building or structure which affects the structural strength, fire hazard, internal circulation, or exits of the existing building or structure. This definition does not apply to maintenance, re-roofing, or alterations to the heating and ventilating or electrical systems.
ROOF SPACE Multifamily, commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional buildings: buildings with combustible roofs shall have all roof spaces subdivided every 3,000 square feet by a one-hour-rated partition unless protected by an approved sprinkler system. All openings must have a minimum of a one-hour-rated self-closing door.
ROW HOUSE A place of abode arranged to accommodate three or more attached, side-by-side or back-to-back living units.
SPACING A horizontally measured dimension relating to the allowable coverage of fire detectors.
SPS Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
STORAGE OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a building or structure, or any portion thereof, for the storage of goods, wares, merchandise, raw materials, or agricultural or manufactured products, including parking garages, or the commercial sheltering of livestock and other animals, except when classified as a high-hazard occupancy.
STORY The space in a building between the surface of any floor and the floor next above or below, or roof next above, or any space not defined as basement, ground floor, mezzanine, balcony, penthouse or attic.
THEATER All buildings or parts thereof containing an assembly hall having a stage which may be equipped with curtains or movable scenery, or which is otherwise adaptable to the showing of plays, operas, motion pictures or similar forms of entertainment.
VEHICLE Any self-propelled device fueled by a flammable or combustible liquid or compressed gas used to transport people or goods.
This chapter shall not be construed to affect the responsibility of any person owning, operating or installing any equipment for damage to persons or property caused by any defect therein, nor shall the Town be held as assuming any such liability by reason of the inspection or reinspection authority herein or the permit issued as herein provided or by reason of the disapproval or approval of any equipment authorized herein.
A report of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be made semiannually and transmitted to the Fire Chief. The report shall contain all proceedings under this chapter, with such statistics as the Fire Chief may wish to include. The Fire Inspector shall also recommend amendments to this chapter which, in his judgment, shall be desirable.
Fees for permits, certificates, approvals and other functions performed under this chapter shall be established by the Town Board by resolution and shall be payable to the Town of Vernon at the Clerk's office. Such fees shall accompany each application for such approval, certificate, permit, or other function. Double fees will be charged for starting work before fees have been paid or plans have been approved.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter or who fails to comply with any order made hereunder or who builds in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved hereunder, or any certificate or permit herein from which no such appeal has been taken, or who fails to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by a court of competent jurisdiction within the time fixed herein, shall for each and every violation and noncompliance be subject to the following:
A. Except as otherwise provided herein, penalties for a violation of this chapter shall be as described in Chapter
1, §
1-10, of this Code.
B. Imposition of a penalty for each such violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and such violations or defects shall be corrected or remedied within a reasonable time.
The intent of this section is designed for the better fire protection of life and property within the Town of Vernon. The Town of Vernon concurs with the state-adopted code regulating automatic sprinkler systems required for commercial or multifamily residential applicable properties.
A. Approval of plans and system types.
(1) Prior to the installation of a sprinkler system, or the alteration of an existing sprinkler system, plans shall be submitted to the Fire Prevention Bureau for approval.
(2) Three copies of the plans and specifications shall be submitted for review; approved plans shall be stamped "Conditionally Approved by the Fire Prevention Bureau," with the date of such approval and signature of the officer granting approval. Two copies shall be returned to the owner and one copy will be kept on file by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
(3) The Town of Vernon Fire Department's conditional approval of sprinkler plans does not affirm the accuracy of any calculations performed by the contractor. The accuracy of these calculations is the full responsibility of the contractor.
(4) No work may begin on installation of a sprinkler system or alteration of a sprinkler system until it is approved by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
B. How installed.
(1) Approved automatic fire sprinkler equipment shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of Pamphlet No. 13, Standards for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, or other applicable standards of the NFPA and the Town of Vernon Fire Department.
(2) Compressors for the dry pipe systems are required to be wired directly to building power.
(3) All compressors of dry pipe systems will have low-limit air switches and alarms.
(4) In areas where there is no city water:
(a) The sprinkler system is required to be connected to domestic water at the time of installation.
(b) When city water becomes available, the owner will have 90 days to hook up to the city main.
(c) The sprinkler system supply line is to be the same size as the lateral from the well in accordance with Chapter
125, Building Construction, of this Code.
C. Maintenance of equipment.
(1) Sprinkler systems and standpipe systems which have been installed in compliance with a permit or order, or because of any law or ordinance, shall be maintained in operative condition at all times.
(2) It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection so required, except that this subsection shall not prohibit the owner or occupant from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations or additions.
(3) The Fire Chief shall be notified when the system has been shut down for any reason and again when the system has been restored to service.
D. Annual inspections. Every sprinkler system required by the Town Code or by the administrative rules of the State of Wisconsin shall be tested in accordance with the NFPA 25 and the results of the testing shall be forwarded to the Fire Prevention Bureau on a yearly basis.
E. Application to existing buildings.
(1) Where the Fire Prevention Bureau finds that existing buildings are used, in whole or in part, in such a way as to constitute a severe fire hazard to their occupants or adjoining property, the Fire Prevention Bureau may recommend to the Town of Vernon Plan Commission to require compliance with the provisions of this section as they related to new construction.
(2) All existing public buildings or places of employment and all additions shall conform to this section as follows:
(a) More than 50% remodeled or added to. If more than 50% of the area or square footage of a building is remodeled and/or added to, the entire building shall comply with the requirements of this chapter. When determining what constitutes 50% remodeled or added, add all previous additions or areas remodeled together to arrive at the total area that has been renovated. If this percentage is equal to or greater than 50% of the gross area of the original building as determined as of the effective date of this chapter, the entire building will be required to be brought up to code.
(b) Any building with an existing sprinkler system, when making an addition, regardless of size or occupancy, will sprinkler the addition in accordance with NFPA 13 or other applicable NFPA code.
(c) If the use or occupancy of a building is changed and the hazard and/or life safety becomes more severe, the entire building shall be brought into compliance with the sprinkler code.
F. Fire Department hose connections. Every automatic sprinkler system installed in new or existing buildings shall be equipped with at least one Fire Department hose connection at a location approved by the Chief Fire Inspector. Audible alarm bells are required on the inside and outside of all buildings that have sprinkler systems.
G. Exemptions:
(1) Safe deposit or other vaults.
(2) Electrical service rooms. Smoke detectors, rate of heat rise detectors or fixed temperature detectors shall be required to monitor this space.
The intent of this section is to require automatic fire extinguishing systems in vent hoods and duct systems for all commercial-type kitchens to effectively extinguish fire at its source and reduce the property damage and loss caused by kitchen fires.
A. Installation requirements.
(1) A dimensional drawing or sketch showing the hood and ducts and the extinguishing system shall be prepared showing the size of the hood and ducts, the area of the protected surface, the model, size and number of package units, the size and length of piping, the number and type of fittings and the number of nozzles and distance of nozzles above the cooking surface.
(2) Review of plans. All plans for automatic fire extinguishing equipment shall be submitted for review prior to installation of the equipment. Three sets of plans and specifications shall be submitted to the Department for review. Two sets shall be returned to the installer and shall be stamped "Conditionally Approved by the Chief Fire Inspector" with the date of such approval, and the other set shall be retained by the Chief Fire Inspector.
(3) The system shall also be provided with an automatic fuel shutoff.
B. Maintenance. All extinguishing systems shall be inspected annually by a factory-authorized representative and a certificate of this inspection, signed by the factory representative and the owner or occupier of the establishment, shall be submitted to the Fire Prevention Bureau.
In any business occupancy where the exit travel is more than two stories above or below the level of exit discharge and/or subject to 50 or more occupants above or below the level of exit discharge, or subject to 150 or more total occupants, a manual fire alarm system shall be provided.
For the purpose of this section, the following minimum standards shall apply to the storage, handling, and display of live Christmas trees and foliage:
A. Trees and foliage shall be stacked not closer than 10 feet to any gasoline pump or other device for the transfer of petroleum products.
B. Aisles or clear spaces of not less than three feet shall be maintained at all times.
C. No Christmas trees or foliage shall contact any electrical lines or wires.
D. A fire extinguisher with a 2A-10BC rating or greater shall be provided by the merchant for each 75 feet of travel in the display and/or storage area.
E. All storage and sales of Christmas trees and foliage shall be held outside of all buildings.
F. It shall be unlawful to light a match or any flame-producing device or to smoke or carry a lighted cigar, cigarette, or pipe in areas where Christmas trees or foliage is sold, displayed or stored. The person in charge of the Christmas tree sales shall post "No Smoking" signs in locations designed to give persons entering the area notice of this regulation.
The following provisions will apply to assembly, educational and institutional properties:
A. Cotton batting, either natural, artificial, or manufactured, straw, dry vines, leaves, trees, or other combustible materials shall not be used for decorative purposes in show windows or other parts of commercial, industrial, or institutional occupancies unless made flame-retardant; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be held to prohibit the display of stable goods permitted and offered for sale.
B. All drapes, hangings, curtains, drops, and all other decorative material used in public buildings that would tend to increase the fire and panic hazard shall be made from material which is not combustible or shall be treated and maintained in a flame-retardant condition by means of a flame-retardant solution or a process approved by the Fire Inspector.
C. Christmas trees. Artificial Christmas trees, except those within individual living units, shall be flame-retardant or nonflammable. Natural Christmas trees, except those within individual living units, shall have the trunk sawed off at least one inch above the original cut end and shall be cut immediately prior to being placed in a water-bearing stand. The water level shall always be above the cut.
D. Exit doors, exit lights, fire alarm sending stations, and fire extinguishing equipment shall not be concealed or obstructed by any decorative material.
E. Treatments used to accomplish flame retardation shall be renewed as often as may be necessary to maintain the flame-retardation effect.
F. The approved Class A-B-C flame-spread rating of the flame-retardant material or process used as required in this section shall be in accordance with interior finish requirements for that occupancy as stated in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
All decorative materials in atriums shall be noncombustible or shall be flame-retardant treated and be so maintained.
In any building with an elevator/elevators, at least one elevator shall be a minimum size so as to accommodate a seventy-six-inch by twenty-four-inch ambulance stretcher in a full reclining position. Buildings with at-grade access at the second floor are exempt.
The requirements of this section shall apply to all buildings or parts of buildings which accommodate public or private day-care centers. Day-care centers will be required to be inspected not less than twice per year by the Fire Prevention Bureau.
All dwellings and buildings within the Town of Vernon damaged from fire shall be boarded up or secured, as shall be required by the Fire Prevention Bureau, within 24 hours of the time of the fire. The owner shall assume the liability for the protection of the public until the property is secured.
It is unlawful to ignite or burn any type of barbecue grill inside residential occupancies. They shall not be burned within 24 inches of any combustible material. They may not be used on any balcony within five feet of any opening into a dwelling or apartment.
The following items shall not be stored in basements or storage bins of apartments or other multifamily dwellings in the Town of Vernon:
A. Charcoal, except in a metal container equipped with a metal cover.
C. Flammable liquids of any nature other than motor oils or similar oils in metal quart containers.
D. Bottle gases, propane, acetylene, oxygen or other substances of a similar nature.
E. Gasoline motors and gasoline-powered equipment such as outboard motors, power lawn equipment, snow blowers, snowplows, motor bikes, motorcycles, etc.