[HISTORY: Adopted by the County Council of
Talbot County as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 8-8-2000 by Bill No. 765]
The following words, terms and phrases, when
used herein, shall have their respective definitions, unless a different
meaning appears from the context:
Any audible building alarm, any automatic telephone dialing
device with a recorded message, any silent/audible phone-in alarm
system called in by an alarm company, monitoring service with either
a live or recorded message and any signal alarm connected to any fire
installation.
A system, or portion of a combination system, consisting
of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate a fire
alarm, or supervisory signal-initiating devices designed to initiate
the appropriate response to those signals.
Any fire alarm device or system, fire extinguishing device
or system, or combination thereof, designed and installed for detecting,
controlling, or extinguishing a fire or otherwise alerting occupants,
the Fire Department, or both that a fire is or has occurred.
Any unnecessary or nonemergency response by a fire company
caused by a semblance or likeness of smoke, flame, or combination
thereof, such as, but not limited to, fog or mist, on or within any
structure or premises.
No fire protection system shall be installed,
enlarged, or modified until a permit has been obtained in the name
of the owner of the premises by either the owner of the premises or
a fire protection system business which installs, services or maintains
the fire protection system. Plans and specifications shall be submitted,
reviewed and approved by the Fire Official prior to the installation
of the fire protection system. All fire protection systems shall be
installed, maintained and tested in accordance with applicable codes
and standards. All installations of new fire protection systems shall
be inspected, tested, and approved, by the Fire Marshal or his designee
before final acceptance.
A.
The owner of any premises with a fire alarm system
shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the system
and for compliance with this article.
B.
The owner shall make available to the Fire Department:
(1)
The name, address and telephone numbers of at least
two persons who can be contacted by members of the Fire Department
in the event of activation of the fire alarm system, who can respond
to the premises within 15 minutes after receiving notification, and
who are authorized to enter the premises to ascertain the status thereof.
If no contact individual responds within 15 minutes, the Fire Department
shall be authorized to enter the property to ensure no hazard exists,
and the owner shall have no recourse for any damage to the property
caused by the entry. The owner may also have a Knox® Box installed on the property to allow the Fire Department access
to the property to investigate the nature and source of any problem
while they are waiting for a responder.
(2)
The name, address, business and telephone number of
the owner, lessee, operator, manager or person in possession of the
premises where the fire alarm system is installed.
(4)
When fire personnel are unable to make any contact with any individual identified in Subsection B(1) due to noncompliance with this article, or if any individual who is contacted fails to respond within 15 minutes, the incident will be treated as a false alarm and the owner will be subject to any fine assessed thereunder.
(5)
All fire alarm pull stations, existing or new, shall
be equipped with a safety cover approved by the Fire Marshal.
The owner of an alarm system that is negligently
or accidentally activated as the result of faulty, malfunctioning,
or improperly installed or maintained equipment or as the result of
a nuisance alarm shall be subject to fine of $250 for each alarm exceeding
two in any calendar year. Within 30 days after any such alarm, the
owner must have the alarm system serviced by a certified alarm company
and present proof to that effect to the local fire official of the
responding fire company, and in default shall be subject to a fine
of $250. This section shall not apply to alarm systems activated by
acts of God, weather conditions or causes beyond the control of the
alarm user or owner.
The Chief Officer of any Fire Department and/or
the Fire Marshal may order abatement and/or discontinuance of the
use of any equipment, device, appliance, and/or system that has caused
more than two nuisance alarms in any calendar year.
[Amended 11-13-2007 by Bill No. 1108]
A.
The Fire Marshal or his designees shall have the right to inspect any fire protection system on the premises where it is installed during reasonable hours. The Fire Marshal, any Deputy Fire Marshal, any certified law enforcement officer, and the Chief Code Compliance Officer and his designees appointed pursuant to Chapter 58, Talbot County Code, shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this article.
B.
Failure to comply with the provisions of this article
shall be a municipal infraction, punishable by a fine not to exceed
$250. Any such municipal infraction shall be prosecuted in accordance
with the procedures provided by Md. Code Ann., Local Government Article,
§ 6-101 et seq., as amended.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
