[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Stony Point as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 5-13-1997 by L.L. No. 6-1997]
The title of this code shall be the "Rockland
County Uniform Fire Prevention Code."
A.
The intent of this code is to prescribe minimum requirements
necessary to establish a reasonable level of life, safety and property
protection from the hazards created by fire and explosion.
B.
This code is designed to supplement and expand upon
the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code. Should there be a discrepancy between this code and
the New York State Uniform Code, the more restrictive provision shall
apply.
The provisions of this code shall apply to new
conditions. The provisions of this code shall apply to existing conditions
when it is specified that it shall apply to existing conditions. When
existing premises are renovated, converted or added to and the cost
of such addition, conversion or renovation equals or exceeds 50% of
the replacement cost of the premises, such premises shall be brought
into full compliance with all provisions of this code. Existing conditions
not in strict compliance with the terms of this code may be permitted
to continue where the exceptions do not constitute a distinct hazard
to life or property. The Board of Appeals shall have the authority
to grant a waiver for the existing condition upon the written application
of the person owning the installation concerned.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall function
as a Board of Appeals for all matters covered by this code. The Bureau
of Fire Prevention shall consist of the Building Inspector, the local
Fire Chief and anyone else as designated by the local municipality,
such as the Chair of the Planning Board, an architect, an engineer
or a member of the Town Board. All appeals shall be made, in writing,
to the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
This code shall be enforced by the Fire Inspector
or Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspectors of the Town of Stony Point
or a designee of the Stony Point Town Board.
A.
The following fines and other penalties are hereby
imposed, in addition to the punishments imposed by other statute,
law or ordinance, on every person violating any of the requirements
or other provisions of this code: a fine not to exceed $1,000 or other
penalty that may be imposed by the judicial authority. (Note that
New York State Executive Law § 382, Subdivision 2, provides
for a fine of not exceeding $1,000 per day or imprisonment not exceeding
one year, or both.)
B.
A sentence to pay a fine which is imposed on a corporation
for an offense defined in this code shall be in conformity with § 80.10
of the Penal Law.
C.
The continuation of an offense against the provisions
of this code shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued,
a separate and distinct offense hereunder.
The Fire Inspector or Assistant or Deputy Fire
Inspectors or the town designee may at all reasonable hours enter
any building or premises for the purpose of making any inspection
or investigation which, under the provisions of this code, may be
deemed necessary.
A.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Inspector or Assistant
or Deputy Fire Inspectors or the town designee to inspect all buildings
and premises except single-family and two-family dwellings as often
as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to
be corrected any condition liable to cause a fire, contribute to the
spread of a fire, interfere with fire-fighting operations or endanger
life or any violation of the provisions or intent of this chapter
or any other ordinance or law affecting firesafety.
B.
The Fire Inspector or Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspectors
or the town designee shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances
of every fire occurring in the Town of Stony Point which is of an
unknown cause or of a suspicious nature or involves the loss of life
or injury to persons or has caused substantial property damage. Such
investigation shall be made as soon as possible upon the occurrence
of any such fire and, if it appears that the fire is the result of
arson, the Fire Inspector shall immediately notify the proper authorities
designated by law to investigate such matters.
A.
The Fire Inspector, Deputy or Assistant Fire Inspectors
or town designee charged with the enforcement of this code, while
acting for the Town of Stony Point, shall not thereby be rendered
liable personally and are hereby relieved from all personal liability
for any damage that may accrue to persons or property as a result
of any act required or permitted in the discharge of official duties.
Any suit instituted against any officer or employee because of an
act performed in the lawful discharge of duties and under the provisions
of this code shall be defended by the legal representative of the
Town of Stony Point until the final termination of the proceedings.
The Fire Inspector any subordinates of the Fire Inspector shall not
be liable for costs in any action, suit or proceeding that may be
instituted in pursuance of the provisions of this code, and any official,
officer or employee acting in good faith and without malice shall
be free from any liability for acts performed under any of its provisions
or by reason of any act or omission in the performance of the official
duties in connection herewith.
B.
The Town of Stony Point shall not be liable under
this code for any damage to persons or property by reason of the inspection
or reinspection of buildings, structures or equipment authorized herein
or failure to inspect or reinspect such buildings, structures or equipment
or by reason of the approval or disapproval of any building, structure
or equipment authorized herein.
A.
Adequate exits shall be provided in all buildings,
structures and premises within the Town of Stony Point to ensure safe
egress in case of fire or other emergency. The location, number, type
and other considerations of exits shall be provided in accordance
with requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code and the most current edition of the National Fire Protection
Association Life Safety Code (NFPA 101).
B.
No furnishings, decorations or other objects shall
be so placed as to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress therefrom
or visibility thereof.
C.
Exit lights, emergency lighting and panic hardware
shall be provided in accordance with the requirements listed in Table
I.
All electrical appliances, fixtures and wiring
shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the National
Electrical Code (NFPA 70). All electrical appliances, fixtures and
wiring shall be maintained so as not to be a fire hazard nor a source
of ignition for combustible or hazardous substances, materials or
devices.
Where smoking is considered a fire hazard, the
Fire Inspector or Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspectors or the town
designee shall be authorized to order the owner in writing to post
"NO SMOKING" signs in conspicuous designated locations where smoking
is prohibited. In areas where smoking is permitted, noncombustible
ash trays shall be provided.
A.
Outdoor fires include all fires burning outdoors with
the exception of fires used to cook food in approved and/or recognized
grills or stoves.
B.
All outdoor fires are prohibited with the exception
of live-burn drills conducted by the Fire Department, fires for religious
purposes or for other purposes as specifically approved by the Fire
Inspector. Prior approval from the Rockland County Health Department
and a permit from the Fire Inspector are required for all outdoor
fires. Any other person, firm or corporation starting, maintaining
or having control over an outdoor fire would be in violation of this
code.
A.
The Fire Inspector or Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspector
or the town designee or Building Inspector, in cooperation with the
Chief of Police and the Fire Chief, is authorized, pursuant to the
authority granted under § 1660-a of the Vehicle and Traffic
Law of the State of New York and § 130, Subdivision 5, of
the Town Law of the State of New York, to determine and establish
appropriate fire lanes and fire zones at parking areas, driveways,
private streets and roadways of all premises except one- and two-family
dwellings.
B.
Fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings that
are set back more that 100 feet from a public road or exceed 30 feet
in height and are set back over 50 feet from a public road. Where
buildings are protected throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler
system, the provisions of this section may be modified by the Fire
Inspector.
C.
Fire lanes shall not be less than 20 feet of unobstructed
width, able to withstand live loads of fire apparatus and have a minimum
of 13 feet six inches of vertical clearance.
D.
Fire zones and fire lanes shall be marked with signs
that have the words "NO STANDING — NO PARKING — FIRE
LANE (or ZONE)" and appropriate yellow pavement markings installed
in conformance with the New York State Uniform Traffic Code requirements.
E.
No motor vehicle shall park, stand or remain unattended
in an established fire zone or fire lane. Fire zones and lanes shall
be maintained free of all obstructions at all times.
F.
More restrictive provisions for fire lanes may be
imposed by the Fire Inspector.
A.
When a structure is protected by an automatic fire
alarm system or fire suppression system and access to or within the
structure is unduly difficult because of secured openings and where
immediate access is necessary for lifesaving or fire-fighting purposes,
the Fire Inspector may require a key box to be installed in an approved
location and on the structures deemed necessary by the Fire Inspector.
B.
The key box shall be of the type approved by the Fire
Inspector and, in order to maintain uniformity throughout Rockland
County, order forms for said key box must be obtained from the Fire
Inspector.
C.
The key box shall contain:
(1)
Keys to locked points of ingress, whether on the interior
or exterior of such structures.
(2)
Keys to locked mechanical rooms.
(3)
Keys to locked electrical rooms.
(4)
Keys to elevator controls.
(5)
Keys to other areas as directed by the Fire Inspector
or Fire Chief the layout of the building showing the locations of
the above.
(6)
Other information as requested by the Fire Inspector
or Fire Chief.
A.
Premises identification. New and existing buildings
shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly
legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property.
These numbers shall contrast with their background. The numbers should
be at least four inches in height and if possible made of a reflective
material for nighttime visibility.
B.
Shaftways to be marked. Every outside opening accessible
to the Fire Department that opens directly on any hoistway or shaftway
communicating between two or more floors in a building shall be plainly
marked with the word "SHAFTWAY" in red letters at least six inches
high on a white background; such warning signs shall be so placed
as to be readily discernible from the outside of the building.
C.
Stairway marking. New or existing stairways serving
four or more stories shall be provided with signs indicating floor
level, roof access or no roof access and reentry locations in accordance
with the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA
101).
D.
Identification of lightweight construction.
(1)
Upon inspection and identification of a new or existing
building, other than a one- or two-family dwelling, of truss, wood
I-beam or other lightweight-type construction, the owner/occupant
shall be notified by the Fire Inspector of the requirements of this
code.
(2)
Upon notification, the owner/operator will be required
to permanently affix an approved twelve-by-eighteen-inch reflective
truss construction identification logo on the building. The exact
location shall be identified by the Fire Inspector. The identification
logos shall be properly installed with 10 days of receipt of written
notice.
(3)
The Fire Inspector should notify the local Fire Chief
of any building with lightweight construction. This information should
be provided to the Rockland County Fire Control Center to be included
in the Rockland County computer dispatch system data base.
Every person owning or having control of any
vacant building shall remove all combustible waste and refuse therefrom
and lock, barricade or otherwise secure all windows, doors and other
openings in the building to prohibit entry by unauthorized persons.
The use of grills, barbecues or other devices
for cooking food utilizing propane or producing an open flame shall
be prohibited within 10 feet of any building used as a multiple dwelling.
The storage of propane or any other fuel used for such devices inside
any building shall also be prohibited.
Where the use of security gates is permitted,
such gates shall provide unobstructed view of at least 50% of the
door(s), window(s) or other building opening which is protected by
the security gate when the security gate is in place.
A.
All sprinkler systems shall be installed and maintained
in accordance with the New York State Building Code.
B.
All sprinkler system components shall be tested and
inspected in accordance with National Fire Protection Association
Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based
Fire Protection Systems (NFPA 25). Copies of all service, repair,
inspection and testing reports shall be forwarded to the Fire Inspector
within 10 days of such service, repair, inspection or testing.
C.
Color coding of siamese connections. In order to ensure
that fire fighters utilize the proper siamese connection, all siamese
connections and/or the protective covers installed on the siamese
connection shall be color coded as follows:
A.
All buildings and structures other than one-family
and two-family residences shall be equipped with fire detection and
alarm systems as described in Table I. A sprinkler system with a water
flow device monitored to immediately send an alarm to the Fire Department
shall be considered a fire detection system.
B.
Where a one-hundred-ten-volt (hard-wired) smoke detector
is required to be installed in any building (including a one- or two-family
dwelling) by the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building
Code or any other applicable regulation, such smoke detector shall
be equipped with a battery backup to ensure operation of the smoke
detector in the event of a power interruption.
C.
All fire detection and alarm systems shall be installed
and maintained in accordance with the most current edition of the
National Fire Protection Association Fire Alarm Code (NTPA 72). Copies
of all service, repair, inspection and testing reports shall be forwarded
to the Fire Inspector within 10 days of such service, repair, inspection
or testing.
D.
The Fire Inspector shall be notified in writing prior
to the installation of any fire alarm or fire detection system, except
for the installation of a one- or two-family home. Such notification
shall consist of plans sufficient to determine compliance with the
fire code.
E.
Fire alarm or fire detection systems shall have an
annunciation or remote located at or near the main entrance of the
building. Such annunciation shall show the location and type of alarm.
A floor plan of the protected premises shall also be provided at this
location. The location of any annunciator or panel not clearly visible
upon entry of the main entrance of a building shall be marked with
a sign.
F.
Upon activation of a fire alarm, the persons in charge
of a premises shall cause the premises to be evacuated unless an evacuation
plan preapproved by the Fire Inspector and Fire Department is in place.
In such case, the provisions of the plan shall be followed.
G.
No fire system shall be reset from an alarm condition
unless approved by the Fire Inspector or Fire Department officer-in-charge.
A sign stating such shall be provided on all fire alarm panels capable
of resetting an alarm.
H.
The owner or responsible party of any premises containing
a fire alarm or fire detection system shall ensure that a qualified
technician is available to respond within two hours of notification
to initiate needed repair or service of the system.
I.
If the fire alarm system signal transmission to the
alarm receiving station is not tested on a daily basis, all dedicated
phone lines used for the purpose of transmitting fire alarm signals
shall be equipped with a visual/audio signal on the exterior of the
building to operate in the event of a line failure or disablement.
It shall be the sole responsibility of the property owner to maintain
all dedicated fire alarm system phone lines active at all times.
Portable fire extinguishers, installed and maintained
in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard No.
10, the Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, shall be provided
in all occupancies as required by Table I.
A.
Protection of cooking equipment and ductwork.
(1)
All commercial cooking appliances, exhaust removal
systems, ductwork and related equipment shall be protected by an automatic
fire extinguishing system installed and maintained in compliance with
current applicable National Fire Protection Association Standards.
(2)
These systems shall be inspected by an approved service
firm on a semiannual basis. To ensure proper inspection, a uniform
inspection form, provided by the Fire Inspector, shall be utilized
with a copy of the completed form forwarded to the Fire Inspector
within 10 days of the inspection.
B.
Special extinguishing systems. Wherever deemed necessary
for the protection of a special hazard, the Fire Inspector may require
the installation of a special extinguishing system. Any such special
extinguishing system shall be installed and maintained in accordance
with the most current applicable National Fire Protection Association
Standards.
A.
In order to notify responding firefighters of conditions
within a building or structure equipped with sprinkler systems, fire
alarm systems or containing hazardous materials or other hazards to
firefighters, identification strobe lights shall be installed on the
exterior of the building as follows:
(1)
Red strobe light: located above the Fire Department
siamese connection of a sprinklered building to indicate activation
of the water flow alarm.
(2)
Yellow strobe light: installed to indicate activation
of a pull station, smoke detector, heat detector or other alarm device.
(3)
Blue strobe light: installed to indicate the presence
of hazardous materials, conditions or other danger to fire fighters.
B.
The exact location of these lights shall be determined
by the Fire Inspector.
Where identification of buildings and structures
containing hazardous materials is required in accordance with the
New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, the National
Fire Protection Association Hazardous Materials Identification System
(NFPA 704) shall be utilized.
A.
An annual certificate of compliance to ensure compliance
with all requirements of this code and the New York State Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Code shall be required or uses an occupancies
of property other than one- or two-family dwellings. Such certificate
does not take the place of any other permits or certificates required
by law. It shall not be transferable, and any change in the use or
occupancy of premises shall require a new certificate.
B.
Before a certificate of compliance may be issued,
a Fire Inspector or Deputy or Assistant Fire Inspector or the town
designee shall make such inspections or tests as are necessary to
assure that the provisions of this code and the New York State Uniform
Fire Prevention and Building Code are being complied with.
C.
Any certificate of compliance required under the provisions
of this section shall be issued by the Building Department upon approval
of the Fire Inspector, and such certificate shall be posted or displayed
in a conspicuous place on the premises.
D.
The Town of Stony Point may require applicants to
submit written applications supplying under affidavit such information
needed for fire protection purposes as requested by the Fire Inspector
and/or Fire Department.
E.
Fees for certificates of compliance for new or changed
uses and annual inspection fees payable each year for the specific
uses subject to inspection by the Fire Inspector shall be established
from time to time by resolution of the Town of Stony Point Town Board.
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Table I:
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Fire Prevention Device
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Requirements
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