[Adopted 6-18-1992 (Ch. 14, § 14-20, of the 1977
Code); amended in its entirety 12-2-1993]
[Amended 2-1-2007; 3-17-2022 by Ord. No. 21.355]
If any residence or place of business has an intrusion alarm which results in a notification to the Northampton Police Department of a false alarm at said residence or place of business, the owner of the property or the tenant in possession, whomever has control of said alarm, shall be subject to a fine as set forth in Chapter
40, Enforcement, for each false alarm after the first false alarm.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm by any cause other than the detection
of an intrusion or an attempted intrusion.
[Adopted 6-15-2000 (Ch. 11, Art. V, of the 1977 Code)]
This article shall be known as the "City of
Northampton Fire Alarm Ordinance."
The purpose of this article is to provide a
municipal fire alarm system, allowing alarm users a voluntary means
of compliance with the supervision requirements of the State Building
Code (780 CMR).
This article shall control the following:
A. The lease, purchase, and donation of a municipal fire
alarm system.
B. The establishment of fees for connection to the municipal
fire alarm system.
C. The connection of alarm equipment to the municipal
fire alarm system.
D. The establishment of requirements for Fire Department
key boxes, emergency information, and signage.
Where there is a conflict between this article
and the State Building Code, or other state code or General Law, the
provisions of the State Building Code, other state code or General
Law shall control, but only to the extent of said conflict.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM USER or USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained
within the City except for alarm systems on motor vehicles or proprietary
systems. Excluded from this definition and from the coverage of this
article are central station personnel and persons who use alarm systems
to alert or signal persons within the premises in which the alarm
system is located. If such a system employs an audible signal emitting
sounds or a flashing light or beacon designed to signal persons outside
the premises, such a system shall be within the definitions of "alarm
system" as that term is used in this article and shall be subject
to this article.
ALARM COMPANY
Corporation, partnership, sole proprietor or other legal
entity selected by competitive bid to furnish, install, and maintain
the Northampton municipal fire alarm system.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION
The municipal approving authority which is responsible for
response to the specific alarm signal that the system is designed
to transmit.
A.
Fire alarms: the Northampton Fire Department.
B.
Emergency medical alarms: the Northampton Ambulance
Committee.
CITY
The City of Northampton.
FALSE ALARM
An activation of an alarm system due to mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user of an
alarm system, his employees or agents or any act which produces any
signal resulting in the response of the Fire Services when in fact
there has been no medical emergency or detection of fire, smoke, heat,
water flow or other condition designed to be detected by a fire, security,
or emergency medical alarm system. Excluded from this definition is
activation of alarm systems caused by natural disasters.
FIRE CHIEF
The Chief of the Northampton Fire Department.
FIRE DEPARTMENT KEY BOX
A secured key box manufactured by Knox Company, Irvine, CA,
or other company, approved by the Fire Chief, and located on the exterior
of all structures with fire alarm systems to which only the Fire Department
has keyed access.
FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER
A sworn Fire Department person designated by the Fire Chief
to provide the lead role in fire alarm and fire prevention matters.
GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION
An illustrated representation of the structure which must
be posted at both the fire alarm control panel and at the fire alarm
annunciator. This representation must be permanently mounted in a
protected enclosure and conform to the standards outlined in this
article.
NORTHAMPTON MUNICIPAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
The computerized instrumentation on the alarm consoles at
the receiving terminal of a signal that, through both visual and audible
signals, indicates activation of an alarm system, securing of an alarm
signal and which indicates supervisory trouble. These receiving units
will be located at each fire station and in the public safety communications
center.
NOTICE OF VIOLATION
A legal notice issued by the Fire Chief under state law regulation
or this article which indicates noncompliance with state law, regulation
or this article. This is also known as an "order of notice."
NUISANCE ALARM
Anything, which annoys, injures or endangers the comfort,
repose, health, or safety of any considerable number of persons of
any community or neighborhood.