[HISTORY: Derived from Art. VI of Ch. XII of the Charter and Ordinances, 1974, of the City of Buffalo. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction and demolition; fire prevention — See Ch. 103.
Housing standards — See Ch. 242.
Multiple housing — See Ch. 281.
The Common Council hereby finds and declares that smoke detectors, when properly installed and maintained, save lives and minimize property loss in case of fire. In consideration of the foregoing and in accordance with the Common Council's obligation to enact legislation to protect the health, safety and welfare of the inhabitants of the City of Buffalo, this chapter is enacted.
It shall be the responsibility of every owner of an occupied dwelling unit in the City of Buffalo to comply with the requirements of this chapter with respect to the installation of smoke detectors. It shall be the responsibility of every owner of an occupied dwelling unit in the City of Buffalo to assure that any smoke detector required by this chapter is maintained in accordance with its provisions. The City of Buffalo shall not be liable for any damages incurred as a result of noncompliance with the terms of this chapter.
Every smoke detector required to be installed and maintained by this chapter must be capable of detecting visible or invisible particles of combustion and providing a suitable audible alarm thereof. Every detector required to be installed and maintained by this chapter must be installed and located so as to avoid dead air space, be reasonably free from false alarms and provide a visible indication that the alarm is energized.
A. 
In all multiple dwellings hereafter constructed in the City of Buffalo, at least one smoke detector of a type approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in every dwelling unit. Such smoke detector shall be directly connected to the lighting circuit of the dwelling unit with no intervening wall switch. Cord-connected installations shall not be permitted. At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area, and it must have an alarm which is clearly audible in adjoining sleeping spaces with intervening doors closed.
B. 
In all multiple dwellings to which does not apply, a smoke-detector system approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in all public halls and stairways in a manner that the Buffalo Fire Department shall direct. This system shall be connected to an alarm which is clearly audible throughout the building.
C. 
The builder or owner of any new multiple dwelling in the City of Buffalo shall be responsible for the installation of the required smoke detectors and smoke-detector system prior to the occupation of the building. Every smoke detector and smoke-detector system required by this subsection shall be maintained in proper working condition at all times.
A. 
On or before January 1, 1984, at least one smoke detector of a type approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in every dwelling unit in existing multiple dwellings. Said smoke detector may be wired directly to the power supply or operated by a self-monitored battery or connected to a plug-in outlet. However, in no event may any smoke detector required by this section be controlled by any switch other than the main power supply, and any plug-in outlet must be fitted with a plug-restrainer device. At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area, and it must have an alarm which is clearly audible in adjoining spaces with intervening doors closed.
B. 
On or before January 1, 1984, a smoke-detector system approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in all public halls and stairways in every multiple dwelling. Such system shall be connected to an alarm which is clearly audible throughout the building and shall be installed in a manner that the Buffalo Fire Department shall direct.
C. 
The owner of every multiple dwelling in the City of Buffalo shall be responsible for the installation of the required smoke detectors and smoke-detector alarm system. Said smoke detectors and alarm system shall at all times be maintained in proper working condition.
A. 
In all one- and two-family dwellings hereafter constructed in the City of Buffalo, smoke detectors of a type approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in every dwelling unit in conformance with the provisions of this section. At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area, and it must have an alarm which is clearly audible in adjoining sleeping spaces with the intervening doors closed. Such smoke detector shall be directly connected to the lighting circuit of the dwelling unit with no intervening wall switch.
B. 
At least one smoke detector shall be installed at the head of each stairway leading to an occupied area in such a manner as to assure that rising smoke is not obstructed in reaching the detector and that the detector intercepts rising smoke before it reaches the sleeping area. Such smoke detector shall be directly connected to the lighting circuit of the dwelling unit with no intervening wall switch.
C. 
The builder or owner of any new one- or two-family dwelling in the City of Buffalo shall be responsible for the installation of the required smoke detectors prior to the occupation of the building.
A. 
On or before January 1, 1984, smoke detectors of a type approved by the Buffalo Fire Department shall be installed in every dwelling unit in existing one- and two-family dwellings in conformance with the provisions of this section. At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area, and it must have an alarm which is clearly audible in adjoining sleeping spaces with the intervening doors closed. Said smoke detector may be wired directly to the power supply or operated by a self-monitored battery or connected to a plug-in outlet. However, in no event may any smoke detector required by this section be controlled by any switch other than the main power supply, and any plug-in outlet must be fitted with a plug-restrainer device.
B. 
On or before January 1, 1984, at least one smoke detector shall be installed at the head of each stairway leading to an occupied area in such a manner as to assure that rising smoke is not obstructed in reaching the detector and that the detector intercepts rising smoke before it reaches the sleeping area. Said smoke detector may be wired directly to the power supply or operated by a self-monitored battery or connected to a plug-in outlet. However, in no event may any smoke detector required by this subsection be controlled by any switch other than the main power supply, and any plug-in outlet must be fitted with a plug-restrainer device.
C. 
The owner of every existing one- or two-family dwelling in the City of Buffalo shall be responsible for the installation of the required smoke detectors. Said smoke detectors shall at all times be maintained in proper working condition.