[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of East Manchester 12-8-2009 by Ord. No. 2009-04. Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as "The East Manchester Township
Fire Prevention and Safety Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to:
A.
Guard against the occurrence of fire;
B.
Protect the property and lives of the citizens, property owners,
emergency responders, and those employed within the Township against
damage and accident resulting from fires;
C.
Govern conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion;
and
D.
Provide for proper utilities, accessories and access required by
the Fire Department to aid in fighting fires.
The Codes Enforcement Officer shall be responsible for enforcing
compliance with this chapter. All subdivision and/or land development
plans shall be submitted to the Fire Chief for review, upon the recommendation
of the Township staff, Township Planning Commission, and/or Township
Board of Supervisors. The Township Codes Enforcement Officer shall
consult with the Fire Chief prior to issuing any occupancy permit
to ensure that all required fire-related improvements have been made
and the provisions of this chapter have been complied with.
This chapter shall not be construed to relieve or lessen the
responsibility or liability of any party owning, controlling or installing
any building material, devices or equipment for damages to persons
or property caused by the defect therein; nor shall the Township or
the Fire Department, or any of their officers, agents, or employees
be held as assuming responsibility for any damages to persons or property
by reason of the enforcement or lack of enforcement of any of the
provisions of this chapter.
A.
All commercial, industrial, and institutional buildings within the
designated "Growth Boundary" of the Township shall be located not
more than 300 feet from a public fire hydrant by direct public or
private access.
B.
All residential buildings within the designated "Growth Boundary"
shall be located not more than 500 feet from a public fire hydrant
by direct public or private road access.
A.
Supplemental fire hydrants serving all buildings and use types shall
be provided in a ratio of at least one hydrant for every 100,000 square
feet of ground area or portion thereof involved in the development,
subject to the flow requirements established by the Fire Chief. Supplemental
hydrants shall only apply within the designated "Growth Boundary."
B.
Supplemental fire hydrants shall be provided for all buildings (except
single-family and two-family buildings) that are:
(1)
Over 100 feet in length or width or both; and/or
(2)
Situated at a distance greater than 100 feet from a public road;
or
(3)
Of such size, construction, location or occupancy use in relationship
to public roads and public fire hydrants as may be deemed by the Fire
Chief to constitute a condition hazardous to life and property due
to fire or explosion and when deemed necessary by the Fire Chief for
the Fire Department to serve the premises.
C.
Supplemental fire hydrants shall include all hydrants, water mains
not less than six inches in diameter, valves, and appurtenances which
are dedicated to the public use of the Township for use in fire suppression.
The Fire Chief shall determine the number of hydrants, as well as
their location, as he deems reasonable and necessary in order to provide
sufficient supplemental fire protection to the premises.
D.
Supplemental fire hydrants shall not be located greater than 300
feet from the furthest point of the building to be served nor shall
they be located greater than 20 feet from an approved public or private
road.
E.
All supplemental fire hydrants shall be red in color.
F.
Upon request by the Fire Chief, the owner of any supplemental fire
hydrant shall provide proof of certified annual testing of such supplemental
fire hydrant.
A.
The installer of a private hydrant shall meet the specifications
of the York Water Company and National Fire Protection Association
(NFPA) for lawful installation of the private hydrant. Private hydrants
shall be flushed and tested on no less than an annual basis.
B.
All private fire hydrants shall be red in color.
C.
Upon request by the Fire Chief, the owner of any private fire hydrant
shall provide proof of certified annual testing of such private fire
hydrant.
Decorative or recreational fire containers, including, but not
limited to, movable fireplaces, fire pits, and chimneys, are prohibited
from use or storage on decks, balconies, or attached garages and storage
areas of multiunit, multiresidential structures.
Fire lanes shall include any roadway, parking lot, driveway,
sidewalk, or portion thereof necessary for the passage or positioning
of fire vehicles, equipment, personnel, and apparatus. The following
requirements and design standards shall apply to fire lanes:
A.
Required fire lane locations. Fire lanes shall be required for all
uses in accordance with Table 103-1, except single-family detached,
two-family, and row dwellings. The required number and location of
fire lanes shall be provided as illustrated in the Township Construction
and Materials Specifications.[1]
|
Table 103-1
Required Number of Fire Lanes
| |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Building Size
(feet)
|
Required Number of Fire Lanes
|
Location of Fire Lanes
| |
|
Longest side up to 150 in length
|
1
|
Longest side
| |
|
Longest side up to 300 in length
|
2
|
1 on longest side
| |
|
Longest side up to 400 in length
|
3
|
2 on longest sides
| |
|
Longest side greater than 400 in length
|
As directed by the Fire Chief
| ||
|
Longest side greater than 400 in length
|
As directed by the Fire Chief
| ||
|
NOTE:
| |||
|
Buildings less than 12,000 square feet and fully sprinklered
shall require one fire lane.
| |||
B.
Width. Fire lanes shall be a minimum 20 feet wide.
C.
Height. All fire lanes shall be clear of overhead obstructions to
a minimum height of 14 feet.
D.
Weight standard. Fire lanes shall be constructed so that they are
capable of supporting vehicles having 25 tons on a single axle with
dual wheels and standard road tires in all weather conditions. All
fire lanes, emergency vehicle access drives, and all portions of any
parking area or access drive connecting the fire fane to a public
street shall be constructed to the minimum pavement design specifications
located in the Township Construction and Materials Specifications
or an alternate method approved by the Township Engineer.
E.
Slope/gradient. Fire lane slopes and gradients shall not restrict
fire apparatus movement or positioning, while providing positive drainage.
Slopes in excess of 5% are prohibited.
F.
Turning radius. Fire lanes shall be constructed to accommodate the
turning movement of all emergency vehicles currently in the Fire Department's
fleet. Turning radius templates must be submitted to the Township
for review.
H.
Access to building. Each side of a building where a fire lane is
required shall have an entrance located at the midpoint of the building.
I.
Use of maneuvering aisle or fire lane. Parking against a building
with proper fire lanes may be permitted without the need for "No Parking—Fire
Lane" signs under certain circumstances at the discretion of the Fire
Chief. If permitted, the design criteria is shown in the Township
Construction and Materials Specifications. [3]The maneuvering lane shall be considered the lane directly
adjacent to the building or structure off which perpendicular, angled,
or parallel parking is allowed.
J.
Distance from building. Fire lanes shall be a minimum of 10 feet
and a maximum of 50 feet distance from a building.
K.
Maintenance. All fire lanes must be maintained and remain unobstructed
at all times. The fire lane shall be cleared/plowed as a priority
during snow events. Clearing of the fire lane shall be completed prior
to the remainder of the parking lot.
L.
Signage.
(1)
"No Parking—Fire Lane" signs shall be placed at the discretion
of the Codes Enforcement Officer and/or Township Engineer with the
direction of the Fire Chief, but in no event shall they be placed
closer than 50 feet apart or further than 100 feet apart. "Tow Away
Zone" signs may be required in conjunction with the fire lane signage.
All signs shall be manufactured and installed in accordance with Township
Specifications, with a minimum height requirement from ground of 60
inches to the bottom of the sign.
(2)
Any nonresidential use which stores, manufactures, or utilizes potentially
hazardous materials, including, but not limited to, reactive, combustible,
explosive, or radioactive materials, or industrial chemicals, or materials
which pose a health hazard, shall display NFPA placard(s) in a conspicuous
location or locations, as designated by the Fire Chief. All existing
applicable buildings and facilities shall install all required placards
within 180 days from the date of effect of this chapter.
M.
Pavement markings. All concrete curbing adjacent to a fire lane shall
be painted or pigmented yellow. In areas where installation of concrete
curbing is impractical, the asphalt paving shall be striped in accordance
with Township Specifications.
Combustible building materials shall not be erected until the
following has been accomplished:
A.
Operable fire hydrants are in place within 500 road feet of the furthest
point of any structure being constructed.
B.
An access road (20 feet wide, able to support 25 tons on a single
axle with dual wheels and standard road tires) must be constructed
to within 100 feet of the furthest point of the structure. This road
may be gravel, but must be maintained at all times.
C.
No combustible rubbish shall be accumulated on the construction site.
Disposal of construction debris by on-site burning is not permitted.
A.
A key box shall be required for all commercial, industrial and institutional
structures, and for all common facilities within multifamily residential
structures, as well as any other structure required by the Pennsylvania
Uniform Construction Code. The key box shall be a Knox-Vault as approved,
in writing, by the Fire Chief. No other key box manufacturers shall
be permitted. All key boxes shall utilize a swinging hinged door;
drop doors shall not be permitted. Applications for purchase can be
obtained from the Codes Enforcement Officer or Fire Chief and must
be completed and returned with appropriate payment.
B.
General specifications for key box installations:
(1)
The key box shall be installed on the address side of the building,
within sight of and no more than 10 feet from the main entrance and
clear from any obstructions.
(2)
The key box shall be mounted at a height of four feet from finished
grade to the center of the box.
(3)
Each box may be marked with a red reflective sign having the words
"KNOX BOX" on the sign in four-inch white lettering at the discretion
of the Fire Chief.
(4)
The key box shall be attached to the building with through bolts
and may be surface mounted or shall be recessed on existing buildings
being retrofitted. Recessed key boxes shall be installed on all new
buildings.
(5)
The key box may have an optional tamper switch, wired on a separate
zone, that will activate a trouble alarm if anyone tampers with the
box. If such tamper switch is used, it should be connected to the
security system. Under no circumstances shall the tamper switch be
connected to the fire alarm system.
(6)
The key box shall contain the following: all keys and/or access codes
that may be required to gain entry into all locations within the building,
emergency contact information, hazardous materials information, and
building layout or site plan. All information shall be kept current.
(7)
The owner shall contact the Codes Enforcement Officer to schedule
a site visit to confirm the location of the key box prior to installation.
(8)
The key box shall be properly installed and shall be inspected by
the Codes Enforcement Officer prior to issuance of an occupancy permit.
C.
Supplemental key boxes shall be installed in the rear of all buildings
that are:
D.
Exceptions to the aforementioned installation specifications may
be obtained from the Fire Chief based upon building configurations
or circumstances which are not addressed within this chapter.
E.
The information contained in the key box shall be provided to the
applicable fire companies and the Township. The Fire Chief may require
additional relevant information be provided and kept on file for the
facility. The information shall be annually reviewed with the facility
manager or person in charge to ensure all information is up to date
and current.
F.
Any facility which handles, uses, or stores hazardous materials and
are required to prepare an emergency services material safety data
sheet (MSDS) or hazardous chemical inventory form under the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA Title III) shall
install a knox box haz-mat cabinet. Such cabinet must contain all
pertinent, updated information regarding the hazardous materials,
emergency evacuation plans, and current emergency responders list
along with any keys, access cards, or codes to permit entry into all
areas of the facility.
G.
The Fire Chief may mandate the use of Knox FDC (Fire Department Connections)
plugs and caps in areas where vandalism affects private hydrants and/or
sprinkler and standpipe connections.
H.
Key boxes, as described in this chapter, which were in existence
and installed prior to the enactment of this chapter, shall be exempt
from the new requirements insofar as they will not be required to
move their then current key box if it does not meet this chapter.
The requirements of this chapter shall be enforced where or when the
box needs construction or replacement.
I.
All applicable existing buildings and facilities shall install all
required key boxes within 180 days from date of effect of this chapter.
A.
Sprinklers shall be installed when required by the Pennsylvania Uniform
Construction Code. Sprinkler systems shall be red in color with contrasting
four-inch reflective sign stating "FDC" if there is not such sign
on the building.
B.
Upon request by the Fire Chief, the owner of any sprinkler system
shall provide proof of certified annual testing of such sprinkler
system.
Any person who shall, without authority of the Codes Enforcement Officer, Fire Chief or his designee, open any fire hydrant, or who shall wantonly, maliciously, willfully or in a negligent manner tamper with, injure, destroy, damage, break, disturb or impair any fire hydrant, any fire-fighting appliance or alarm, including, but not limited to, a supplemental fire protection system, and the constituent parts and equipment thereof, or any fire-fighting equipment or apparatus or anything pertaining to the fire-fighting system, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in § 103-19 hereof.
Any person who shall knowingly or willfully hinder, obstruct or interfere with any fire fighter, fire police officer, or any emergency service official in the performance of their duties, or who shall, while within the vicinity of any fire or emergency, willfully disobey or disregard any order, directive, rule or regulation of the officer commanding any fire scene or emergency activity during or after such fire or emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in § 103-19 hereof and/or shall be prosecuted under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 5112.
The street/building number assigned by the Township in accordance with the regulations of the United States Postal Service to buildings, structures and premises in the Township shall be numbered in accordance with Chapter 63 of the Code.
The Code Enforcement Officer, with the concurrence of the Fire
Chief, shall have the right to modify any of the requirements of this
chapter, unless required by the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code, upon application, in writing, by the owner or occupant of a
building, structure or premises, or his duly authorized agent, when
there are practical difficulties in strictly carrying out the requirements
of this chapter, provided that the spirit of this chapter shall be
observed. The particulars of such modification shall be entered upon
the records of the Code Enforcement Officer, and a copy shall be furnished
to the person requesting such modification.
Whenever the Code Enforcement Officer shall not grant a modification requested pursuant to § 103-17 hereof, or when it is claimed that the provisions of this chapter do not apply, or that the true intent or meaning of this chapter has been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the aggrieved person may appeal, in writing, to Township Board of Supervisors within 15 days of the date of the Code Enforcement Officer's decision.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or who fails to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made hereof, and from which no appeal has been taken or if taken as been fully exhausted in accordance with the procedures set forth in § 103-18 hereof, shall for each and every violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a summary offense and be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $1,000, plus all costs and attorneys' fees, in default of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. The imposition of a penalty for any violation or noncompliance shall not excuse the violation of noncompliance or permit it to continue; and all such responsible persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or noncompliances within a time limit specified by the Code Enforcement Officer, or his designee; and when not otherwise specified, each day that a violation or noncompliance continues shall constitute a separate offense. The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions or enforcement of the requirements of this chapter by appropriate court action.
A fee or fees may be charged for the services provided in § 103-3 hereof as shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors. This fee shall be paid to the Township and may be designated for use by the Fire Department.
