[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of
Morrisville 10-19-2009 by Ord. No. 980. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
A.
This chapter is enacted to provide for regular, annual inspections
of nonresidential uses and buildings for purposes of firesafety. This
chapter is for edification of the International Fire Code[1] already in place in the Borough of Morrisville and to
promote the health, safety and general welfare of the inhabitants
of the Borough of Morrisville and commercial establishments and the
employees working within them.
B.
This chapter is for the purpose of inspection for fire and safety
of all nonresidential buildings, which buildings are used for commercial
and/or industrial and/or business purposes, and any structure within
the Borough of Morrisville for any nonresidential use.
A.
The Borough Council designates the Code Enforcement Officer/Fire
Marshal as the official who shall make periodic inspections, according
to an established schedule, when ordered to do so by the Borough Council
or Borough Manager or when circumstances warrant an inspection, and
shall make such orders as may be necessary for the enforcement of
the laws and ordinances which mandate the protection and safeguard
of life and property from fire or other hazards.
B.
The person designated by the Borough Council under this chapter may,
at all reasonable hours and not less than once yearly, enter any public
building or any private building used for any business, commercial
or industrial purpose for the purpose of making any inspection or
investigation which he, she or they may deem necessary for the prevention
of fire and to secure the safety of persons.
There shall be a fee established in accordance with the Borough
fee schedule to be paid by the owner of the subject premises payable
to the Borough of Morrisville for the performance of the inspection
service provided.
A.
Pursuant to the Fire Code, the owners or designated occupants of
all nonresidential buildings and structures within Morrisville Borough
shall be required to obtain an inspection certificate issued by the
Borough of Morrisville, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, containing such
information as to the owner/occupant, emergency contact information
and property information as the Borough shall deem necessary and appropriate
and verification that the premises complies with all applicable fire
and safety regulations and ordinances.
B.
The certificate shall indicate a time for which the certificate is
valid.
C.
The certificate shall be conspicuously displayed so as to be visible
to any employee, customer or other such person coming into the premises.
A.
Whenever the designated official shall find in any building or upon
any premises or other places combustible or explosive matter or dangerous
accumulations of rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of waste paper,
boxes, shavings or any highly flammable materials especially liable
to fire, and which is so situated as to endanger property, or shall
find obstruction to or repairs needed for or lack of fire escapes,
stairs, passageways, doors or windows, leaving the same liable to
interfere with the operation of fire-fighting crews or egress of occupants
in the event of a fire, he, she or they shall order the same to be
removed, remedied or repaired, and such order shall forthwith be complied
with by the owner or occupant of such premises or buildings.
B.
Any owner or occupant failing to comply with such order within the
time specified on the violation notice after the service of said order
shall be liable for the penalties hereinafter provided.
C.
The service of any such order may be made upon the occupant of the
premises to whom it is directed, either by delivering a copy of the
same to such occupant personally or by delivering same to and by leaving
with any person in charge of the premises, or in case no such person
is found upon the premises, by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous
place on the door to the entrance of said premises. Whenever it may
be necessary to serve such an order upon the owner of a premises,
such order may be served either by delivering to and leaving with
said person a copy of said order or, if such owner is absent from
the jurisdiction of the official making the order, by mailing such
copy by certified mail to the owner's last known post office
address.
Records of all inspections and fires and of all facts concerning
the same shall be kept by the Code Official in the offices of the
Borough located at 35 Union Street, Morrisville, Pennsylvania.
If upon inspection it is the opinion that an immediate fire
hazard or condition dangerous to human life or property exists, the
inspector is empowered to order an immediate evacuation of the premises
and to secure the premises until such hazard or condition has been
corrected.
The owner, occupant or person in charge of or managing any buildings
or premises covered by this chapter shall, forthwith, after notice
by the person designated by the Borough Council under this chapter,
correct any condition in such building or premises so that the premises,
building, processes or materials shall be in such condition so as
to comply with the recognized standards and practices set forth hereunder
for the prevention of fire or other catastrophe.
The failure or neglect of any person designated by this chapter
to be responsible hereunder to comply with any order or directive
issued by the person designated by the Borough Council under this
chapter, within the time period specified and pursuant to the provisions
of this chapter, shall be deemed to be a violation of this chapter.
Any person, firm, corporation, association, company or like
entity, whether for profit or not for profit, who shall violate any
provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced
to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 and/or to imprisonment for a
term not to exceed 90 days. Every day that a violation of any provision
of this chapter continues shall constitute a separate offense.
