GENERAL REFERENCES
Alarm systems – See Ch. 1440.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
(a)
BUILDING — Includes any dwelling, apartment house, condominium
or multiple-occupancy dwelling.
(b)
DWELLING — Includes any structure or building in which it is
intended or likely that people will dwell or habitate and shall specifically
include any structure or building in which it is intended or likely
that people will sleep. By way of illustration, but without limitation,
the term shall include single-family residences, duplexes, apartment
houses, condominiums, hotels, motels, boarding houses, rowhouses,
townhouses and mobile homes.
(c)
PERSON — Includes any person, firm, association, group or corporation,
and includes the plural as well as the singular.
(d)
SMOKE DETECTOR — Means a device which detects particles or
products of combustion other than heat.
(e)
SMOKE DETECTOR SYSTEM — Means a smoke detector as defined above
and an audible alarm-generating means.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
Before any person shall occupy, inhabit or use any building
or part thereof in the Township of Upper Providence for the first
time as owner, or before any person being owner shall lease or let,
or re-lease or re-let, any building or part thereof to any other person,
such owner shall secure a certificate of smoke detector.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
(a)
Application forms. Application for a certificate of smoke detector
shall be made on forms provided by the Township of Upper Providence.
(b)
Application information. The application shall require the full,
correct and complete name of the applicant, the principal address
of the applicant, and the address and a brief description of the premises
for which the application is made, and shall require a statement of
the purpose or use to which the building or part thereof is to be
made, and the number of persons who will use or occupy the same, and
such other pertinent information as the Council of the Township of
Upper Providence may from time to time deem necessary.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
(a)
The fee for filing the application for a certificate of smoke detector
shall be determined from time to time by the Township Council by resolution,
and the fee shall accompany the application.
(b)
In the case of any single-family residence, apartment house, multiple-occupancy
dwelling, condominium or other dwelling, the application shall require
a statement of the existence or nonexistence of a smoke detector system
in the premises and shall further require a complete description of
the system, if any, including its location.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
Before the owner of any dwelling shall lease or let or re-lease
or re-let any dwelling or part thereof to any other person, such owner
shall install or cause to be installed therein a smoke detector system
meeting the specifications outlined herein. Any person who accepts
title to any dwelling or part thereof shall install or cause to be
installed a smoke detector system meeting the specifications outlined
herein.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
Smoke detector systems shall comply with the following requirements:
(a)
A system shall have individual smoke detectors and audible alarms
with at least one unit on every occupied floor. A system, located
on floors with sleeping quarters, should be placed in or near each
such room or portion of the dwelling where it is intended or likely
that people will sleep.
(b)
A system, at each such location, shall be capable of generating an
audible alarm of sufficient loudness to alert sleeping persons.
(c)
A system shall be sufficiently sensitive to smoke so as to sound
an alarm upon the presence of a level of smoke which would not be
detectable by ordinary human senses. Systems sensitive only to heat
are not acceptable.
(d)
A system, if powered by electricity, should be primarily or secondarily
powered by battery and shall be constructed so as to give off an audible
or visual signal when its batteries require replacement or recharge.
(e)
A system shall be of a type approved by Underwriters' Laboratories
and/or the American Insurance Association or a comparable testing
firm.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
Any smoke detection system installed pursuant to this chapter
shall be maintained in good working order by the occupant so long
as the building or structure in which it is located is maintained
or used as a dwelling. "Good working order" shall include batteries
with sufficient charge or power to sound an alarm meeting the requirements
of this chapter.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
The Building Inspector, or such other person as the Council of the Township of Upper Providence may from time to time designate by resolution, shall determine whether the smoke detection system meets the requirements of Sections 1454.06 and 1454.07 by actual inspection. After the Building Inspector or other person approves the system, the Building Inspector or such person shall authorize issuance of a certificate.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
The requirements of this chapter shall be deemed to be in addition
to the requirements of any other Federal, State or local law, ordinance
or rule which deals with smoke, fire or other safety alarms or systems.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
This chapter creates no legal liability to the Township other
than to ensure that, at the time of inspection, the smoke detector
system was present and functional.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
The certificate shall be issued by the Township in a form designated by the Township after the premises have been inspected and the system approved by the person designated in Section 1454.08.
[Ord. No. 138,
passed 10-17-1984]
If the smoke detection system fails to meet the requirements
of this chapter upon first inspection, the applicant shall resubmit
an application for the certificate and a second fee.
[Ord. No. 158,
passed 12-4-1986; Ord. No. 182, passed 9-15-1988]
Any person who, after the effective date of this chapter, occupies, inhabits or uses any dwelling or part thereof in the Township of Upper Providence as owner, or who, being the owner, shall lease or let or re-lease or re-let any dwelling or part thereof in the Township of Upper Providence as owner without having installed therein a smoke detector system which meets the requirements of Sections 1454.06 and 1454.07, shall be in violation of this chapter and shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to a fine or penalty as set forth in Section 1454.99 for each offense, and the cost of prosecution. Whenever such person shall have been notified by the Building Inspector, or another designated person of the Township of Upper Providence, or by service of summons in a prosecution, that he or she is committing such violation of this chapter, each day on which he or she shall continue such violation after such notification shall constitute a separate offense punishable by a like fine or penalty. However, such person shall have seven days after notification before the penalty provisions of this chapter shall apply.
