[Adopted 3-13-1990 (Title 7, Ch. 7.13, of the 1986 Code)]
[Amended 6-25-1996; FCB 11-27-2006]
For the purpose of this article, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:
ALARM SYSTEM
An assembly of equipment and devices, or a single device such as a solid state unit which connects directly into a 110 volt AC line, arranged to signal the presence of a hazard involving fire, smoke or a related change in temperature requiring urgent attention and to which the Fire Department is expected to respond. Alarm systems on motor vehicles and police alarm systems which are directly related to an unauthorized intrusion into a premises or an attempted robbery at a premises are specifically excluded from the provisions of this article.
ALARM USER or USER
Any person on whose premises an alarm system is maintained within the City. Excluded from this definition are:
A. 
The Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority, Springfield Library and Museums Association and the Department of Facilities Management;
B. 
Central station personnel; and
C. 
Persons who use alarm systems to alert or signal persons within the premises in which the alarm system is located of a possible fire. However, if such an alarm system employs an audible signal or flashing light outside the premises, the user of such an alarm system shall be within the definition of "alarm user" and shall be subject to this article.
CENTRAL STATION
An office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected where operators supervise circuits or where guards are maintained continuously to investigate signals.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or negligence of the user of the alarm system or his employees or agents. Excluded from this definition are activations of alarm systems caused by power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and similar conditions.
FIRE CHIEF
The head of the Fire Department of the City of Springfield, or his designated representative.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
The City of Springfield Fire Department, or any authorized agent thereof.
LOCAL SMOKE DETECTION SYSTEM
Any alarm system in which the alarm or signal registers in the protected premises. It is primarily for the notification of the occupants and shall consist of detectors, horns, bells and a control panel.
MASTER BOX
Emergency signaling devices hard-wired to a central station.
PUBLIC NUISANCE
Anything which annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of any person(s) or of any community or neighborhood.
RADIO BOX
Emergency signaling devices that transmit radio signals to a receiver located at a central station.
A. 
Every alarm user shall submit to the Fire Chief the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the user and at least two other persons who can be reached at any time, day or night, and who are authorized to respond to an emergency signal transmitted by the alarm system, and who can open the premises wherein the alarm system is installed. The list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of the responders must be kept current at all times by the alarm user and shall be submitted during the first month of each year.
B. 
All alarm systems which use audible bells or horns shall be equipped with an automatic shut-off device which will deactivate the alarm within 10 minutes. All alarm users with an audible bell or horn must comply with this subsection within 90 days of the adoption of this article.
C. 
All alarm systems which fail to comply with the above Subsection B and emit a continuous and uninterrupted signal for more than 30 minutes which cannot be shut off or otherwise curtailed due the absence or unavailability of the alarm user or those persons designated by him under Subsection A of this section, and which disturb the peace, comfort or repose of the community or neighborhood of an area where the alarm system is located, shall constitute a public nuisance. Upon receiving complaints regarding such a continuous and uninterrupted signal, the Fire Chief shall endeavor to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section in an effort to abate the nuisance. The Fire Chief shall record the time each complaint was made.
D. 
In the event that the Fire Chief is unable to contact the alarm user, or members of the alarm user's family, or those persons designated by the alarm user under Subsection A of this section, or if the aforesaid persons cannot or will not curtail the audible signal being emitted by the alarm system, and the Fire Chief is otherwise unable to abate the nuisance, he may direct a police officer or fire fighter or qualified alarm technician to enter upon the property outside the home or building in which the alarm system is located and take any reasonable action necessary to abate the nuisance.
E. 
After an entry upon the property has been made in accordance with this section and the nuisance abated, the Fire Chief shall have the property secured, if necessary. The reasonable costs and expense of abating a nuisance in accordance with this section may be assessed to the alarm user, said assessment not to exceed $100.
[Added FCB 11-27-2006; amended FCB 11-20-2008]
A. 
No master box shall be installed in the City of Springfield after the adoption of this section.
B. 
Any construction underway before or after the adoption of this article calling for the installation of a master box shall instead have a City-approved radio box installed.
C. 
All master boxes located in the City of Springfield must be replaced with a City-approved radio box by April 30, 2009. The owner(s) of the property where the master box is located shall be responsible for any and all costs of compliance with this section.
No alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages directly to the Fire Department shall be worked on, tested or demonstrated without obtaining permission from the Fire Department Communication Section. Permission is not required to test or demonstrate alarm devices not transmitting emergency messages directly to the Fire Department. An unauthorized test shall constitute a false alarm.
[Amended FCB 11-27-2006; FCB 4-9-2009]
The following acts and omissions shall constitute violations of this article punishable by the fines as herein provided:
A. 
An alarm user whose alarm system transmits or otherwise causes more than three false alarms in the twelve-month period between July 1 and June 30 shall be assessed a fine according to the following schedule:
(1) 
Fourth false alarm: $100.
(2) 
Fifth false alarm: $200.
(3) 
Sixth and any subsequent false alarm: $250.
B. 
An alarm user who fails to comply with any of the requirements of § 100-3 of this article relative to control and curtailment of signals emitted by alarm systems shall be punished by a fine of $50.
C. 
An alarm user who fails to comply with any of the requirements of § 100-5 of this article relative to testing of equipment shall be punished by a fine of $50.
D. 
No alarm user and/or person may disconnect, destroy, meddle with, tamper with, remove or shut off any local smoke detection system without first notifying the Fire Department with the reason for the shut down, how long the alarm system will be shut down, and the alarm user and/or person shall thereafter notify the fire department when the system is back in operation. Any alarm user and/or person who violates a local smoke detection system or any part or thing connected therewith shall be punished by a fine of $300.
E. 
Anyone who fails to comply with any of the requirements of § 100-4 of this article shall be punished by a fine of $100 per calendar day. Each calendar day on which the violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense.
[Amended 8-7-1995; 6-25-1996; 12-2-2002; 2-25-2005; FCB 11-27-2006; 3-25-2011; 11-20-2014]
For inspections and related services not covered by statutory law, the following fees, based on the Fire Department certified inspection form, shall apply for those uses listed below:
A. 
Installation, removal, slurry and leasing of underground storage tanks, permit and inspection:
Tank Capacity
(gallons)
Fee
Up to 1,500
$75
1,501 to 5,000
$100
5,001 to 7,500
$150
7,501 and over
$250
B. 
Installation and removal of aboveground storage tanks, permit and inspection:
Tank Capacity
(gallons)
Fee
Up to 1,500
$75
1,501 to 5,000
$100
5,001 to 7,500
$150
7,501 and over
$250
C. 
Smoke detectors/carbon monoxide detector inspection:
(1) 
One unit: $50.
(2) 
Two units: $100.
(3) 
Three to six units: $150.
(4) 
Seven or more units: $500.
(5) 
Reinspection fee: $50.
D. 
Storage and inspection of flammable and combustible gases, liquids and solids, permit and inspection: $75.
E. 
Oil-burning equipment permit and inspection: $75.
F. 
Propane storage permit and inspection:
Tank Capacity
(gallons)
Fee
0 to 100
$75
101 to 1,000
$125
1,001 and over
$225
G. 
Combustible liquids, permit and inspection:
(1) 
Transportation (two-year permit): $100.
(2) 
Overnight parking of tank truck (two-year permit): $100.
H. 
Lumber yards and forest products, permit and inspection (two-year permit): $100.
I. 
Fuel oil, gasoline and diesel fuel storage permit and inspection (annual):
Tank Capacity
(gallons)
Fee
0 to 500
$50
501 to 2,500
$75
2,501 and over
$150
J. 
New gas service station plan review and final inspection: $100.
K. 
Annual service station inspection: $150.
L. 
Propane tar kettle (roofing): $50.
M. 
Propane heating unit (roofing): $50.
N. 
Fumigating permit: $50.
O. 
Blasting permit: $50. A fire watch detail shall be required at the owner's or applicant's expense, the cost of which shall be determined by the Fire Department in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
P. 
Alarm systems.
(1) 
Annual fee for radio box: $300.
(2) 
Private fire alarm test with radio box: $75.
(3) 
Private alarm system test: $50.
(4) 
New fire alarm system installation permit, plan review and inspection:
System Size
(square feet)
Fee
0 to 5,000
$125
5,001 to 7,500
$175
7,501 and over
$200
(a) 
A reinspection fee of $75 will be assessed where a follow-up inspection is needed after a failed test or inspection or where the systems are not ready or available for inspection at the scheduled inspection time.
(b) 
An inspection and permit fee of $75 will be charged for alarm system modifications.
Q. 
Annual inspections: $75.
R. 
Quarterly inspections (per inspection).
(1) 
Nursing and rest homes: $75.
(2) 
Clinics and HMOs: $75.
(3) 
Hotels and motels: $75.
(4) 
Theaters: $75.
(5) 
Lodging houses: $75.
(6) 
Housing for the elderly: $75.
(7) 
Group homes: $75.
(8) 
Inn holders: $75.
(9) 
Hospitals: $150.
S. 
Fireworks permit: $100. A fire watch detail shall be required at the owner's or applicant's expense, the cost of which shall be determined by the Fire Department in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
T. 
New sprinkler system installation permit, plan review and inspection:
System Size
(square feet)
Fee
0 to 5,000
$125
5,001 to 7,500
$175
7,501 and over
$200
(1) 
A reinspection fee of $75 will be assessed where a follow-up inspection is needed after a failed test or inspection or where the systems are not ready or available for inspection at the scheduled inspection time.
(2) 
An inspection and permit fee of $75 will be charged for sprinkler system modifications.
U. 
Dumpsters six yards or greater in the aggregate: $50 per dumpster (annual fee).
V. 
Fire protection systems shutdown fee: $50. A fire watch detail may be required at the owner's or applicant's expense, the cost of which shall be determined by the Fire Department in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements.
W. 
Wet and dry chemical systems.
(1) 
Wet chemical system permit, plan review and inspection fee: $100.
(2) 
Dry chemical system permit, plan review and inspection fee: $100.
X. 
Cutting and welding permit and inspection fee: $75.
Y. 
Tire storage permit and inspection fee: $75.
Z. 
Fire drill requests: $50 per drill.
AA. 
Special inspections: $75.
BB. 
Records search and Chapter 21E site assessment fee: $25.
CC. 
Unvented gas-fired space heater permit and inspection fee: $75.
DD. 
Ammunition storage permit and inspection fee: $75.
EE. 
Cannon and mortar firing permit and inspection fee: $75.
FF. 
Covered mall building permit and inspection fee: $75.
GG. 
Construction heater (salamander) permit and inspection fee: $75.
HH. 
Compressed natural gas container and system permit and inspection fee: $75.
II. 
Hazardous material processing permit and inspection fee: $50.
JJ. 
A fee for fire watch details for places of assembly shall be assessed by the Fire Department in accordance with applicable collective bargaining agreements. An administrative fee of 10% of the cost of the detail shall also be assessed.
KK. 
Annual life safety/code compliance permit and inspection fee (including first reinspection):
(1) 
Fees.
(a) 
Commercial, industrial, mercantile with fire protection systems: $150.
(b) 
Commercial, industrial, mercantile without fire protection systems: $75.
(c) 
Residential buildings, six units to 12 units, units with fire protection systems: $100.
(d) 
Residential buildings 13+ units with fire protection systems: $150.
(e) 
Restaurant inspection (under 100 occupancy): $75.
(2) 
The cost of the first reinspection is included in the fees designated in this section.
(3) 
The cost of subsequent inspections shall be $50.
LL. 
Inspections under MGL c. 10, § 74 and Chapter 304 of the Acts of 2004: $100.
MM. 
Miscellaneous permits and inspections not otherwise addressed in this Chapter 100: $50.
Whoever violates any provision of this article or any rule, order or regulation adopted and published by the Fire Department shall be punished by a fine not exceeding $300. Each day on which the violation exists shall be deemed to be a separate offense.