[Adopted by Ord. No. 1460 (Sec. 4.11 of the Codification)]
[Amended by Ord. No. 1681]
A. 
An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed throughout and maintained in operable condition in all new buildings regardless of size, construction, height, fire division wall separations and occupancy, except as provided in Subsection B.
B. 
Exceptions. Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall not be required in:
(1) 
One- and two-family dwellings.
(2) 
Any other locations where the installation of sprinklers may increase the occupational hazard as determined by the Fire Chief.
(3) 
The Fire Department is authorized to modify any of the provisions of this code upon application by the owner, lessee or a duly authorized representative where there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the provisions of the code, provided that the intent of the code shall be complied with, public safety secured, and substantial justice done.
A. 
The design and installation of any automatic fire sprinkler system shall be completed in accordance with NFPA 13 - Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems, and other applicable standards of NFPA.
B. 
Additional design requirements:
(1) 
System drain. The system shall have a drain piped to the outside of the building or to a drain suitable to handle the required flows.
(2) 
Inspector's test valve. The system shall have an inspector's test valve piped so as to discharge to the outside of the building, or to a drain suitable to handle the required flows.
(3) 
Alarm bells or horns. Alarms, bells or horns shall be installed on all systems. Bells or horns shall be installed on the inside of the building and shall be in each unit or tenant space. A mechanical water gong alarm shall be installed on the outside of the building.
(4) 
Residential occupancies. In multifamily residential buildings without a common interior area, the sprinkler system riser shall be located in a separate heated room with direct access to the outside of the building for use by the Fire Department.
A. 
New sprinkler systems installed under this chapter shall be monitored by an approved off-site central station monitoring service.
B. 
The monitoring shall include water flow indication and tamper switches on all valves in the system. The system shall be tied into the building fire and smoke detection alarm system to signal to the occupants that water is flowing.
No automatic sprinkler equipment shall be installed or altered in any building until plans have been submitted to and conditionally approved by the Building Inspector and the Fire Department. Two copies of the plans and the specifications shall be submitted.
A. 
Installation of sprinkler systems. The installations of all sprinkler piping, heads, risers shall be inspected by the Fire Department before being covered.
B. 
Installation of underground piping. The installation of underground piping shall be inspected by the Fire Department prior to being covered.
C. 
The installer shall provide minimum three working days' advanced notice to the Fire Department prior to performance of final acceptance test.
A. 
The sprinkler system shall have a hydrostatic test performed in the presence of a Fire Department inspector.
B. 
The sprinkler system shall be tested by flows of the main drain and inspector's test. The acceptance test shall be conducted by the installer in the presence of a Fire Department inspector.
C. 
The installer shall provide minimum three working days' advanced notice to the Fire Department prior to performance of final acceptance test.
A. 
Maintenance. Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be maintained for efficient service as specified within NFPA 13A - Standard for the Care and Maintenance of Systems.
B. 
A qualified sprinkler technician shall inspect and test the automatic sprinkler system at least annually. The provisions of NFPA 13A, Chapters 7-21, shall be used as the inspection criteria.
C. 
A current test record shall be posted adjacent the sprinkler control valve.
Any sprinkler system which has been installed pursuant to this article or in compliance with any other statute, ordinance or regulation, shall be maintained in operative condition at all time. It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection so required; provided, however, that the owner or occupant may temporarily reduce or discontinue the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations or addition to the system or appliance. The Fire Chief shall be notified before any system is reduced or discontinued for such repair, alteration or addition and shall be notified promptly upon the system's restoration to service.