[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.
