[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Vanport 9-10-1984 by Ord. No. 241. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Construction standards — See Ch. 83.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
LEASED OR RENTED DWELLING OR SLEEPING UNIT
Any structure designed for living or sleeping quarters, either permanent or transient, including but not limited to:
A. 
One-family dwellings.
B. 
Multifamily dwellings of two or more units.
C. 
One-family semidetached dwellings.
D. 
Row dwellings.
E. 
Rooming houses.
F. 
Nursing or boarding homes or houses.
G. 
Motels or motor hotels.
H. 
Hotels.
OWNER
The person, persons, entity or entities in whom or which title to the real estate of which said structure is a part as identified by the records in the office of the Recorder of Deeds of Beaver County.
SMOKE DETECTOR
Any device which when activated by smoke emits an audible signal. The "smoke detector" must meet or exceed the standards now or hereafter established by Factory Mutual Research Corporation or Underwriter's Life Association, must have a self-contained power supply and must be capable of emitting an audible signal of at least 85 decibels at a range of 10 feet.
The smoke detectors shall be installed on or near ceilings, but no closer than 12 inches to the corner of interior walls. Final determination of the proper location for the smoke detector or detectors shall be determined by the Vanport Township Fire Marshal or such person or persons as he may from time to time designate to act as his agent or agents for this purpose. The general areas in which the smoke detectors shall be located are:
A. 
At the top of stairways.
B. 
In the hallways or doorways outside of sleeping areas.
C. 
Between sleeping areas and potential fire sources.
D. 
In addition to the foregoing, as to rooming houses, nursing or boarding homes, motels or motor hotels and hotels, in each sleeping room separately offered for rent and/or lease.
It shall be the responsibility and duty of the owner to:
A. 
Install such smoke detectors as are required by the terms hereof.
B. 
Periodically at reasonable intervals inspect such smoke detectors to ensure their proper working condition.
C. 
Maintain such smoke detectors at all times in proper working condition.
D. 
Inform all persons residing in the structures in which such smoke detectors are located of the presence and purpose thereof.
A. 
The Vanport Township Fire Marshal or such person or persons as he may from time to time designate to act as his agent or agents for this purpose is authorized and empowered to inspect each smoke detector installed under the provisions of this chapter at such time or times as he may deem to be proper but in no event less than one time in each twelve-month period.
B. 
The Vanport Township Fire Marshal or such person or persons as he may from time to time designate to act as his agent or agents for this purpose shall inform, in writing, any person or persons or the agent or agents of any entity or entities who or which shall be found to be in violation of any provision of this chapter of the exact nature of such violation.
C. 
The Vanport Township Fire Marshal, the Township of Vanport, the Commissioners of the Township of Vanport and all agents and/or employees of the same shall be immune from civil and/or criminal liability for any and all acts or omissions in connection with the exercise of the duties and/or responsibilities imposed by the terms of this chapter or in connection with the enforcement of the terms of this chapter.
[Amended 12-12-1997 by Ord. No. 281]
A. 
Any owner of a structure in which smoke detectors must be placed under the terms hereof who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction before a District Justice, be fined in an amount not to exceed $600, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of said fine and cost, be imprisoned for a period of not more than 30 days. For the purposes of this section, each day's continuation of noncompliance with the terms of this chapter after official notification by the Fire Marshal or his agent of the existence of such noncompliance shall constitute a separate offense.
B. 
Any person convicted of tampering with a smoke detector so as to render it inoperable shall, upon conviction before a District Justice, be fined in an amount not to exceed six $600, plus costs of prosecution and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, be imprisoned for a period of not more than 30 days.
C. 
The Commissioners of Vanport Township hereby authorize the Vanport Township Fire Marshal or his designated agent, upon notice of any violation of this chapter, to institute charges before a District Justice in accordance with the penalty provisions set forth in Subsections A and B of this section.
A. 
This chapter shall be effective on the first day of the month next succeeding that in which it was enacted.
B. 
Compliance with the terms of this chapter shall be within the following times:
(1) 
As to existing structures subject to the terms of this chapter, full compliance shall be accomplished within six months from the effective date hereof.
(2) 
After the effective date hereof as to structures newly constructed, existing structures modified so as to be subject to the terms of this chapter and structures for the first time used in such a manner as to require compliance with the terms of this chapter, full compliance shall be accomplished before such structure or any part thereof is first offered for lease and/or rent for human habitation.