Fire exits in existing buildings shall comply with the building
code that applied at the time of construction. Existing buildings
that were not required to comply with a building code at the time
of construction shall comply with the minimum egress requirements
specified below:
A. At least two exit routes shall be available in a building to permit
prompt evacuation of building occupants during an emergency, except
where a single exit route is permitted by the Uniform Code.
B. Every existing structure in which the means of egress are, in the
opinion of the Code Enforcement Officer, inadequate for the safety
of the occupants shall be provided with means of egress or means of
escape as directed by the Code Enforcement Officer.
C. In the event that a building, facility or occupancy is determined
to have an impractical evacuation capability, additional fire protection
equipment, procedures and/or construction shall be provided to mitigate
the hazard to life. The term "impractical evacuation capability" shall
mean the documented inability of occupants to evacuate or reach a
place of safety within 13 minutes.
D. In addition to any other emergency plans required by the Uniform
Code, every employer with more than 10 employees shall have written
fire prevention and emergency action plans (as required by 29 CFR
Part 1910).
E. The Code Enforcement Officer shall establish minimum requirements
for the contents and posting of evacuation floor plans. Where evacuation
floor plans and written fire prevention and emergency action plans
are required or provided, copies of such plans shall be provided to
the Fire Department and Code Enforcement Officer.
F. Where required by the Code Enforcement Officer, approved floor markings
shall be provided to ensure that exit routes and safe clearances from
equipment are maintained.
Where any fire barriers, fire compartments or fire walls are
not maintained and do not function as intended or do not have the
fire resistance required by the code under which the building was
constructed, remodeled or altered, such component(s) or portion thereof
shall be deemed an unsafe condition. Components or portions thereof
determined to be unsafe shall be repaired or replaced to conform to
that code under which the building was constructed, remodeled, altered,
or the Uniform Code, as deemed appropriate by the Code Enforcement
Officer. Where the extent of the conditions of components is such
that any building, structure or portion thereof presents an imminent
danger to the occupants of the building, structure or portion thereof,
the building shall be deemed a dangerous building.
This section applies to automatic fire, burglar and medical
alarms requiring response by emergency personnel.
A. No person shall allow, permit, cause or fail to prevent the activation
for any reason of more than three nuisance alarms within any six-month
period. The activation of more than three nuisance alarms is excessive,
constitutes a public nuisance and shall be prohibited.
B. The Fire Chief, in the case of alarms responded to by the Fire Department,
shall determine whether a nuisance alarm has occurred and the frequency
of such nuisance alarms.
C. In the event of four or more nuisance alarms within any six-month
period, the Fire Chief, Code Enforcement Officer, or their designated
agents are authorized to disconnect such alarm system from notifying
emergency personnel. In the event of a disconnection, the Building
Department, Fire Department, or any official having the authority
to disconnect shall not be liable for any damages that may result.
D. Alarm systems that have been disconnected or bypassed due to nuisance
alarms shall be serviced immediately by a competent service technician.
E. An alarm user shall be given a thirty-day grace period from the date
the alarm is installed or a substantial change in the system is made,
during which time nuisance alarms will not be counted.
F. Audible alarms.
(1) All audible alarms which may be heard in a public place shall be
equipped and maintained to become deactivated and silenced automatically
after a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes, except for fire alarms
and other alarms required by law to sound longer.
(2) The emergency response agency may disable an audible alarm that has
not been silenced after the thirty-minute period and shall not be
liable for any injuries or damage that may result.
G. Systems out of service. The Building Department shall have the authority
to require an inspection and test of any fire alarm system that has
been out of service for 30 days or more before being restored back
into service.
H. Exemption. This section shall not apply to any alarms attached to
motor vehicles.
I. Special definitions. As used in this section, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ALARM or ALARM SYSTEM
Any device which is used in a building, place or premises
for the detection of unauthorized entry, burglary, fire, rescue or
any other emergency and which when activated emits a sound, signal
or message to alert others, whether such sound, signal or message
is emitted on or off premises. Carbon monoxide or gas detection devices
are considered alarm systems for purposes of this chapter.
NUISANCE ALARM
Any alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper
installation, lack of proper maintenance, negligence, or any alarm
activated by a cause that cannot be determined.