Township of Nether Providence, PA Fire Prevention

A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Township of Nether Providence, being marked and designated as the "BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, Tenth Edition, 1996," as published by Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc., is hereby adopted as the Fire Prevention Code of the Township of Nether Providence for the control of buildings and structures as herein provided, and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, Tenth Edition, 1996, Articles 1 through 34 inclusive, and Appendixes A, B and C, inclusive, are hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this chapter, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 133-2 of this chapter.

The following sections are hereby revised to read as follows:

Section F-101.1 Title: These regulations as set forth herein shall be known as the "Fire Prevention Code of Nether Providence Township" and are herein referred to as such or as "this code."
Section F-101.3 Compliance: Delete and replace as follows:
101.3 New and existing conditions. The provisions of this code shall apply equally to new and existing buildings and conditions.
	Exceptions:
1.	Existing conditions which do not constitute a distinct hazard to life or property.
2.	The transportation of any article or substance under the jurisdiction of and in compliance with the regulations prescribed by the military forces of the United States.
F-101.3.1 Exemptions. Buildings built under and in full compliance with the codes in force at the time of construction or alteration thereof, and that have been properly maintained and used for such use as originally permitted, shall be exempt from the requirements of this code pertaining to any of the following matters, except as otherwise provided for in this code:
1.	Fire protection of building elements except as required for existing building under Chapter 5- Fire Protection Systems, Section F-304.0 Shafts, Section F-313.1 Elevator Recall, and Section F-610 Illumination & Signs, of this code or any building code in effect in the Township.
2.	Exits required, except as required for existing buildings under Chapter 6 - Means of Egress, of this code or the building code in effect in the Township.
3.	Isolation of hazardous operations and mixed uses as required for existing buildings under this code or any building code in effect in Township; provided, however, that the code official requires the installation of fire safety devices or systems (fire extinguishers, fire protective signaling systems, automatic fire detection devices, sprinklers or similar systems) where such devises or systems are necessary to provide safety to life and property. In lieu of requiring the installation of safety devices or systems or when necessary to secure safety in addition thereto, the code official shall prescribe limitations on other handling and storage of materials or substances or upon operations that are liable to cause fire, contribute to the spread of fire, or endanger life or property.
F-101.3.2 Matters not provided for: Any requirement essential for fire safety of an existing or proposed building or structure, or essential for the safety of the occupants thereof, and which is not specifically covered by this code, shall be determined by the code official.
F-101.3.3 Other regulations: When the provisions herein specified for health, safety and welfare are more restrictive than other provisions of this code, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the safety and welfare of the public shall prevail.
F-101.3.3.1 Conflicting provisions: When any provision of this code is found to be in conflict with any other provision of this code, the provision which establishes the higher standard for the promotion and protection to the safety and welfare of the public shall prevail.
Section F-105.1 Code official: It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Fire Marshal to enforce the provisions of this code.
Section F-107.2 Permits required: Permits are required for the various uses and activities as provided in the code, except that no permit is required whenever a Township of Nether Providence building permit has been issued governing the construction, installation or demolition of the prescribed item of this code. Required permits shall at all times be maintained on the premises therein and shall at all times be subject to inspection by the Fire Marshal.
Table F-107.2.3: Insert "Yes" on each line in the column headed "Permit required." Fees shall be in accordance with a schedule as from time to time adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of the Nether Providence.
Section F-108.1 Inspection: Amend by adding the following: "Inspections shall be performed by the Fire Marshal at least once per year, except that health institutions shall be inspected biannually."
Section F-112.3 Penalty for violations: Delete and replace with the text of § 133-3 of the Code of the Township of Nether Providence.
Section F-202.0 General definitions: This section is amended to expand the definition of rubbish (trash) to add "any waste discarded or rejected matter or substance, vegetable, animal or mineral, including furnishings, tools, vehicles, trash, debris, scrap, junk, garbage, leaves and cut or fallen trees."
Section F-311.1 Designation: Amend by adding the following: "The cost of plans and markings of fire lanes shall be borne by the property owner."
Section F-402.1 General. Amend by adding the following: "No person or persons shall set or maintain any fire upon any of the streets, sidewalks, alleys or public or private grounds in the Township of Nether Providence or burn or cause to be burned thereon any paper, boxes, rubbish, leaves or other material or substances of any kind except in conformance with the provisions of this code."
Section F-402.3 Candles. Delete "worship" from the fourth line.
Section F-403.3 Burning of yard waste prohibited: Open burning of limbs and branches fallen or removed from trees and shrubs and rubbish (trash), garbage, grass clippings and all other vegetative matter is prohibited at all times. [Amended 3-11-1999 by Ord. No. 634; 6-12-2008 by Ord. No. 731]
Section F-403.4.3 Open burning prohibited: The Fire Marshal may prohibit any or all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous or which are or could be offensive or objectionable due to smoke or odor emissions. The Fire Marshal shall order the extinguishment by the property owner or Fire Departments of any fires violating the provisions of this chapter or otherwise creating a hazardous or objectionable situation.
SECTION F-311.0 FIRE LANES
F-311.1 Designation: The Fire Marshal, in conjunction with the Chief of Police, shall require and designate public or private fire lanes as deemed necessary for the efficient and effective use of fire apparatus. The plans for fire lanes shall be submitted to and approved by the Fire Marshal and Chief of Police. Fire lanes shall include all aisles, roadways, passageways, areas adjacent to fire hydrants or siamese connections for buildings, etc., wherever located, designated by the Fire Marshal, whether on public or private property. The cost of plans and markings of fire lanes shall be borne by the property owner.
Section F-501.2 Installations: Amend by adding the following: "Single-family dwellings are exempt from this section, provided that such system is not connected by any means, including tape dialer, to an external monitoring source, including the County Emergency Communications Board."
Section F-3003.2 Establishment of limits. The limitations referred to in Section F-3003.2 of the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code/1996, in which the storage of explosive materials is prohibited, are hereby established as follows: The storage of any and all explosive materials is strictly prohibited within all zoning districts of the Township of Nether Providence, except for: (1) Daily temporary storage for rock removal operations for installation of utilities and building foundations; and (2) Quarry explosive uses pursuant to PA DEP permit.

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter or the code adopted thereby shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, General Provisions, Art. II, Violations and Penalties, § 1-16, Building, health and safety violations.

A.

Knox Box for new commercial buildings. All new commercial buildings shall have installed a Knox Box, compliant with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) standard 1037, in a location specified by the Township Fire Marshal.

B.

Knox Box for existing commercial buildings. All existing commercial buildings shall have installed a Knox Box, compliant with UL 1037, in a location specified by the Township Fire Marshal, within six months of the effective date of this article.

C.

Knox Box contents. All Knox Boxes shall contain labeled keys, easily identifiable in the field, to provide access into the building and to any locked areas within the building as the Fire Marshal may direct.

KNOX BOX

A secure rapid entry system that is designed to be used by emergency personnel in the event of an emergency to gain entry into a structure by using enclosed owner provided keys. All Knox Boxes shall be UL Certified and approved by the Fire Marshal.

A.

All new Fire Department connections will be five-inch storz connections or connections of identical hose compatibility.

B.

All existing Fire Department connections shall be replaced with five-inch storz connections or connections of identical hose compatibility within six months of the date of this article.

C.

All Fire Department connections that are piped away from a building will be painted red, and will have white reflective tape placed around the pipe.

D.

All Fire Department connections will have a visible sign, with content and lettering size to be specified by the Fire Marshal, over the connection. Lettering on such signs will be reflective.