[Added 9-26-2005]
This article enacted pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. §§ 3001
and 3007(2) as a local building code and for the purpose of fulfilling
the municipality's enforcement responsibilities pursuant to Title
25, Chapter 313 of the Maine Revised Statutes.
[Added 5-18-2009]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BUILDING
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls
and intended for the shelter, housing, use or enclosure of persons,
animals or property. For purposes of determining when an approved
automatic sprinkler system is required by this article, portions of
buildings separated from other portions by a fire wall shall not be
considered separate buildings.
UNIT OF OCCUPANCY
Any interior space with defined boundaries described in a
deed, lease, license or agreement in which a discrete business, commercial,
office, service, professional, institutional or industrial activity
is conducted and which is separated from any other business, commercial,
office, service, professional, institutional or industrial activity
by interior or exterior walls.
[Amended 1-25-1999; 9-26-2005]
Except as provided in §
162-46, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all areas of all new buildings described in whole or in part by any of the following criteria:
A. Three or more stories in height; or
B. Forty or more feet in height; or
C. One hundred thousand cubic feet (gross) or more in volume or 7,500
square feet or more in total floor area (gross), whichever is greater;
or
D. Multiple-family or dwelling and/or lodging units which are attached
to one another, whether vertically or horizontally, in a configuration
of three or more units. Examples include, but are not limited to,
multiplex housing, condominium units, garden apartments, townhouses,
attached dwellings, semidetached dwellings, apartment houses, hotels,
motels, boarding homes and lodging houses.
[Amended 1-25-1999]
Except as provided in §
162-46, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall also be installed in any of the following circumstances:
A. When an existing building is enlarged or the use group classification of the building is changed in whole or part, an approved automatic sprinkler system must be installed in the entire building if the building as a whole meets or after the proposed enlargement or change of use will meet any of the criteria listed in §
162-41.
B. When an existing building meeting any of the criteria listed in §
162-41 is altered, renovated or otherwise internally improved, an automatic sprinkler system must be installed in the entire building if the total value of the alterations, renovations or other improvements of any existing building meeting the criteria of §
162-41 is greater than 50% of the current building value as shown on the assessment records of the Tax Assessor of the City of Westbrook. For purposes of determining the total value of alterations, renovations or other improvements, the value shall be calculated from September 26, 2005, and shall include all alterations, renovations, or other improvements made since that date. The property owner, occupant or agent shall have the burden of proof to show that the claimed value of alterations, renovations or other improvements is accurate.
C. When a new dwelling or lodging unit is created in or added to an existing building, an approved automatic sprinkler system must be installed in the entire building if, as a result of the creation of the new unit, the building as a whole will meet the criteria of §
162-41D.
D. When any other applicable ordinance, code, regulation, rule or statute
so requires, an approved automatic sprinkler system must be installed
accordingly.
[Amended 1-25-1999; 9-26-2005]
A. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be equipped with an
approved supervisory alarm system which will transmit to an approved
receiver. The determination of what systems and receivers are approved
shall be made by the Fire & Rescue Department.
B. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall provide a four-inch
Storz fire department connection. Exception: The size of the fire
department connection for systems meeting the NFPA 13R or the NFPA
13D standard shall be 2.5-inch NST thread with cap.
C. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall include an evacuation
alarm which will sound and be audible throughout the entire building
when the sprinkler system is activated. An internal fire alarm system
may be utilized to meet this requirement, provided it is interconnected
to activation of the sprinkler system.
D. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in any other regulation,
code or rule, an approved automatic sprinkler system shall provide
sprinkler heads both above and below ceilings in all building spaces,
including, without limitation, closets, stairwells, storage rooms,
mechanical rooms and equipment rooms. Exceptions:
(1) Sprinkler systems meeting the NFPA 13R or NFPA 13D standard may have
this requirement waived with the approval of the Fire Chief.
(2) Noncombustible voids fire-stopped at a maximum 300 cubic feet and
only plenum rated utilities are used.
E. A key box or boxes may be required by the Chief of the Department
or his designee, location(s) to be determined by the Chief of the
Department or his designee.
F. Any new sprinkler system installed or modification of an existing
system will be accepted by the Chief of the Department or his designee
prior to any work being started.
[Amended 1-25-1999; 9-26-2005]
Occupied or unoccupied buildings or portions thereof having
a sprinkler system in place, whether or not such system is required
by this article, shall maintain all sprinklers and standpipe systems
and all component parts in workable condition at all times, and it
shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant or agent of either to
reduce the effectiveness of the protection those systems provide.
This section does not prevent the owner or occupant of a building
from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection when necessary
in order to conduct testing, repairs, alterations or additions to
the system, provided that the testing, repairs, alterations or additions
are done in such a way to avoid the creation of a safety hazard, and
provided that the Westbrook Fire & Rescue Department has been
notified that the work will be done, informed of the time the system
will be shut down and then notified when the system is put back online.
[Amended 1-25-1999; 9-26-2005]
A person, firm or corporation who is the owner or has control
or use of any building and who violates or permits or causes a violation
of any of the provisions of this article in such building commits
a civil violation punishable pursuant to 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Chief of the
Department or members of the Fire & Rescue Department expressly
designated by the Chief of the Department.
[Added 1-25-1999; amended 11-4-2002; 9-26-2005; 5-18-2009]
This article shall not apply to barns or greenhouses used for
agriculture or horticulture, or open parking structures, as defined
in the applicable NFPA code(s) that are in effect when the building
permit is issued. Parking garages that meet this exception shall be
equipped with adequate standpipe systems, as required by the Chief
of the Department.