Borough of Baden, PA Chapter 90 Fire Prevention

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Baden as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Fire Department — See Ch. 15.

Alarm systems — See Ch. 43.

Building construction — See Ch. 55.

Unsafe buildings — See Ch. 59.

Open burning — See Ch. 62.

Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 71.

Hazardous wastes — See Ch. 109.

Property maintenance — See Ch. 141.

Article I Fire Prevention Code

[Adopted 4-21-1993 by Ord. No. 805[1]]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. 90, Fire Prevention, adopted 12-18-1985 by Ord. No. 764.

§ 90-1 Adoption of code by reference; copies on file.

It is hereby adopted by the Borough of Baden, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire and explosion, that certain code known as the "BOCA National Fire Prevention Code," in its entirety, being particularly the most current edition available thereof, a copy of which has been and is now filed with the Borough Secretary. The same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein; and from the date on which this chapter shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the geographical limits of the Borough of Baden.

Article II KnoxBoxes

[Adopted 9-20-2017 by Ord. No. 955]

§ 90-2 Installation and requirements.

A. Any new construction on a commercial building or multiresidential building shall be required to install a KnoxBox® and provide required keys for Fire Department access during an emergency incident at that location.

B. Any commercial building or multiresidential building under renovations requiring a permit shall be required to install a KnoxBox® and provide required keys for Fire Department access during an emergency incident at that location.

C. Any commercial building, multiresidential building with four or more units and/or an automatic fire alarm, or any other building with an automatic fire alarm system shall be required to install a KnoxBox® per building and provide required keys for Fire Department access during an emergency incident at that location.

D. Keys required to be provided to the Fire Department:

(1) One key for the fire alarm panel;

(2) One master key per floor, if available;

(3) One key per lockable room if no master keys are available.

(a) Lockable rooms include storage areas, utility rooms, offices, each apartment if an apartment building, any other room with a lockable door, and mechanical rooms.

E. The property owner shall clearly label the keys according to their purpose (e.g., a key for an elevator labeled "elevator"; if a property with multiple structures, keys appropriately labeled for each structure; a key for a fire alarm panel labeled "fire alarm panel"). The Fire Chief or designated representative will verify all keys work and will color-code the keys according to Fire Department guidelines.

F. If, for any reason, any locks are replaced and keyed differently, replacement keys shall be provided to the Fire Department within five days.

G. All newly constructed structures subject to this article shall have the KnoxBox® installed and operational prior to the issuance of an occupancy permit. All structures in existence on the effective date of this article and subject to the same shall have one year from the date of the effective date of this article to have a KnoxBox® installed and operational.

§ 90-3 Enforcement.

The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Baden Borough Code Enforcement Officer or any other Baden Borough official appointed from time to time by the Borough Council.

§ 90-4 Violations and penalties.

Any person found to be in violation of this article shall be guilty of a summary offense and shall, upon conviction thereof, be liable to pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $600, plus all costs of prosecution, including, but not limited to, attorneys' fees. In default of payment thereof, those persons convicted of violating this article shall be imprisoned for a period not to exceed 30 days. Each day that any violation of this article continues shall constitute a separate violation of this article and shall subject the person to additional penalties, in an amount no less than the minimum, for such days. For purposes of this article, the term "person" shall include individuals, partnerships, corporations, or any other entities owning or leasing property situate in the Borough of Baden.