Where the term "Name of Jurisdiction" is used in the Fire Code,
it shall be held to mean the Borough of Lansdale. Wherever the terms
"fire official" or "enforcement officer" are used in the Fire Code,
they shall be held to mean the Fire Marshal of Lansdale Borough.
[Added 1-20-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-1948]
A. Annual
inspections. The Lansdale Borough Fire Marshal and designated Fire
Code Official(s), as such officials are designated under the applicable
International Fire Code, shall perform annual inspections of each
commercial/business property as defined herein and located within
Borough limits in order to safeguard the health and safety of the
occupants thereof and to determine and enforce compliance with the
codes, laws, and regulations applicable to such units and the structures
containing such units. All inspections shall be conducted in conformance
with the protections guaranteed businesses and/or individuals in the
United States and Pennsylvania Constitution(s). To the extent permitted
by law, the Fire Marshal and designated Fire Code Official(s) are
authorized to enter, for the purpose of such inspection, all commercial
businesses/properties, and it is the duty of commercial business/property
owners to provide access to such properties upon request for said
inspection.
B. Definitions. For purposes of this section, the following terms shall
mean as follows:
COMMERCIAL/BUSINESS PROPERTY(IES)
Any structure, building or property that is not used or intended
for use for residential occupancy, including, but not limited to,
any property that meets the definitions as outlined in the International
Building Code as an assembly, business, educational, factory and industrial,
high hazard, institutional, mercantile, residential, storage or utility
and miscellaneous. For properties or buildings that have both residential
and commercial-type or common space areas (i.e., apartment and condominium
complexes), only the commercial and common space portions (i.e., mechanical
rooms, lobbies, hallways, community rooms, laundry rooms, and the
exterior property) of the structure or property shall be subject to
inspection hereunder.
C. Notification. The Borough Fire Marshal or Fire Code Official shall
notify the property or business owner of its intent to inspect the
property or business at least five days prior to the inspection. Such
notification shall be in the form of either a written communication
or by phone.
D. Time for inspection. All inspections authorized herein shall be conducted
during normal business hours of the commercial/business property or
at the time when the businesses and/or commercial tenants have their
hours of operation. Where there is an emergency, the Fire Marshal
or Fire Code Official shall be permitted to inspect the commercial/building
property during the time of the said emergency for any violations
which may be present.
E. Violation notices. After the inspection, the individual performing
the inspection shall submit any violations, in writing, to the commercial/business
property owner or agent. The owner or agent must correct any violations
within a time frame set by the Fire Marshal or Fire Code Official.
Reinspections may be conducted every 30 days until the violations
have been corrected. If the violation is deemed as a life-safety hazard,
then the Fire Marshal or Fire Code Official may notify the commercial/business
property owner or agent that the violation must be corrected immediately,
or the commercial/business property will be closed until the violation
is corrected.
F. Registration. Each commercial/business property subject to inspection
hereunder shall register annually with the Lansdale Borough Code Enforcement
Office.
G. Appeals. Any appeal of a violation notice or violation determination
as made by the Fire Marshal or Fire Code Official shall be made in
accordance with the appeal procedures set forth in the International
Fire Code as in effect at the time of the violation notice or determination.
H. Fees. Fees assessable by the Borough of Lansdale for the administration,
inspections, and enforcement undertaken pursuant to this section and
the code shall be established by Borough Council by resolution from
time to time.