(a)
Adoption.
There is hereby adopted by the city council
the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code, 2018 edition, as published
by the International Code Council, and all codes and standards mentioned
therein, including appendices thereto, for the purpose of establishing
rules and regulations governing fire prevention and fire activities
within the city, save and except such portions as are hereinafter
deleted, modified, or amended, and the same is hereby adopted and
incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and the provisions
thereof shall be controlling within the city. A copy of such code
is in the office of the city secretary.
(b)
Modifications.
(1)
Chapter 3, section 307.1 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
It shall be unlawful for any person within the city limits,
in any way, to intentionally, knowingly or carelessly burn or cause
to be burned, or to suffer, allow or permit to be burned, outdoors
any combustibles, including but not limited to grass, weeds, timber,
rubbish, leaves or other natural or synthetic materials, garbage,
trash, rubbish, litter, solid waste, hazardous waste or any such like
substances, on any street, alley, lot or premises, whether owned by
the person or not. Such prohibited fires shall include bonfires and
recreational fires not in compliance herewith. The following exceptions
to burning apply:
(A)
Outdoor burning is allowed without a permit, when used solely for
recreational or ceremonial purposes [or] in the noncommercial preparation
of food or for generating warmth in cold (below 60 degrees Fahrenheit),
and provided further, no fire shall be larger than 18 cubic feet or
9 square feet and shall be fueled only by split and seasoned hardwoods
or coal and contained in an appropriate outdoor fireplace heating
or outdoor cooking device designated and constructed for such purpose
in compliance with this section.
(B)
On-site land clearing on lots of greater than one (1) acre upon which
the owner intends to clear the lot itself of selected trees, brush
and other plant growth if approved in writing by the fire marshal,
burning may be permitted in a manner approved by the fire marshal,
and the on-site land clearing is conducted in compliance with federal,
state and local laws and regulations. A permit shall be acquired and
approved safety measures shall be employed. Land clearing shall not
include maintenance burning of on-site property wastes such as fallen
limbs, branches, or leaves.
(2)
Chapter 5, section 503.2.1 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width
of not less than 26 feet (7,925 mm), exclusive of shoulders, except
for approved security gates in accordance with section 503.6, and
an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches
(4,115 mm).
(3)
Chapter 9, section 903.2.8, “Group R,” of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with section
903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire
area, including multifamily structures, townhouses, triplex and quadplex
apartments with no minimum square footage and regardless of any fire
rated walls, shall have a fire sprinkler system installed, when they
contain three or more dwelling units.
(4)
Chapter 9, section 903.2.4 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all
buildings containing a Group F-1 and F-2 occupancy where one of the
following conditions exist:
(A)
A group F-1 or F-2 fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet.
(B)
A Group F-1 or F-2 fire area is located more than three stories above
grade plane.
(C)
The combined area of all Group F-1 and F-2 fire areas on all floors,
including any mezzanines, exceeds 10,000 square feet.
(D)
A group F-1 occupancy used for the manufacture of upholstered furniture
or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet or 232 square meters.
(5)
All sections of chapter 9 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code referencing a fire area of 12,000 square feet are hereby amended to reference a reduced fire area of 10,000 square feet, including Group A, E, F, H, I, M, and S. New construction and renovations consisting of 50% or more shall install a fire sprinkler system.
(6)
Minimum separation for residential structures. Any reference to the
minimum separation distance between residential structures, including
one (1) and two (2) family dwellings, that do not have fire sprinkler
systems in the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code shall have
a minimum separation of at least seven and one-half (7.5) feet.
(7)
Chapter 9, section 903.2 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in
new buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described
in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12. All occupancy classifications
(A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R, S, U) where the Fire Access Road is further
than 150 feet from any portion of the building shall install an automatic
sprinkler system. The fire area size and/or use of the occupancy shall
have no bearing on the installation of the automatic sprinkler system.
(8)
Chapter 5, section 503.1.1 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access
roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of
a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction.
The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements
of this section and shall extend to within 150 feet (45,720 mm) of
all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls
of the first story of the building as measured by an approved route
around the exterior of the building or facility.
Exceptions:
1.0 The fire code official is authorized to increase the dimension
of the 150 feet (45,720 mm) where any of the following conditions
occur:
1.1 The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic
sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2
or 903.3.1.3.
1.2 Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed because
of location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades
or other similar conditions, and an approved alternative means of
fire protection is provided. All approved alternate means
of fire protection shall be installed with an Automatic Sprinkler
System, in accordance with Section 903.2.
1.3 There are not more than two Group R-3 or Group U occupancies.
(9)
Chapter 5, Section 507.2 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
507.2 Type of water supply. A water supply shall consist of
water mains capable of providing the required fire flow. All water
mains shall be a minimum of 8 inches in diameter. This shall include
public and private water mains.
(10)
Chapter 5, Section 507.5.1 of the 2018 International Fire Prevention Code is hereby adopted with changes to read as follows:
507.5.1 Where required. Where a portion of the facility or building
hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction is
more than 300 feet (91.44 m) from a hydrant on a fire apparatus access
road, as measured by an approved route around the
exterior of the facility or building, on-site fire hydrants and mains
shall be provided where required by the fire code official.
Exceptions:
(11)
NFPA 24, section 5.2.1 and section 5.2.1.2 are hereby adopted with
changes to read as follows:
NFPA 24 Section 5.2.1 Private fire service mains. Pipe size
shall not be less than eight (8) inches in diameter.
NFPA 24 Section 5.2.1.2 Mains that supply fire hydrants. Pipe
size shall not be less than eight (8) inches in diameter.
(1991 Code, sec. 11-101; Ordinance 89-428, sec. 1, adopted 3/9/89; Ordinance 02-569, sec. II, adopted 3/28/02; Ordinance 14-733, sec. 3, adopted 4/24/14; Ordinance 15-766, sec. 1, adopted 11/12/15; Ordinance 16-793, sec. 1, adopted 1/12/17; Ordinance 17-794, sec. 1, adopted 1/12/17; Ordinance 19-836, sec. 5, adopted 2/14/19; 2007 Code, sec. 18-98; Ordinance 21-904 adopted 8/12/21; Ordinance 22-921 adopted 3/10/22)
In the event of any conflict between the provisions of the fire
prevention code adopted by this article and the other provisions of
this code, state law or city ordinances, rules or regulations, the
provisions of this code, state law or city ordinances, rules or regulations
shall prevail and be controlling.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-47; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-102; 2007 Code, sec. 18-99)
(a)
Established.
The fire prevention code shall be enforced
by the bureau of fire prevention in the fire department, which is
hereby established, and which shall be operated under the supervision
of the chief of the fire department.
(b)
Technical inspectors.
The chief of the fire department
may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall
from time to time be necessary. The chief of the fire department shall
recommend to the city manager the employment of technical inspectors
who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an
examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination
shall be open to members and nonmembers of the fire department, and
appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term
with removal only for cause.
(c)
Reports and recommendations.
A report of the bureau
of fire prevention shall be made annually and transmitted to the chief
executive officer of the municipality. It shall contain all proceedings
under the code, with such statistics as the chief of the fire department
may wish to include therein. The chief of the fire department shall
also recommend any amendments to the code which, in his judgment,
shall be desirable.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-48; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-103; Ordinance 12-712, sec.
3, adopted 1/10/13; 2007 Code,
sec. 18-100)
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where
the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
when used in the fire prevention code, means the city attorney.
when used in the fire prevention code, means the City of
Humble, Texas.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-49; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-104; 2007 Code, sec. 18-101)
The fire chief shall have power to modify any of the provisions
of the fire prevention code upon application in writing by the owner
or lessee, or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical
difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code,
provided that the spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety
secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification
when granted or allowed and the decision of the fire chief thereon
shall be entered upon the records of the department and a signed copy
shall be furnished the applicant.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-54; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-105; 2007 Code, sec. 18-102)
Whenever the fire chief shall disapprove an application or refuse
to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions
of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the
code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant
may appeal from the decision of the fire chief to the city council
within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-55; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-106; 2007 Code, sec. 18-103)
The city manager, the chief of the fire department and the chief
of the bureau of fire prevention shall act as a committee to determine
and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard,
any new materials, processes or occupancies which shall require permits,
in addition to those now enumerated in said code. The chief of the
bureau of fire prevention shall post such list in a conspicuous place
in his office and distribute copies thereof to interested persons.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-56; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-107; 2007 Code, sec. 18-104)
(a)
Any
person who shall violate any of the provisions of the code adopted
by this article or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate
or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build
in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans
submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued
thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall
fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the city
council or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed
therein, shall severally, for each and every such violation and noncompliance
respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor. The imposition of one penalty
for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue.
All such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations
or defects within a reasonable time. When not otherwise specified,
each ten days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute
a separate offense.
(b)
The
application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the
enforced removal of prohibited conditions.
(1973 Code, sec. 11-57; 1991 Code,
sec. 11-108; 2007 Code, sec. 18-105)
