[Adopted 9-7-1991 by Ord. No. 91-3]
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
INTERCONNECTED SYSTEM
Two or more interconnected smoke detectors.
SLEEPING AREA
The area of a dwelling unit in which the bedrooms or sleeping rooms are located. Bedrooms or sleeping rooms separated by another use, such as a kitchen or living room, are separate sleeping areas, but bedrooms or sleeping rooms separated by a bathroom are not separate sleeping areas.
SMOKE DETECTOR
An instrument approved by an approved rating organization for the detection of ionized gases or products of combustion produced by burning or smoldering materials.
Any building which is used for sleeping or lodging purposes is subject to the rules and regulations contained in this article and includes, but is not limited by reason of enumeration to the following: a building all or part of which contains dwelling units, including single-family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and multiple-family dwellings, hotels and motels, module houses, nursing homes and convalescent homes, halfway houses, licensed rooming houses, mobile homes and trailers.
A smoke detector shall be installed in each separate sleeping area and on each level of the unit, including basements but excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics.
A. 
In new residential dwellings and multifamily buildings containing four or more units, single-station smoke detectors shall be wired directly (hard wired) to the building's power supply and shall be interconnected. A battery backup within the unit shall be provided.
B. 
In existing dwellings containing less than four dwelling units, single-station smoke detectors may be wired directly to the power supply, with a battery backup within the unit; provided, however, that said smoke detectors may be powered by a self-monitored battery or operated in a plug with a restrainer device, provided said outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply.
C. 
Where a rental dwelling unit is occupied by a person who is deaf or hearing impaired, a smoke detector, upon written request of the occupant, shall be installed by the lessor/sublessor, which, when activated, provides a light signal sufficient to warn the deaf or hearing-impaired individual.
D. 
Smoke detectors installed or in the process of being installed at the effective date of this article shall be deemed to comply with the article, provided that, upon the transfer of the property in accordance with § 199-6 hereof, said smoke detectors shall comply with the provisions of this article.
A. 
In buildings containing less than four dwelling units, the occupant of each dwelling unit shall be responsible for the maintenance of the smoke detector.
B. 
In buildings containing four or more dwelling units and including but not limited by reasons of enumeration to the following: hotels, motels, dormitories, mobile homes, nursing homes and convalescent homes, licensed halfway houses, and licensed rooming houses, the landlord shall be responsible for repair or replacement of the detector.
A. 
Beginning January 1, 1992, and thereafter, at each change of occupancy of a dwelling unit occasioned by sale, lease or sublease of said unit, the grantor, lessor or sublessor shall provide and install all smoke detectors as required by this article.
B. 
Failure to comply with this section shall be punishable as set forth herein; provided, however, that nothing herein shall be construed to render void any contract of sale, lease or sublease subject hereto.
This article is intended to be used with and supplemented by the applicable provisions of the National Fire Protection Association Standards, Nos. 72E and 74, which are incorporated herein by reference; in the event of any conflict between this article and said standards, this article and the rules and regulations adopted pursuant hereto shall prevail.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
Any person violating any provision of this article shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding brought before a Magisterial District Judge under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, be guilty of a summary offense and shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 for each violation plus costs of prosecution, including but not limited to reasonable attorneys' fees, or, upon default of payment of fines, costs and/or restitution, by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 30 days. Each day upon which a violation exists shall constitute a new and separate violation of this article.
The provisions of this article are severable. If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of this article, which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application.
The Fire Chief or his designees shall be authorized to act as inspectors for the enforcement of the provisions of this article.