City of Marion, IA Fire Prevention Code

The International Fire Code, 2021, First Printing, adopted by this article, is amended as follows:

Delete all of the permits within Section 105.5, Required operational permits, except for the following:

(Delete. Not in code.)
105.1.1	Business
105.5.3	Amusement buildings
105.5.4	Aviation facilities
105.5.5	Carnivals and fairs
105.5.7	Combustible dust-producing operations
105.5.15	Exhibits and trade shows
105.5.16	Explosives
105.5.29	LP gas
105.5.32	Mobile food preparation vehicles
105.5.34	Open burning
105.5.38	Outdoor assembly events (> 2,000 people)
105.5.40	Plant extraction systems
105.5.42	Pyrotechnic special effects material
105.5.49	Tents and membrane structures

Delete the exception in Section 105.5.29 and replace it with the following:

Exception: A permit is not required for individual containers with a water capacity of less than 100 gallons or multiple container systems having an aggregate quantity not exceeding 100 gallons, serving occupancies in Group R-3.

Delete Section 105.5.49, Temporary membrane structures and tents, and replace it with the following:

105.5.49 Temporary membrane structures and tents. An operational permit is required to operate an air-supported temporary membrane structure or a tent having an area in excess of 600 square feet.
Exceptions:
1.	Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
2.	Tents open on at least three sides, which comply with all of the following:
	2.1	Individual tents having a maximum size of 1,000 square feet.
	2.2	The aggregate area of multiple tests placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than 12 feet shall not exceed 1,000 square feet.
	2.3	A minimum clearance of 12 feet to structures and other tents shall be provided.

Delete all of the permits within Section 105.6, Required construction permits, except for the following:

105.6.1	Automatic fire-extinguishing systems
105.7.2	(Delete not in code) Battery systems
105.7.3	(Delete not in code) Capacitor energy storage systems
105.6.4	Emergency responder radio coverage system
105.6.5	Energy storage systems
105.6.6	Fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment
105.6.7	Fire pumps and related equipment
105.6.8	Flammable and combustible liquids
105.6.9	Fuel cell power systems
105.6.10	Gas detection systems
105.6.11	Gate and barricades across fire apparatus access road (not related to new construction only)
105.6.15	LP gas
105.6.17	Plant extraction systems
105.6.22	Spraying or dipping
105.6.23	Standpipe systems

Delete Section 112.4, Violation penalties, and replace it with the following:

[Amended 3-23-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]

Section 112.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this Code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or direction of the Fire Code Official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this Code, shall be punished in a manner provided in Chapter 55, Article I, of the Code of Ordinances.

Add to Section 107.2, Schedule of permit fees: Whenever an inspection fee, reinspection fee, or permit fee is required, the fees shall be paid as set forth in the Fire Code Table of Fees [Table 104.12(A)] as adopted by resolution.

[Amended 3-23-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]

Add to Section 112.3.1: May send in e-mail or other electronic means with a read receipt or other confirmation of receipt.

(Delete this) Delete from Section 202, Definitions, the following: "associated with Group E occupancies" and "accessory to places of religious worship."

Delete Section 308.1.4, Exception 3, and replace it with the following:

3.	Townhouses as defined by the International Building Code.
308.1.4.1 Shall not be operated or stored within 10 feet of a combustible structure.

Delete Section 311.2.2, Exception 3, "where fire areas do not exceed 12,000 square feet."

Delete Section 315.3.1, Exception 2.

(Delete this it has been corrected) Amend Table 315.7.6(1), Column 51 to 200, all number "5" change to "15."

Amend Table 405.2 by deleting the work "monthly" for Group E and replace it with the following:

Two fire and tornado drills per semester shall be conducted for a total of four fire drills through the school year. Two lockdown drills shall be conducted per year.

Exception: Child day-care centers shall conduct monthly fire drills.

Delete Section 501.4, Timing of installation, and replace it with the following:

501.4 Timing of installation. When fire apparatus access roads or water supply for fire protection is required to be installed, such protection shall be installed and made serviceable prior to occupancy, except when approved alternative methods of protection are provided. Temporary street signs shall be installed at each intersection when construction of new roadways allows passage by vehicles in accordance with Section 505.2.

Add the following exceptions to Section 503.2.1, Dimensions, as follows:

Exception:
(Delete go back to original code) 1. Private fire lanes used exclusively as fire apparatus access roads may be reduced to an unobstructed width of no less than 12 feet, provided that parking/operating pad(s) with a width of not less than 20 feet and a length of not less than 30 feet are installed at the locations approved by the Code Official.
1.	For divided two-lane (one each way) public roadways, the required unobstructed width may be reduced to seventeen-foot curb back to curb back so long as all of the following are met:
	•	No median and/or island or other obstruction may extend over 150 linear feet without an approved crossover.
	•	Outside curbs adjacent to the medians/islands or other obstructions must be of a drive-over/roll-over design.
	•	Medians/Islands or other obstructions may not exceed a saturation limit of 25% of the entire project distance.

Add Section 503.2.1.1, Residential drives and lanes, as follows:

503.2.1.1 Residential drives and lanes. For any dwelling that is set back greater than 100 feet from the public way, the drive or lane shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 10 feet and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet six inches and shall comply with Section 503.2.3. Any drive or lane greater than 150 feet in length shall be provided with a fire apparatus turnaround as approved by the Code Official.

Add a new Section 504.4 as follows:

504.4 Identification of interior doors. The Code Official may require that certain interior doors be identified.

Amend Section 505.1: Each character shall not be less than four inches high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch. The height of the character must increase by one inch and the stroke by 1/4 inch for every additional 100 feet the characters are away from the road. Any monument sign must also have the building address on it, and the address must meet the same height, size and contrast requirements listed above.

Delete Section 507.5.1, Where required, and replace it with the following:

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 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 Chief.
Exception:
1.	For Group R-3, the distance requirement shall be 500 feet.
2.	For buildings equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the distance requirement shall be 600 feet.

Delete Section 605.5.2.1.2, Clearance to building, and replace it with the following:

[Amended 3-23-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]

605.5.2.1.2 Clearance to building. Portable outdoor gas-fired heating appliances shall be located at least 10 feet from building or per manufacturer recommendations which must be provided.

Delete Section 605.5.2.1.3, Clearance to combustible materials, and replace it with the following:

[Amended 3-23-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]

605.5.2.1.3 Clearance to combustible materials. Portable outdoor gas-fired heating appliances shall not be located beneath, or closer than 10 feet to, combustible decorations and combustible overhangs, awnings, sunshades or similar combustible attachments to buildings.

Delete Section 605.5.2.1.4, Proximity to exits, and replace it with the following:

[Amended 3-23-2023 by Ord. No. 23-02]

605.5.2.1.4 Proximity to exits. Portable outdoor gas-fired heating appliances shall not be located within 10 feet of exits or exit discharges.

Delete 608.2, Permit required.

(Delete this amendment) Delete Section 704.1, last paragraph. Unprotected joints and voids do not need to be protected where such joints and voids were not required to be protected when the building was originally built.

(Delete this amendment) Delete Section 706.2, Unprotected openings.

Add Section 901.2.2, Qualifications, as follows:

901.2.2 Qualifications. For the installation, inspection and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems and fire alarm systems, a contractor must be certified by the State Fire Marshal's Office. When required by the Code Official, the contractor must provide a copy of their certificate.

AA.

Amend Section 903.2.8, Group R: An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 NFPA 13R sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area, with any Group R occupancy having 13 or more dwelling units having an automatic sprinkler system installed to the Section 903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 sprinkler systems.

BB.

Add 903.3.1.2.1 to "existing #1" combustible siding or any overhang

CC.

Delete the exception; Group U buildings do not need a fire extinguisher if it is provided in the vehicle of visiting personnel and it meets the hazard.

DD.

Delete Section 907.2.9, Group R-2, and replace it with the following:

907.2.9 - Group R-2. An automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in Group R-2 occupancies where:
1.	Any dwelling unit is located three or more stories above the lowest level of exit discharge;
2.	Any dwelling unit is located more than one story below the highest level of exit discharge of exits serving the dwelling unit;
3.	The building contains 12 or more dwelling units; or
4.	Any dwelling unit is more than one story above any other dwelling unit in the same building.
Exceptions:
1.	A fire alarm system is not required in buildings not over two stories in height where all dwelling units and contiguous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and public or common areas by at least one-hour fire partitions and each dwelling unit has an exit directly to a public way, exit court or yard.
2.	A separate fire alarm system is not required in buildings that are equipped throughout with an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or Section 903.3.1.2 and which will automatically activate throughout the notification zones upon a sprinkler water flow.
For purposes of this section, area separation walls shall not define separate buildings.

EE.

907.5.2.1.1: Minimum sound psi of 80 (dBA) or 15 (dBA) above the average sound level.

FF.

907.5.2.3.4: All sprinklered buildings requiring a fire alarm system will provide a minimum of one horn strobe in a common visible location in every commercial suite or unit.

GG.

Delete Section 1008.2.3, Exit discharge illumination.

HH.

(Delete) Section 1010.1.9.4, Locks and latches. Delete Subparagraph 2.

II.

Section 1010.2.4, Locks and latches. Delete Subparagraphs 3 and 4.

JJ.

2201.1: Delete Exception 5: Materials stored or used in a farm building or similar occupancy intended for on-premises agricultural purposes.

KK.

2303.1 #6: Delete exception # 6: Such that fuel dispensing is in the view of the attendant self-service motor facilities, as required by Section 2304.2.4.

LL.

Delete 2304.2.4: The attendant shall have a direct line of sight to observe fuel-dispensing operations at all times.

MM.

Delete 3103.2, Approval required, and replace it with the following:

3103.2 Approval required. Tents and membrane structures having an area in excess of 600 square feet shall not be erected, operated or maintained for any purpose without first obtaining a permit and approval of the Fire Code Official.
Exceptions:
1.	Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
2.	Tents open on at least three sides, which comply with all of the following:
	i.	Individual tents having a maximum size of 1,000 square feet or less.
	ii.	The aggregate area of multiple tents placed side by side without a fire break clearance of 12 feet, not exceeding 1,000 square feet.
	iii.	A minimum clearance of 12 feet to structures and other tents.

NN.

Add the following exception to Section 3103.12.6.1, Exit sign illumination, as follows:

1.	Exit sign illumination is not required in a temporary membrane structure tent or canopy if it is not going to be occupied after dark.

OO.

Add the following exception to Section 3103.12.7, Egress illumination, as follows:

1.	Egress illumination is not required in a temporary membrane structure tent or canopy if it is not going to be occupied after dark.

PP.

Add following criteria to Section 3104.3, Label, as follows:

In lieu of a permanently affixed label on a temporary membrane structure, tent or canopy, flame-resistance or fire retardant shall be documented and certified by the manufacturer in an approved manner.

QQ.

Delete Section 3303.3.1, Violations, and replace with the following.

3303.3.1 Violations. Any violations will be held to the City's fee schedule and municipal penalties. If there are life safety issues a stop-work order or a "do not occupy" may be issued and posted.

RR.

Delete Section 5704.1, General, and replace it with the following:

5704.1 General. Storage of flammable and combustible liquids in containers, cylinders and tanks shall be in accordance with this section, applicable sections of Chapter 223 and rules and regulations promulgated by the State Fire Marshal.

SS.

Add to Appendix D107, One- or Two-Family Residential Developments, Exception 2, the following:

The Fire Code Official shall not exceed an allowance of over 100 dwelling units in accordance with NFPA 1141, Chapter 5, Table 5.1.4.1.