[Amended 7-12-2022 by Ord. No. 1738-2022]
A. The following provisions of international, national and state codes/standards,
as from time to time amended, are incorporated herein by reference:
1. International Building Code (IBC);
2. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Codes and Standards which
include, but are not limited to, NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code;
3. Chapter SPS 101 - Regulation of Industry, Buildings, and Safety;
4. Chapter SPS 307 - Explosives and Fireworks;
5. Chapter SPS 308 - Mines, Pits and Quarries;
6. Chapter SPS 309 - Anchoring and Securing of Movable Soccer Goals;
7. Chapter SPS 314 - Fire Prevention;
8. Chapter SPS 314 - Appendix;
9. Chapter SPS 316 - Electrical;
10.
Chapter SPS 318 - Elevators, Escalators, and Lift Devices;
11.
Chapter SPS 328 - Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors;
12.
Chapter SPS 330 - Fire Department Safety and Health Standards;
13.
Chapter SPS 361 - Administration and Enforcement;
14.
Chapter SPS 362 - Buildings and Structures;
15.
Chapter SPS 363 - Energy Conservation;
16.
Chapter SPS 364 - Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning;
17.
Chapter SPS 365 - Fuel Gas Appliances;
18.
Chapter SPS 366 - Existing Buildings;
19.
Chapter SPS 366 - Appendix;
20.
Chapters SPS 375-379 - Buildings Constructed Prior to 1914;
21.
Chapter SPS 375 - Definitions and General Requirements;
22.
Chapter SPS 376 - Factories, Office and Mercantile Buildings;
23.
Chapter SPS 377 - Theaters and Assembly Halls;
24.
Chapter SPS 378 - Schools and Other Places of Instruction; and
25.
Chapter SPS 379 - Apartment Houses, Hotels and Places of Detention.
[Amended 7-12-2022 by Ord. No. 1738-2022]
A. Means of egress.
1. Required exit signs shall be illuminated at all times.
2. At every required exit doorway, and whenever otherwise required to
clearly indicate the direction of egress, an approved exit sign shall
be provided from all areas.
3. In the interior stairways, the floor level leading directly to the
exterior shall be clearly indicated.
4. All exit aisles shall be maintained clear and unobstructed and be
a minimum of 36 inches wide.
5. Exit hardware shall be maintained.
6. Every exit door, exit access door, and egress paths to those doors
shall be free from obstructions. Doors shall be unlocked when the
building is occupied. No locking hardware requiring a key, padlock,
chains, or other nonapproved locking devices shall be used.
7. Storage is not permitted on rescue platforms.
B. Fire protection systems.
1. Fire extinguishers.
a.
Fire extinguishers shall be serviced and tagged annually and
have the appropriate six-year maintenance and twelve-year hydro test
if required.
b.
Fire extinguishers shall not be obstructed or obscured from
view.
c.
Handheld fire extinguishers not housed in cabinets shall be
installed on supplied hangers or brackets.
d.
Fire extinguishers weighing less than 40 pounds shall be installed
so that the top is no more than five feet above the floor.
e.
Clearance between the bottom of the extinguisher and the floor
shall never be less than four inches.
2. Fire alarms and smoke detectors.
a.
The building owner shall be responsible for ensuring that the
fire alarm and smoke detection systems are maintained in an operable
condition at all times.
b.
Operational tests are required monthly.
c.
Fire alarm panels shall be kept locked at all times to prevent
tampering.
d.
Records of testing and maintenance are required to be maintained.
e.
Landlords shall be responsible for all batteries and maintenance
of smoke detectors in their buildings.
f.
A detailed plan of the facility and alarm system components
shall be readily available near the main entrance by the annunciator
panel or other area approved by the Fire Department.
g.
A detailed floor plan shall be submitted in an electronic format
to the Fire Department for the purpose of pre-planning in the event
of an emergency at the occupancy.
3. Automatic fire sprinkler systems.
a.
All fire sprinkler systems shall be inspected and maintained
in accordance with (IAW) NFPA 25.
b.
Noted deficiencies by contractors shall be corrected.
c.
Complex systems with three or more risers shall have a diagram
in the sprinkler room indicating area covered.
d.
Fire Department Connection (FDC) shall have a five-inch Storz
connector for demands larger than 500 gallons per minute (GPM).
e.
FDC shall not be located more than 200 feet from a fire hydrant.
f.
Water supplies for occupancies requiring additional water as
specified in NFPA 1142 Table G.4.2 (b), (c), (d), and (e), may require
additional water sources on site.
g.
All inlets to the FDC shall be installed so that they face the
fire apparatus access road.
h.
A weatherproof horn/strobe alarm shall be installed above the
FDC connection to indicate a water flow.
i.
All fire sprinkler systems shall be serviced and tagged annually
with a copy of the test record in a plastic sleeve at the main riser.
j.
The Fire Department shall be notified if the system is shut
off or impaired.
k.
There shall be a minimum of 18 inches of clearance below all
sprinkler heads.
l.
Sprinkler heads shall be kept free of accumulation of dust,
dirt, paint or other substances that may impair its operation.
m.
Any defective, painted, or damaged sprinkler heads are required
to be immediately replaced upon finding.
n.
Companies installing, servicing, or testing fire sprinkler systems
shall submit records of such work to the Onalaska Fire Department
for review.
4. Standpipe systems.
a.
An automatic water supply for a wet standpipe system shall be
designed to provide not less than the flowing capacity from top outlets
at not less than 65 pounds per square inch (psi) flowing pressure
for a period of 30 minutes; 500 GPM for a single standpipe; 750 GPM
for two interconnected standpipes; and 1,000 GPM for larger systems.
b.
All standpipe and hose systems shall be inspected and maintained
in accordance with the NFPA 25 Standard.
5. Inspection, testing, maintenance, interferences, tampering
or removal of all fire protection equipment.
a.
Fire protection system. All approved devices, equipment
and systems or combinations of systems used to detect a fire, activate
an alarm, extinguish or control a fire, control or manage smoke and
products of a fire or any combination thereof.
b.
Owner or operators shall be responsible for the condition of
all their fire protection systems and any other firefighting equipment.
c.
Owners or operators of all fire protection systems and any other
firefighting equipment shall maintain the systems in good operating
condition.
d.
All fire protection systems and other firefighting equipment
shall be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the
adopted standards and good engineering practices and such records
shall be kept in an appropriate format as determined by the Fire Chief.
[Amended 5-14-2024 by Ord. No. 1785-2024]
e.
The local Fire Department shall be notified whenever any fire
protection system or any other firefighting equipment is shut down
or impaired and when it is placed back in service. The owner shall
arrange for immediate and continual servicing or repair of the impaired
fire protection system or firefighting equipment until it is placed
back in operation.
f.
No person shall interfere with, tamper with or remove any fire
protection system, emergency lighting system, fire hydrant, or any
other firefighting equipment without first obtaining a written approval
from the Fire Chief.
g. State-Required Inspections. Inspections required under § SPS
314.13(b), Wis. Adm. Code, at the discretion of the Fire Chief may
be reduced to at least once per calendar year, but the interval between
those inspections cannot exceed fifteen (15) months.
[Amended 11-14-2023 by Ord. No. 1771-2023]
C. Commercial cooking equipment.
1. The hood, exhaust, and fire protection systems shall meet the requirements
set forth in NFPA 96 Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection
of Commercial Cooking Operations and the Wis. Adm. Code.
2. Cooking equipment involving vegetable oil or animal fats shall be
protected by a Class K rated portable fire extinguisher provided within
30 feet travel distance.
3. Automatic fire-extinguishing systems shall be serviced every six
months and after activation of the system. All systems shall be tagged
and records maintained.
4. The actuation of commercial cooking equipment fire-suppression system
shall automatically shut down the fuel and/or electrical power supply
to the cooking equipment and activate the building's fire alarm system.
Reset shall be manual. A written record shall be maintained and available
to the AHJ.
5. Hoods, grease-removal devices, fans, and ducts shall be cleaned to
prevent the accumulation of grease. Cleaning shall be recorded and
such records shall be maintained on the premises.
6. Excess grease and dirt shall not be allowed to accumulate on the
equipment or on or in any part of the hood system.
7. Companies servicing or cleaning hood systems shall submit the service
or maintenance records to the Onalaska Fire Department at least quarterly
for review.
8. Noted deficiencies by contractors shall be corrected.
D. Electrical.
1. Extension cords shall not be substituted for permanent wiring placed
under doors or floor coverings and may not be attached to any building
or structure.
2. The front of electrical service equipment (panels) shall have a clear
working space of not less than 30 inches in width, 36 inches in depth,
and 78 inches in height.
3. Extension cords shall be of a three-prong UL-approved grounding type
when used in conjunction with devices equipped with three-prong grounding-type
attachment plugs.
4. Multi-outlet assemblies, surge protectors and relocatable power taps
may not be attached to any structure or permanently mounted to any
surface unless listed for the purpose. Multi-outlet assemblies, surge
protectors and relocatable power taps may not be daisy chained.
E. Knox-Box®.
1. A Knox-Box® shall be installed on
all new mercantile, commercial, and business occupied buildings. Multi-unit
residential structures that have restricted access through locked
doors and have a common corridor for access to living units shall
be equipped with a Knox-Box® approved
by the Fire Department.
2. The Knox-Box® shall be installed in
a location that is approved by the Fire Department and shall be installed
prior to the issuance of any occupancy permit.
3. Location. The Knox-Box® shall be at
or near the recognized public entrance of a building, five to seven
feet from the ground. No steps, displays, signs, or other fixtures,
structures, or protrusions shall be located around or under the box
as to limit its access.
4. All required Knox-Boxes® shall be
installed and have the proper keys prior to the issuance of an occupancy
permit.
F. Fire doors.
1. Listed closing devices and hardware shall be maintained on all fire
doors.
2. All horizontal or vertical sliding and rolling fire doors shall be
inspected and tested annually to check for proper operation and full
closure.
3. Resetting of the release mechanism shall be done IAW the manufacturer's
instructions.
4. A written record shall be maintained and shall be available to the
AHJ.
G. Miscellaneous.
1. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner.
2. Grills. For other than one- and two-family dwellings,
no hibachi, gas-fired grill, charcoal grill, or other similar devices
used for cooking, heating, or any other purpose shall be used or kindled
on any balcony or under any overhang portion or within 10 feet of
any structure. Listed electrical ranges, grills, or similar apparatus
shall be permitted. (See NFPA 1; 2006; p. 142.)
3. Flammable liquids are not allowed to be stored in basements.
4. Exterior doors shall be labeled when hazardous materials or conditions
are present to alert emergency personnel.
5. The AHJ may require signs labeling interior doors, e.g., mechanical
rooms (utilities).
6. Large box commercial.
a.
For all large retail, wholesale, and warehouse commercial facilities
that exceed 20,000 square feet, a floor plan shall be approved by
the Fire Department showing the locations of wing stacks, end caps,
or other islands of product that may be positioned in aisles.
7. Firewall identification sign requirements.
a.
General. The sign shall consist of three circles
arranged vertically on the exterior wall, marking the location of
the firewall and centered on the firewall. The circles shall either
be affixed directly to the surface of the building or may be placed
on a background that is affixed to the building.
b.
Size of circle. Each circle shall be the same size.
The diameter of the circle shall be at least 1 1/2 inch (38 mm),
but no greater than two inches (51 mm).
c.
Spacing. The circles shall be spaced an equal distance
apart. The distance measured from the top of the uppermost circle
to the bottom of the lowermost circle shall be no more than 12 inches
(305 mm).
d.
Color. The color of the circle shall be red, amber
(orange-yellow) or white. The color of the circle shall contrast with
the color of the background.
8. Pallets and combustible storage.
a.
Pallets shall not be stored closer than 30 feet from a building
or in piles higher than 20 feet.
b.
The owner or occupant of any commercial property shall have
an approved plan by the Fire Department for outside storage of combustible/salvage
materials.
H. Application. All nonresidential structures in the City
of Onalaska are subject to Sections 5.03.12.A through G and 5.03.12.J.
I. Application to residential rental properties with three or
more units.
1. All residential rental properties are subject to Section 5.03.12.A
through G of this Division.
2. Residential rental properties shall also comply with the following:
a.
Dryers shall be vented outside with rigid or semirigid pipe.
b.
Dryer pipes shall be cleaned and inspected annually or as needed.
c.
Self-closing fire doors shall be tested and maintained.
d.
Required Knox-Boxes® by the AHJ
shall have keys to access the building and alarm panel. At no time
shall an alarm panel door be left unlocked.
J. Penalties. Any person who shall violate any provision
of this chapter for which a penalty is not otherwise established by
this section shall be subject to a forfeiture of not more than $2,000.
Each day a violation exists shall constitute a separate offense.