[Adopted 4-26-2023 by Ord. No. 8-2023]
A certain document, three copies of which are on file in the Office of the Fire Marshal of the City of Chester Bureau of Fire, being marked and designated as the International Fire Code, 2018 edition, including Appendix Chapters A, B, C, D, E, and F, as published by the International Code Council, shall be adopted as a new Article IV, entitled "Fire Code of the City of Chester "regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the storage, handling ad use of hazardous substances, materials, and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor, and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Fire Code on file in the Office of the Fire Marshal, City of Chester, Bureau of Fire, are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof as if fully set out in this article, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes prescribed in § 274-21 of this article.
The following sections are hereby revised:
A. 
Section 101.1. Insert "City of Chester."
B. 
Section 103.1. "General" is amended to read as follows:
"The Department of Fire Prevention is established within the jurisdiction and under the direction of the Fire Marshal. The Fire Marshal/Code Official shall be in charge of the operation of this department and its function shall be the implementation, administration, and enforcement of the provisions of this code."
C. 
Section 103.2. "Appointment," is deleted and replaced by the following language:
"The position of the Fire Marshal shall be held by the Fire Commissioner of the Chester Bureau of Fire or by an individual(s) that is appointed by the Fire Commissioner of the Chester Bureau of Fire."
D. 
Section 105.6. "Required operational permits" and Section 105.7. "Required construction permits," are amended to read as follows:
"The Fire Code Official is authorized to issue permits and collect fees as enumerated in Sections 105.6.1 through 105.6.50 and Sections 105.7.1 through 105.7.25. in accordance with the fee schedule in Section 106.2."
E. 
Section 106.2. "Schedule of permit fee." is amended to read as follows:
"A fee for each permit and/or inspection shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as established by the Fire Commissioner of the Chester Bureau of Fire and approved by Mayor and Council."
F. 
Section 110.4. Insert "Summary," "not to exceed $1,000" and 30 days."
G. 
Section 112.4. Insert "$500" and "$1,000."
H. 
Section 202. Shall have the following definition added:
FIRE MARSHAL
The Fire Marshal of the City of Chester shall be the Fire Commissioner of the City of Chester, Bureau of Fire, or the individual(s) appointed as such.
I. 
Section 507.5. Add new Section 507.5.7 is added as follows:
507.5.7. Fire Hydrant Specifications
Fire hydrants shall have National Standard Threads (NTSO) and shall be approved by the Fire Official. The following criteria shall be required regarding installation.
507.5.7.1. Discharge Size
The large diameter discharge will be a 4 - 1/2" NST thread. The side discharges will be a 2 - 1/2" NST thread.
507.5.7.2. Orientation
The large diameter discharge shall face the street, access driveway or fire walkway with the side outlets parallel to the cartway or walkway edge.
507.5.7.3. Minimum Ground Clearance
A minimum clearance of 20 inches, measured from the bottom of the lowest outlet to final grade of ground or pavement, shall be provided. In no case shall said clearance be more than 26 inches.
507.5.7.4. Street Setback
Fire hydrants shall be located within five feet of paced streets, access driveways or fire walkways.
J. 
Section 603.4 and 603.4.1. are deleted and replaced by the following language:
603.4. Portable heaters.
Portable heaters, vented or unvented, in any structure, other than a single-family dwelling, which is used wholly or in part for human habitation, shall be prohibited. Portable heaters shall include, but not be limited to, heaters having a barometrically fed fuel control, with a fuel supply tank located less than 42 inches from the center control, with a fuel supply tank located less than 42 inches from the center of the burner, using gas, kerosene, range oil or No. 1 fuel oil for fuel.
603.4.1. Prohibited locations.
Unvented fuel-fired heating equipment shall not be located in or obtain combustion air from any of the following rooms or spaces: sleeping rooms, bathrooms, toilet rooms or storage rooms.
603.4.1.1. Certain sales prohibited.
No person shall sell or offer for sale or install a secondhand, previously owned, space heater or portable stove which uses gas, kerosene, range oil or No. 1 fuel oil for fuel.
603.4.1.2. Limited permissible uses of unvented kerosene heaters.
Unvented kerosene heaters may be used in an agricultural building or a building under construction. Such heaters shall meet UL Subject 647 and bear the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. label, so certifying compliance."
K. 
Section 1103.5.3 Insert "The date by which the sprinkler system needs to be installed will be determined by the City of Chester, Bureau of Fire, Fire Commissioner/Marshal."
Should any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this article be declared invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of this article in its entirety or any part thereof, other than that so declared invalid. The Council of the City of Chester hereby declares that it would have passed this article, and each section, subsection or phrase thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases be declared unconstitutional.
That nothing in this article or in the Fire Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding impending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes of action acquired or existing, under any act or ordinance hereby repealed as cited in § 274-22 of this article; nor shall any just or legal right or remedy of any character be lost, impaired or affected by this article.
That the City Clerk is hereby ordered and directed to cause this article to be published as required by law.