As used in sections 30-32 and 30-33 only, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
Enforcement official
means the fire chief or designated representative.
False alarm malfunction
means the activation of any alarm which results in the response of the fire department caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or lack of proper maintenance or any other response for which the fire department personnel are unable to gain access to the premises for any reason, or are unable to determine the apparent cause of the alarm activation.
False fire alarm
means the activation of any alarm which results in the response of the fire department caused by the negligence or intentional misuse of a fire alarm system by the owner/occupant or employees, servants or agents, or any other activation not caused by heat, smoke or fire, exclusive of a fire alarm malfunction. An alarm is not considered a false fire alarm if the alarm is activated due to obvious malicious causes beyond the control of the owner/occupant.
Fee
means the assessment of a monetary charge payable to the city, authorized pursuant to this section, to defray the expenses of responding to a false alarm or alarm malfunction.
Fire alarm system
means any mechanical, electrical or radio-controlled device which is designed to emit a sound or transmit a signal or message when activated or any such device which emits a sound and transmits a signal or message when activated because of smoke, heat or fire. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, alarm systems shall be deemed to include audible alarms at the site of the installation of the detection device, proprietor alarms and automatic telephone direct dial services or digital alarm communicator systems. A single station alarm device shall not be deemed to be a fire alarm system under this section.
Fire alarm technician
means any person who inspects, installs, repairs or performs maintenance on fire alarm systems and who is licensed by the state or works under a state licensed alarm contractor.
Owner/occupant
means any persons or authorized representative who own, lease, operate, occupy or manage the premises in which a fire alarm system is installed.
Premises
means any building or structure, or combination of buildings or structures, including residential dwellings, tenant or lease spaces located wholly or partially inside such building or structures classified by the International Fire Code as a Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, and S occupancies, where a fire alarm system is installed.
Required fire alarm system
means a fire alarm system which the owner/occupant of a premises is required to install and maintain in an operative condition pursuant to this Code.
Serve
means the hand delivery of written notification by a representative of the fire department to the owner/occupant or authorized representative who responds to the premises upon activation of a fire alarm system. In the event that the owner/occupant or authorized representative fails to respond to the premises within 30 minutes of the activation of the fire alarm system, serve shall also mean the placement of written notification, form or other documentation within the postal system operated by United States Postal Service, addressed to the most current or last known address of owner/occupant or authorized representative.
Single-station alarm device
means an assembly incorporating the detector, control equipment and alarm-sounding device in one unit operated from a power supply either in the unit, or obtained at the point of installation.
Smoke detector
means a device which detects the visible or invisible particles of combustion.
(Code 1975, § 10-55(a))
(a) 
Responsibility for system activation.
The responsibility for a fire alarm system activation shall be that of the owner/occupant of the premises in which the fire alarm system is installed.
(b) 
Response by owner/occupant.
The owner/occupant shall respond and report to the premises within 30 minutes of notification by fire department personnel. Failure of the owner/occupant to appear at said premises within 30 minutes after being notified, shall result in an assessment fee as established in Appendix A by the city of the owner/occupant of the premises.
(c) 
Fire alarm activation report.
The owner/occupant shall be served with a copy of a fire alarm activation report. Such report shall indicate if the fire alarm system activation was either a false fire alarm or a false alarm malfunction.
(d) 
Authorization to reset alarm.
Once a false fire alarm or fire alarm malfunction has been responded to by the fire department, it shall be unlawful for the alarm panel to be reset by the owner/occupant of the premises, until authorization from the enforcement official has been obtained.
(Code 1975, § 10-55(b))
(a) 
Billing and collection of false alarm malfunction fee.
All fees charged to an owner/occupant regarding false fire alarms and false alarm malfunctions shall be billed and collected by the city finance department.
(b) 
Fee for false alarms generally.
No fee shall be assessed for the first three false fire alarms or fire alarms or fire alarm malfunctions at the same premises during each calendar year. Thereafter, a fee as established in Appendix A shall be paid by the owner/occupant for each false fire alarm or false fire alarm malfunction located in a Group A, B, E, F, H, I M, R-1 and S occupancies.
(c) 
Fee for false alarms at Group R-3 occupancy.
No fee shall be assessed for the first three false fire alarms or fire alarm malfunctions at a Group R-3 occupancy premises during each calendar year. Thereafter, a fee as established in Appendix A shall be paid by the owner/occupant for each false fire alarm or false alarm malfunction. After the seventh false fire alarm or fire alarm malfunction, or any combination thereof has occurred at the premises, the fee shall be as established in Appendix A for each false alarm call during the calendar year.
(d) 
Computation of false fire alarms.
False fire alarms activated by any components connected to the fire alarm system shall be included to compute the total number of false alarms for purposes of this section.
(e) 
Unpaid fees.
Should any fee assessed pursuant to this section remain unpaid in excess of 60 days from the date the charge is billed, a collection fee in the amount as established in Appendix A and interest in the amount of 12 percent per annum shall be assessed on the outstanding balance and shall be payable by the owner/occupant of the premises in addition to the original fee. The owner/occupant shall also be responsible for any legal fees or costs incurred by the city in the enforcement of this section.
(Code 1975, § 10-55(c))
(a) 
Standards.
When required, fire alarm systems shall be installed in accordance with the National Fire Code, 72, 72E or 72H.
(b) 
Smoke detectors.
The installation, maintenance and continuous operation of smoke detectors in every occupancy classification listed in the International Fire Code are required to be installed by the owner with location and number determined by the building official. All required smoke detectors are to be wired directly to a dedicated house current. (No battery powered detectors are allowed, except when used as a backup.)
(c) 
Supervision by central station.
When fire alarm systems are installed which include appliances other than just local smoke detectors, the fire alarm system shall be supervised by an approved central, proprietary or remote station service or a local alarm which will give audible and visual signals at a continually attended location.
(d) 
Compliance with standards.
Fire alarm systems which were installed prior to the adoption of the ordinance from which this section is derived that do not comply with N.F.P.A. Standards or do not comply with the Americans Disability Act shall be brought into compliance with both of the above mentioned codes when any repair or alteration is made to the system.
(Code 1975, § 10-55(d))