[C.C. 1984 § 11-1; Ord. No. 2837, 6-5-1967; Ord. No. 3140 § 11-1; Ord. No. 4199 § 2, 2-1-1988; Ord. No. 4581 § 2, 4-3-1995; Ord. No. 4714 §§ 1—4, 6-2-1998; Ord. No. 4782 §§ 1—4, 2-5-2001; Ord. No. 5030 §§ 1—5, 6-18-2007; Ord. No. 5179 § 1, 9-6-2011; Ord. No. 5193 §§ 1—5, 2-21-2012; Ord. No. 5424, 7-1-2019; Ord. No. 5555, 1-21-2025]
A. 
The ICC International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, is hereby adopted and by this reference made a part of this Chapter as though set out in full herein.
B. 
General Administrative Definitions. Throughout the International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, whenever the terms "jurisdiction" or "local jurisdiction" appear it shall be deemed to mean "The City of Richmond Heights," likewise whenever the term "department" appears it shall be deemed to mean "The City of Richmond Heights Building Department or Fire Department," wherever the terms "code official" appear it shall mean the Director of The City of Richmond Heights Building Department or the Director's duly authorized representative and whenever the terms "code," "this code," "Fire Code" appear it shall be deemed to mean the International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, as adopted herein with the additions, deletions and changes as prescribed in Section 205.012 of this Article.
[Ord. No. 5424, 7-1-2019; Ord. No. 5555, 1-21-2025]
A. 
Jurisdictional Titles. 100.1 Wherever (name of jurisdiction) appears in such code, it shall read the City of Richmond Heights, Missouri.
101.1 "Code Official" wherever it may appear in such Code, it shall mean the Fire Official and/or Fire Chief of the City of Richmond Heights, Missouri, or his or her duly authorized representative.
B. 
Amendments To The ICC International Fire Code. The following shall be inserted, deleted, or revised in the ICC International Fire Code, 2024 Edition, as follows:
1. 
F-101.1 Title. Delete and insert the following:
These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Richmond Heights, hereinafter referred to as "this Code".
2. 
F-105.1.1 Permits Required. Delete and replace with:
F-105.1.1 Permits required. Permits required by this Code shall be obtained from the Code official. Permit fees in the amount of fifty dollars each ($50.00), shall be paid prior to issuance of the permit. Issued permits shall be kept on the premises designated therein at all times and shall be readily available for inspection by the code official.
Double Fee. Where any work for which a permit is required by Code is started, or proceeded with, prior to obtaining said permit, the total fees applicable shall be doubled, but payment of said double fee shall not relieve any person from fully complying with the requirements of this Code nor relieve such person from other penalties prescribed herein.
3. 
F-105.6.38 Open Flames And Candles. Delete And Insert The Following:
F-105.6.38 Open Flame And Candle Guidelines:
1. 
The following are guidelines addressing the safe use of open flame devices. The guidelines must be adhered to for the safety of all concerned.
a. 
Normally there will be no open flame device below six (6) feet. However, in case there is an open flame device below six (6) feet, it must be totally enclosed or have an accessible flame showing and far enough away that children cannot reach the open flame.
b. 
All open flame devices shall be well secured in a glass globe, mesh wire cage, or a container approved by the Fire Department.
c. 
The number of open flame devices shall be set by the Fire Department based on the size of the store and the floor plan.
d. 
At least seventy-five percent (75%) of the sales of the involved retail establishment must be derived from the sale of open flame devices.
e. 
There must be one (1) additional fire extinguisher, over and above the number otherwise required, properly installed and in plain view.
f. 
Fire alarms that are set off by open flame devices may constitute a false alarm violation.
g. 
A drawing will be submitted to the Fire Department reflecting specific locations of the proposed open flame devices.
h. 
The establishment will only be approved for open flame devices if it is totally sprinklered.
i. 
There will be an attending salesperson in each room that has open flame devices.
j. 
All open flames must be completely extinguished no later than fifteen (15) minutes before the last person leaves the room for the night.
k. 
Advance plans will be submitted to the Fire Department whenever open flame devices are relocated. In such cases, a new permit will have to be obtained by the owner of the establishment.
l. 
The establishment using open flame devices will be required to show proof of insurance to the Fire Department in an amount sufficient to cover any injuries or other damages and a copy placed on file with the permit application.
2. 
A permit will be issued when all items are successfully completed to the satisfaction of the Fire Department. By requesting and receiving a permit to operate open flame devices in a business establishment, that establishment is agreeing to all twelve (12) items listed in the preceding paragraphs. Any violation of the above guidelines may result in revocation of the permit to operate open flame devices.
4. 
Add a new section:
105.6.58 Hood systems. An operational permit is required for the installation of all commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and their automatic fire extinguishing systems where required.
5. 
Subsection 112 Board of Appeals is hereby deleted in its entirety and new Subsection 112 Membership of Board of Appeals is added to read as follows:
112.1 Application for appeal: Any person shall have the right to appeal a decision of the Code official to the Board of Appeals. An application shall be based on the claim that the intent of this Code has been incorrectly interpreted, that the provisions of this Code do not fully apply or an equivalent form of construction is to be used.
112.2 Membership of Board: The Board of Appeals shall consist of three (3) members, one (1) member appointed by the City, one (1) member chosen by the applicant, and a third member mutually chosen by the City and the applicant.
112.3 Qualifications: Each member of the board must be a design professional registered with the State of Missouri as an architect or engineer or as a builder or superintendent of building construction with at least ten (10) years of experience, five (5) of which will have been in responsible charge of work. The design professional, builder or superintendent of construction must have experience in designing, building or installing the systems, equipment or types of construction which the appeal concerns.
112.4 Chairman: The board shall select one (1) of its members to serve as chairman.
112.5 Disqualification of member: A member shall not hear an appeal in which that member has any personal, professional or financial interest.
112.6 Secretary: The Chief Administrative Officer shall designate a qualified clerk to serve as secretary to the Board. The secretary shall file a detailed record of all proceedings in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
112.7 Compensation of members: Compensation of members shall be determined by law.
112.8 Meetings: The Board members shall be appointed within twenty (20) days of an appeal being filed with the Building Commissioner. Credentials of the chosen members shall be exchanged between the City and the applicant within the twenty (20) day period. If within the twenty (20) day period the City and applicant have been unable to agree upon the third board member, the two (2) chosen members shall choose a qualified third member. If the two (2) board members are unable to reach agreement upon a third member, the City Manager shall appoint the third qualified member. In the case where the City Manager appoints the third member, such appointed member must be a registered design professional with at least ten (10) years' experience in the design and construction of the system, equipment or type of construction upon which the appeal is based.
112.9 Open hearings: The applicant, the applicant's representative, the Code Official and any person whose interests are affected shall be given an opportunity to be heard.
112.10 Procedure: The Board shall adopt and make available to the public procedures under which a hearing will be conducted. The procedures shall not require compliance with strict rules of evidence. Only relevant information shall be received into evidence.
112.11 Postponed hearing: When three (3) board members are not present to hear an appeal, either the appellant or the appellant's representative shall have the right to request a postponement of the hearing.
112.12 Board decision: The board shall modify or reverse the decision of the Code Official by a concurring vote of two (2) members.
112.13 Resolution: The decision of the board shall be by resolution. Certified copies shall be furnished to the appellant and the official.
112.14 Administration: The Code Official shall take action in accordance with the decision of the board.
112.15 Court review: Any person, whether or not a previous party of the appeal, shall have the right to apply to the appropriate court for a writ of certiorari to correct errors of law. Application for review shall be made in the manner and time required by law following the filing of the decision in the office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
6. 
F-113.4 Violation; Penalties. Delete and replace with:
Penalty:
A. 
Any person violating any provision of the Code adopted in this Article shall, upon conviction be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or to imprisonment for not more than three (3) months or both, and may be adjudged to pay the costs of prosecution.
B. 
Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense.
7. 
F-307.1 General. Delete in its entirety and insert the following: No person shall cause or allow open burning unless approved in accordance with the Fire Prevention Code of the City of Richmond Heights.
8. 
F-307.1.1 Prohibited open burning: Delete and insert the following:
Open burning that is offensive or objectionable because of smoke or odor emissions or when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous shall be prohibited.
9. 
F-307.1.2 Allowable burning:
Open burning shall be permitted without prior notification to the Fire Official's Office, for highway safety flares, barbecuing and the use of commercially sold "fire pits "for residential recreational fires. All manufacturer's recommendations must be followed when using any of these listed items.
10. 
F-307.3 Extinguishment authority. Delete and insert the following:
The Fire Official is authorized to order the extinguishment of any fire that creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation.
11. 
F-309.8 Fork lifts: Insert a new subsection:
Fork lifts and similar equipment, such as floor scrubbers and buffers, powered by a liquid fuel or LP gas are not allowed to be used within a mixed group occupancy that is occupied by more than one (1) tenant unless approved by the Fire Official.
12. 
F-503.4.2 Obstruction of streets or fire apparatus roads. Insert a new subsection:
A person or persons shall not erect, construct, place or maintain any bumps, fences, gates, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal horses or any other obstructions in or on any street, within the boundaries of the City of Richmond Heights. The word street, as used in the ordinance, shall mean any roadway accessible to the public for vehicular traffic, including, but not limited to, private streets or access lanes, as well as all public streets and highways within the boundaries of the City of Richmond Heights without the approval of the Traffic Committee of the City of Richmond Heights.
13. 
F-503.5.1.2 Gated communities. Insert a new subsection:
Gated communities are allowed only after the following provisions have been met and approved by the City of Richmond Heights.
1. 
The subdivision streets do not connect with any other subdivision either by roadways or through an easement giving access to other streets or undeveloped land.
2. 
In existing subdivision, a petition stating:
"I agree with a gate being installed at the entrance to all the streets to the subdivision, I understand that when this gate is installed the fire department response can be lengthened by as much as two (2) additional minutes. I further will not hold the fire department responsible for loss of life or property due solely to such additional response time." This petition must be signed by all residents within the subdivision.
3. 
The gate must be equipped with the Knox Box System as required by the Fire Official.
4. 
The gates must be powered by electricity and have a backup power source to operate in case of power failure.
5. 
A complete set of drawings with all the specifications shall be submitted to the Fire Official for approval before any gate installation is started.
14. 
F-505.1 Address identification. Amend to include at the end of the paragraph a new paragraph as follows:
If there is an alley accessible by emergency responder vehicles, whether privately or publicly owned and/or maintained, address numbers shall be placed on the alley elevation of the premises on which the house, building or structure is located. If there is a garage or carport fronting on an alley, house numbers shall also be placed on the alley elevation of the garage or carport.
15. 
F-506 Key Boxes. Delete in its entirety and insert the following:
F-506 Mandatory Knox-Boxes.®
F-506.1 Knox-Boxes®. Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, or where an approved continuously monitored Fire Alarm System is installed, the Fire Official or designate is authorized to require a Knox Box to be installed in an accessible location. The Knox Box® shall be of an approved type and shall contain keys to gain access as required by the Fire Official.
F-506.1.3 Cost. The cost of purchase, installation and maintenance of the Knox Box Security System shall be the responsibility of the owner or occupant.
F-506.1.4 Size. All owners shall install a Knox Box® of adequate size so that all keys needed to gain access to the exterior and interior designated areas (such areas designated for common use and/or all service equipment area) shall be accessible at all times to the Richmond Heights Fire Department. The owner shall clearly mark all keys within the Lock-Box and shall indicate doors to which such keys belong. In the event that more than one (1) key is within the Lock-Box system, the owner designating the door location and corresponding key tag must provide a floor plan. All tags, marking systems, location and size of lock-box, shall be approved by the Fire Official.
F-506.1.5. Installation. The owner of said building shall install the Knox Box® system as directed in the following:
1. 
Recessed Mount: This type of box shall be installed a minimum of four (4) to five (5) feet above finished grade.
2. 
Surfaced Mount: This type of box shall be installed a minimum of four (4) to five (5) feet above finished grade.
3. 
Key Switch: This switch shall be located as approved by the Fire Official.
4. 
Residential Box: This type of box shall be mounted at a location close to the front door or mounted on the front door as approved by the Fire Official.
5. 
Fire Department Alert Decal: One (1) decal shall be mounted on each exterior door in the center of the glass or on the doorframe as directed by the Fire Official.
F-506.1.6 Key Changes. The owner of said building shall be responsible for any key changes and additions to the plans filed with the Fire Department, and it shall be the responsibility of the owner to notify the Fire Official, in writing, of any changes or additions required in the Knox Box®.
F-506.1.7 Voluntary Participation in the Lock-Box Security Program.
F-506.1.7 Voluntary Participation. In the event of any owner of buildings within the City of Richmond Heights, not specifically required to install a Knox Box® system, is desirous of installing such system, such owner must submit a written request to the Fire Official of the City of Richmond Heights to participate in such security systems set out above. Upon review of such request and acceptance of same by the Fire Official, such owner shall comply fully with all the provisions of this Article.
16. 
F-806.1.1 Restricted Occupancies. Delete and insert the following:
Natural cut trees shall be prohibited in all occupancies except for residential usage.
17. 
F-903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 Sprinkler systems is hereby amended to read as follows:
Where the provisions of this Code require that a building or portion thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13. In a mixed group building each tenant shall have their own sprinkler control valve and flow switch connected to a fire alarm system as per Section 907.2 of this Code.
18. 
F-903.3.1.1.1 NFPA 13 systems is hereby amended by deleting the Exception #3.
19. 
F-903.4 Sprinkler system monitoring and alarms is hereby amended by deleting Exceptions #3, 4, 5, 7 and 8.
20. 
F-903.5.1 Water flow tests. Water flow tests for fire sprinkler systems shall be conducted between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M., Monday through Friday.
21. 
F-903.5.2 Water flow safety factor. A safety factor shall be applied to all flow tests for fire sprinkler systems. A parallel curve shall be drawn to the actual flow test curve that has been reduced by ten percent (10%) of the static pressure. A sprinkler system design shall not exceed the ten percent (10%) curve.
22. 
F-907.2.1.1 System initiation Group-A occupancies with an occupant load of one thousand (1,000) or more is hereby amended by deleting the exception.
23. 
F-907.2.7.1.1 Occupant notification is hereby amended by deleting the words "or from a water flow switch."
24. 
F-912.4 Access. Include at the end of the sentence a new sentence as follows:
When the Fire Department connections are located in an area where vehicles may be parked or standing, said parking or standing shall be restricted for five (5) feet in each direction from the Fire Department connection.
25. 
F-101.1.1 Size of doors is hereby amended by amending Exception #5 to read as follows:
Within a dwelling unit not required to be adaptable or accessible, the minimum width of an interior egress door leaf shall be twenty-eight (28) inches (711 mm).
26. 
F-1013.6.1 Graphics is hereby amended by inserting the word: "Exit signs shall have red or green lettering, but shall be uniform in color throughout each individual building, unless approved by the Code Official."
27. 
F-1015.4 Opening limitations is hereby amended by adding to the following at the end of the last sentence:
Guards shall not have an ornamental pattern that can be used as a ladder.
28. 
F-1031.7 Firefighter Assist Plans add a new section as follows:
F-1031.7 Floor Numbering for Firefighter Assistance. An approved pictographic display (sign, drawing or wall marking) shall be posted within all enclosed stairways at each floor landing in all new and existing multi-story buildings. Individual displays, or signs shall show the floor level number where the graphic is displayed, the configuration of exit access corridors including all door openings, exit stairways, elevators, exterior building walls, fire alarm pull stations, fire hoses and sprinkler valves. The sign shall be located five (5) feet above the floor landing in a position that is readily visible when the doors are in the open or closed positions.
29. 
F-2304.3.8 Fire suppression system. Add a new section:
The dispensing area (pump islands, canopy and adjacent ground area) shall be provided with an approved fire suppression system in accordance with the building code listed in Chapter 45.
30. 
F-5704.2.14.1 Removal. Delete and replace with:
Any tank abandoned for a period of one (1) year or determined to be leaking shall be removed from the premises in accordance with all of the following: Paragraph 1 through 6, exclusives of the exceptions in Paragraphs 3 and 6.
31. 
C-102.2 Fire hydrant to Fire Department connections. Insert a new subsection as follows:
There shall be a fire hydrant within one hundred fifty (150) feet of the Fire Department connection.
32. 
C-106.0 Installation height. Insert a new subsection as follows:
C-106.1 Fire hydrant height. Fire hydrants shall be installed a minimum of fourteen (14) inches and a maximum of thirty-six (36) inches above finished grade, measured from the center of the streamer connection.
A. 
Any person violating any provision of the Code adopted in this Article or any rule or regulation adopted or issued in pursuance thereof, shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine of not more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), or to imprisonment for not more than three (3) months or both, and may be adjudged to pay the costs of prosecution.
B. 
Each act of violation and every day upon which a violation occurs or continues shall constitute a separate offense.