The city council finds that automatic fire sprinkler systems are now technologically and economically viable and can help to reduce the loss of life and property due to fire, and are therefore necessary in order to protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(Ord. 544, 1989)
A fully automatic fire sprinkler system designed, installed, tested and maintained per N.F.P.A. (National Fire Protection Association) 13 (current edition) and Chapter 18.160 RCW and approved by the fire chief shall be required in all buildings, except residential dwellings with four or fewer residential units, under the following conditions:
A. 
New buildings in excess of 3,000 square footage total usable floor area; or
B. 
New buildings greater than two stories in height.
(Ord. 544, 1989; Ord. 655, 1993; Ord. 720, 1996)
A. 
In existing buildings which are substantially remodeled or rehabilitated, or in which a change in the character of occupancy or use places the building in a different division of the same group of occupancy or in a different group of occupancies, a fully automatic fire sprinkler system shall be required if the subsequent building meets any of the conditions for new buildings in Section 8.24.020. "Substantially remodeled or rehabilitated" means any structural alteration, addition or restoration of a building for which the cost or value exceeds 50 percent of the current replacement cost or value of the particular building, or where more than 50 percent of the square footage has been structurally altered, or where the addition exceeds 3,000 square feet, after the effective date of this section. Residential over commercial (B-2) occupancies shall be considered mixed use and will be required to install sprinklers if the structure as a whole meets the criteria in Section 8.24.020.
B. 
Existing fully sprinklered buildings, when remodeled or enlarged, shall retain the feature of being fully sprinklered, including the remodeled or added portion.
(Ord. 544, 1989; Ord. 655, 1993)
All automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be supervised by an alarm which shall give an audible signal at a constantly attended station and on the building exterior. "Constantly attended station" means a place where an alarm can be guaranteed to be received by a responsible adult such as an onsite caretaker or an alarm monitoring company.
(Ord. 544, 1989)
If, at any time, any automatic fire sprinkler system becomes inoperative, the fire chief shall be notified within four hours. "Inoperable" means any condition which prevents any sprinkler from operating or any alarm from sounding at its designated location.
(Ord. 544, 1989)
All automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be serviced annually by a qualified service person only. A copy of the annual service report, signed by the individual who performed the annual inspection, shall be forwarded to the fire department within five working days.
(Ord. 544, 1989)
A. 
The requirement of an automatic fire sprinkler system does not eliminate the requirements for alarms and fire detection systems found in the Uniform Building Code or Uniform Fire Code.
B. 
In the event there is a conflict between any provisions of this chapter and the provisions of the latest ICBO Uniform Building Code or the Uniform Fire Code, the more restrictive (greatest protection) provisions shall apply.
(Ord. 544, 1989)
Violation of or failure to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to a civil penalty as set forth in Chapter 1.14. When violations are of a continuing nature, the penalty shall increase each day of the violation as set forth in Section 1.14.050(E).
(Ord. 544, 1989; Ord. 832, 2003)