It is the intent of this article to prescribe
regulations consistent with nationally recognized good practice for
the safeguarding to a reasonable degree of life and property from
the hazards of fire and explosions arising from the storage, handling
and use of hazardous substances, materials and the use or occupancy
of buildings or premises. Compliance with standards of the National
Board of Fire Underwriters, National Fire Protection Association Safety
Code and Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 or other approved
nationally recognized safety standards shall be deemed to be prima
facie evidence of compliance with this intent.
The Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors
duly appointed by the governing board of the municipality may, at
all reasonable hours, enter any building or premises consistent with
law, for the purpose of making any inspection or investigation which,
under the provisions of this article, he or they may deem necessary
to be made, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected
any condition liable to cause fire, endanger life from fire or any
violations of the provisions or intent of this article or any other
ordinance affecting the fire hazard.
A permit shall constitute permission to maintain,
store or handle materials or to conduct processes which produce conditions
hazardous to life or property or to install equipment used in connection
with such activities. Such permit does not take the place of any license
required by law. It shall not be transferable, and any change in use
or occupancy of premises shall require a new permit. The municipal
authority shall have the right to fix fees for the issuance of permits
provided under this section.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following
terms shall, for the purpose of this article, have the meanings indicated
in this section.
APPROVED
Accepted by the Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors
duly appointed by the governing board of the municipality, as a result
of his investigation and experience or by reason of test, listing
or approval by the National Bureau of Standards, the American Gas
Association Laboratories or other nationally recognized testing agencies.
AUTOMATIC FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A system which automatically detects a fire condition and
actuates a fire alarm signal device and shall be duly registered with
the fire department providing fire protection.
FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING
The time in hours that the material or construction will
withstand the standard fire exposure as determined by a fire test
made in conformity with the Standard Methods of Fire Tests of Building
Construction and Materials of the American Society for Testing Materials
ASTM E119.
ICC CONTAINER
Any container approved by the United States Department of
Transportation for shipping any liquid, gaseous or solid material
of a flammable, toxic or other hazardous nature.
OWNER
Includes his duly authorized agent or attorney, a purchaser,
devisee, fiduciary and a person having a vested or contingent interest
in the property in question.
PERSON
Includes corporation and copartnership, as well as individual.
This article shall not be construed to hold
the municipality responsible for any damage to persons or property
by reason of the inspection or reinspection authorized herein or failure
to inspect or reinspect for the permit issued as herein provided or
by any reason of the approval or disapproval of any equipment authorized
herein.
It shall be the duty of the Chief Fire Inspector
or the Assistant Fire Inspectors to enforce the provisions of this
article, along with any other provisions of any local law or ordinance
or statute dealing with fire prevention and firesafety.
Automobile wrecking yards, junkyards and waste
material handling plants shall conform to all other applicable requirements
of this article, as well as the following provisions.
A. Permit required. A permit shall be obtained to conduct
or maintain any automobile wrecking yard, junkyard or waste material
handling plant.
B. Location. No automobile wrecking yard, junkyard or
waste material handling plant shall be located as to seriously expose
adjoining or adjacent properties.
C. Burning operations. Any burning in the Town of Carmel
shall comply with county, federal and state regulations and shall
be under the approval of the Chief Fire Inspector or Assistant Fire
Inspectors of the Town of Carmel.
D. Construction and protection requirements.
(1) Handling and storage of large quantities of wastepaper,
rags or other combustible materials shall not be in a building of
wood frame or ordinary construction unless the building is sprinklered.
Vertical openings shall be enclosed in an approved manner.
(2) Picking rooms shall be separated from storage rooms
by construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less than one
hour, with each door opening provided with an approved fire door.
Picking rooms shall be provided with exhaust systems of sufficient
capacity to adequately remove dust and lint.
Bowling establishments shall conform to all
other applicable requirements of this article, as well as the following
provisions:
A. Permit required. A permit shall be required for bowling
pin refinishing and bowling lane resurfacing operations involving
the use of application of flammable liquids or materials.
B. Lane resurfacing operations. Resurfacing operations
shall not be carried on while the establishment is open for business.
The Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors duly appointed
by the governing board of the municipality shall be notified when
bowling lanes are to be resurfaced. Proper ventilation shall be provided.
Heating, ventilating or cooling systems employing recirculating of
air shall not be operated during resurfacing operations or within
one hour following the application of flammable finishes. All electric
motors or other equipment in the area which might be a source of ignition
shall be shut down, and all smoking and use of open flames shall be
prohibited during the application of flammable finishes and for one
hour thereafter.
C. Pin refinishing.
(1) Pin refinishing involving the application of flammable finishes shall be done only in a special room meeting the requirements of §
59-32E(2). Such room shall not be located below grade nor shall it have communication with any pits, wells, pockets or basements.
(2) All power tools in the room shall be effectively grounded.
A substantial metal box or other receptacle approved by the Fire Inspector
or the Assistant Inspectors duly appointed by the governing board
of the municipality shall be provided for lathes and sanding or buffing
machines for catching dust thrown off during operations. The contents
shall be removed daily and disposed of safely.
(3) Storage of flammable liquids in such rooms shall not
exceed a combined aggregate of 60 gallons in original metal containers
or in approved safety containers not exceeding five gallons' individual
capacity. A metal waste can with a self-closing cover shall be provided
for all waste materials and rags; contents shall be removed daily.
Smoking shall be prohibited at all times in refinishing rooms.
Garages shall conform to all other applicable
requirements of this article, as well as the following provisions.
A. Permit required. No person shall use any building,
shed or enclosure as a place of business for the purpose of servicing,
storing, parking and/or repairing any motor vehicle therein without
a permit.
B. Cleaning with flammable liquids. No flammable liquid
with a flash point below 100° F. shall be used in any garage for
washing parts or removing grease or dirt, unless in a special closed
machine approved for that purpose or in a separate well-ventilated
room enclosed by walls having a fire-resistance rating of not less
than two hours, with openings therein protected by approved fire doors
or fire windows and with no opening from such room or to any upper
or lower story.
C. Handling of gasoline and oils.
(1) The fuel tanks of motor vehicles shall be filled directly through hose from approved pumps attached to approved portable tanks or drawing from underground storage tanks. Storage and handling of flammable liquids shall conform to §
59-32. No transfer of gasoline in any garage shall be made in any open container.
(2) Garage floors shall drain to oil separators or traps
discharging to the sewer. Contents of oil separators or traps of floor
drainage systems shall be collected at sufficiently frequent intervals
and removed from the premises to prevent oil from being carried into
the sewers. Self-closing metal cans shall be used for all oily waste
or waste oils.
D. Construction. All garages, carports or other structures
constructed after the effective date of this article that are used
to house or store motor vehicles and are attached directly or indirectly
to a dwelling, private or multiple, shall have material with a fire-resistive
rating of not less than one hour on all walls and ceilings adjoining
the dwelling. All doors providing access into the dwelling from the
garage, carport or other structure shall have a fire-resistive rating
of not less than 45 minutes.
The Council for Fire Prevention duly appointed
by the governing board of the municipality shall have power to modify
any of the provisions of this article upon application in writing
or by the owner or lessee or his duly authorized agent when there
are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter
of this article, provided that the spirit of this article shall be
observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The
particulars of such modification, when granted or allowed, and the
decision of the Council for Fire Prevention duly appointed by the
governing board of the municipality thereon shall be entered upon
the records of the municipality, and a signed copy shall be furnished
the applicant.
Whenever the Chief Fire Inspector or the Assistant
Inspectors and the Council for Fire Prevention duly appointed by the
governing board of the municipality shall disapprove an application
or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that
the provisions of this article do not apply or that the true intent
and meaning of this article have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted,
the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Chief Fire Inspector
or the Assistant Inspectors and the Council for Fire Prevention duly
appointed by the governing board of the municipality to the Town Board
within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed.