[Adopted 1-10-1989 by Order No. 129-88; amended in its entirety 11-14-1995 by Order No. 126-95]
The name of this article shall be the "Standish
Sprinkler System Ordinance" (hereinafter "this article").
The purpose of this article shall be to establish
rules and regulations governing the installation of sprinkler systems
in certain new and existing buildings within the Town of Standish.
As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
A system installed in accordance with National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA) Standard 13 or NFPA 13D or a system otherwise lawfully
approved in writing by the Maine State Fire Marshal's office; provided,
however, that any such system approved by the State Fire Marshal's
office shall remain subject to the Fire Chief's approval.
Any structure having a roof supported by columns or walls
and intended for the shelter, housing or enclosure of persons, animals
or chattel. Each portion of a building separated from other portions
by a fire wall shall not be considered a separate "building." "Building"
shall also mean any public building or structure constructed, operated
or maintained for use by the general public, which shall include but
not be limited to all buildings or portions of buildings used for
a school house; day-care center for over 12 children; hospital; convalescent,
nursing or boarding home to be licensed by the Maine Department of
Human Services; theater or other place of public assembly; mercantile
occupancy over 2,000 square feet; hotel, motel or business occupancy
of two or more stories; or any building to be owned or operated by
the state, county or town.
Any building in which there is more than one occupant.
One who acquires title to a building or any portion thereof
by means of a sale, rent, lease or other means.
A.
New construction. An approved automatic sprinkler
system shall be installed in all areas of all new buildings meeting
any or all of the following criteria:
(1)
Three or more stories in height;
(2)
Thirty-five or more feet in height;
(3)
One hundred thousand cubic feet in volume or 10,000
square feet in total floor area, whichever is greater;
(4)
Multiple-occupant dwellings two stories in height;
or
(5)
Any single-family attached units, such as garden apartments
or townhouses, with three or more units attached together.
B.
Existing buildings.
(1)
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed
in additions to existing buildings when the cumulative area or volume
of the total building, including the addition, equals or exceeds 100,000
cubic feet in volume or 10,000 square feet in total floor area, whichever
is greater.
(2)
In those instances where a proposed addition or additions will exceed 25% of the area and/or volume of the building existing on the date of the enactment of this Article and when the resulting building, including the addition or additions, meets the criteria listed in Subsection A(1) through (5) herein, the existing building and additions shall have an approved automatic sprinkler system.
C.
Alarm system. All approved automatic sprinkler systems
installed pursuant to this Article shall be equipped with a National
Fire Protection Association supervisory alarm system which will transmit
to the Standish Fire Dispatch or to an approved receiver.
Single-family residences, multiple-occupant
dwellings with four or fewer occupants and any barn or stable used
exclusively for agricultural purposes shall be exempted from this
Article.
A.
Structure requirements; permit; fee.
(1)
Any structure requiring the installation of a Standard
13 System shall have a Fire Department connection. The location of
the Fire Department connection shall be approved by the Fire Chief
and properly signed Fire Department Sprinkler Connection. The Department
connection shall be kept clear of any obstruction, such as bushes,
grass, snow or debris.
(2)
The type of system to be installed and its adequacy
of life safety from fire in accordance with the provisions of this
Article shall be reviewed and approved by the Fire Chief or his designee
in accordance with this Article, provided that adequate provision
is made for life and property safety.
(3)
A permit shall be obtained from the Fire Chief before
construction of the system. A set of blueprints showing the entire
sprinkler system and the rate of flow shall be provided when the permit
is obtained. A fee for this permit shall be in accordance with the
Standish Fee Schedule on file with the Town Clerk. A copy of the permit
shall be forwarded to the Code Enforcement Officer, and no certificate
of occupancy shall be issued until the system has been properly installed,
tested and approved by the Fire Chief or his designee.
B.
All sprinkler systems installed under this Article
shall have the following:
(1)
Any sprinkler system installed, extended, modified
or altered within the Town of Standish shall be done by a State of
Maine licensed installer.
(2)
Any sprinkler system that is to be installed that
contains 20 or more sprinkler heads, or the modification of an existing
sprinkler system which includes 20 additional sprinkler heads, shall
have the plans approved by the State Fire Marshal's office.
(3)
A tamper switch alarm at the system shutoff.
(4)
An evacuation alarm for the building that will sound
when the sprinkler system is activated. The evacuation alarm shall
be audible throughout the entire structure.
(5)
An outside water flow alarm.
(6)
Butterfly valves will not be allowed on any Standard
13 system.
(7)
Sprinkler heads shall be above and below the ceiling.
C.
Occupied or unoccupied buildings or portions thereof
of any construction having a sprinkler system in place shall maintain
all sprinklers and standpipe systems and all component parts in workable
condition at all times, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or
occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection these systems
provide, except that this shall not prohibit the owner or occupant
from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary
for the purpose of conducting tests, repairs, alterations or additions,
provided that they are done in such a way as to avoid the creation
of a safety hazard. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be notified
before such tests, repairs, alterations or additions are started.
D.
Any building having more than one sprinkler riser
shall have the risers separately zoned and wired to a local energy
alarm panel to provide zone identification upon activation. The energy
alarm panel shall be located as near as possible to the main exit
door. There shall also be a building map located at the energy alarm
panel showing each zone of the building.
E.
A lock box shall be provided outside the main entrance
to any buildings regulated hereunder, containing a key to allow access
to all Fire Department areas.
F.
Any structure containing a sprinkler system shall
be required to have a yearly test completed on the system by a qualified
sprinkler technician. A written copy of the yearly test report shall
be forwarded to the Fire Chief's office.
