It is the intent of this chapter 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 explosion arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises. Compliance with standards of the National Board of Fire Underwriters or other approved nationally recognized safety standards shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of compliance with this intent.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply equally to new and existing conditions, except that, unless otherwise required, existing conditions not in strict compliance with the terms of this chapter shall be permitted to continue where the exceptions do not constitute a distinct hazard to life or property in the opinion of the Fire Inspector.
All matters within the intent of this chapter not covered in detail by this chapter shall comply with nationally recognized good practice. Compliance at any time with the most recent provisions of the Fire Prevention Code recommended by the National Board of Fire Underwriters shall be deemed to be prima facie evidence of compliance with nationally recognized good practice.
[Amended 9-12-2012 by L.L. No. 5-2012]
It shall be the responsibility of the Board of Fire Wardens, in conjunction with the City Manager, to administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter. There is hereby created in and for the City of Rye the Bureau of Fire Protection, the head of which shall be a Lieutenant, whose duties, among other things, shall include the responsibility for fire inspections within the City. Such office shall be subject to the supervision and direction of the Board of Fire Wardens in conjunction with the City Manager. Subject to the Civil Service Law and Rules and Regulations, the Board of Fire Wardens, in conjunction with the City Manager, and with the approval of the Council, shall appoint such Lieutenant. Such person so appointed shall be qualified to assume the duties and responsibilities of such office or shall, within the time prescribed by law, qualify to do so. Such appointee or appointees shall receive such annual salary as the Council shall fix and determine.
The Board of Fire Wardens, Chief of the Fire Department, Fire Inspector or any other inspector designated by the Council or said Board may, at all reasonable hours, enter any building or premises for the purpose of making any inspection or investigation which, under the provisions of this chapter, he or they may deem necessary to be made.
It shall be the duty of the Board of Fire Wardens, or any other board or person designated by the Council, to inspect or cause to be inspected all buildings and premises as often as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire or endanger life from fire or any violations of the provisions or intent of this chapter and of any other ordinance affecting the fire hazard.
Whenever the Board of Fire Wardens, Chief of the Fire Department, Fire Inspector or any other inspector designated by the Council or said Board shall find in any building or upon any premises dangerous or hazardous conditions or materials as follows, he or they shall order such dangerous conditions or materials to be removed or remedied in such manner as he or they may specify:
A. 
Dangerous or unlawful amounts of combustible, explosive or otherwise hazardous materials.
B. 
Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly installed equipment for handling or using combustible, explosive or otherwise hazardous materials.
C. 
Dangerous accumulations of rubbish, wastepaper, boxes, shavings or other highly flammable materials.
D. 
Accumulations of dust or waste material in air-conditioning or ventilating systems or of grease in kitchen or other exhaust ducts.
E. 
Obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows, liable to interfere with the operations of the Fire Department or egress of occupants in case of fire.
F. 
Any building or other structure which, for want of repairs, lack of sufficient fire escapes or other exit facilities, automatic or other fire alarm apparatus or fire extinguishing equipment, or by reason of age or dilapidated condition, or from any other cause, constitutes a hazardous condition.
The service of orders for the correction of violations of this chapter shall be made upon an owner, occupant or other person responsible for the conditions, either by delivering a copy of the same to such person or by delivering the same to and leaving it with any person in charge of the premises, or in case no such person is found upon the premises, by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous place on the door to the entrance of the said premises. Whenever it may be necessary to serve such an order upon the owner of the premises, such order may be served either by delivering to and leaving with the said person a copy of the said order or, if such owner is absent from the jurisdiction of the officer making the order, by sending such copy by registered or certified mail to the owner's last known post office address.
A. 
Whenever a permit is required hereunder and unless otherwise provided, same shall be issued by the City Clerk upon approval of the Fire Inspector, who, prior to the issuance of any permit, shall make or cause to be made such inspections or tests as may be necessary to ensure that the requirements of this chapter will be met.
B. 
Written application shall be made for any permit required hereunder and shall be in such form and shall contain such information as the City Manager from time to time by rule or regulation may require.
C. 
An inspection fee of $5 shall be paid to the City Clerk simultaneously with the filing of any application for a permit hereunder, except where a different fee is specified.
D. 
A permit shall constitute a 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.
E. 
The City Clerk shall furnish the Fire Inspector with a copy of each of such permits issued.
The Council, Board of Fire Wardens, Chief of the Fire Department or Fire Inspector may revoke a permit or approval issued if any violation of this chapter is found upon inspection or in case there has been any false statement or misrepresentation as to a material fact in the application or plans on which a permit or approval was based, or upon failure of a permittee to comply with any stated condition of any permit.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings indicated in this section:
APPROVED
Accepted by the Board of Fire Wardens, Chief of the Fire Department and Fire Inspector as a result of their investigation and experience or by reason of test, listing or approval by Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., 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.
BOARD OF FIRE WARDENS
Board of Fire Wardens of the Fire Department of the City of Rye.
FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING
The time in hours that a material or construction will withstand a standard fire exposure as determined by a fire test made in conformity with the Standard Method of Fire Tests of Building Construction and Materials of the American Society for Testing Materials, ASTM E119.
ICC CONTAINER
Any container approved by the Interstate Commerce Commission for shipping any liquid, gaseous or solid material of a flammable, toxic or other hazardous nature.
MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion thereof for the displaying, selling or buying of goods, wares or merchandise, except when classed as a high-hazard occupancy.
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, association and copartnership as well as an individual.
This chapter shall not be construed to hold the municipality responsible for any injury to persons or damage to property by reason of the inspection or reinspection authorized herein, failure to inspect or reinspect, the issuance of any permit herein provided or by reason of the approval or disapproval of any equipment authorized herein.