Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for
the purpose of this chapter, have the meaning indicated in this section:
ALARMS
Any person having a fire, smoke or heat detector system shall
be charged a fee for false alarms responded to by the Fire Department.
Types of fire alarms transmitted to the Fire Department include:
(1)
Good-intent false alarm: an alarm that turns out to be false,
but which was reported in good faith.
(2)
Accidental false alarm: an alarm set off and transmitted through
accidental operation of an automatic or manual fire alarm device.
Frequent causes are low air pressure on automatic sprinkler dry valves,
excessive heat from an industrial process or the sun, cold weather
and smoke detector sensitivity adjustment.
(3)
False alarm: an alarm for which no fire actually exists. Examples
include burned food, a system activated by steam from a shower and
improper maintenance of systems and components.
(4)
Malicious false alarm. Any person who shall negligently or willfully
cause an alarm of fire to be transmitted to the Waukesha County Communications
Center as opposed to an accidental false alarm. Malicious false alarms
may be the result of maintenance, removal of component parts from
the alarm system, intentionally setting off a system or calling in
a false alarm.
APPROVAL
Approval by the Fire Chief of the City of New Berlin Fire
Department or Assistant Chief of the Fire Prevention and Inspection
Bureau in accordance with the provisions of this chapter as applied
to a material, device or mode of construction.
APPROVED AGENCY
An agency accepted or acceptable to the Fire Prevention and
Inspection Bureau.
AREA or SQUARE FOOTAGE OF BUILDING
The total square footage of the sums of all basements, floor
levels, balconies and mezzanines.
(1)
The area for basements and floor levels shall be measured from
the outside perimeter of the outside walls.
(2)
The area for mezzanines shall be determined from the product
of the length times the width.
(3)
For the purpose of determining square footage, fire division
walls will not be accepted as outside walls or area dividers.
(4)
Buildings that are in close proximity to each other will have
their building square footage added together to arrive at the total
square footage. For the purpose of determining proximity, the following
will hold true:
(a)
Single-story buildings: 30 feet apart or less.
(b)
Two-story buildings: 60 feet apart or less.
(c)
Three-story buildings: 60 feet apart or less.
(d)
All other multiple-story buildings: 60 feet apart.
(e)
Buildings of variable height next to each other: 30 feet apart
or less.
ASSEMBLY HALL
(1)
"Assembly halls" or "places of assembly" mean all buildings
or parts of buildings, other than theaters, which will accommodate
more than 100 persons for entertainment, recreation, worship or dining
purposes.
(2)
The following includes various types of occupancies within the
scope of this definition, together with the method for determining
the capacity. No greater number of persons than the number established
shall be permitted in any theater or assembly hall.
|
Use or Occupancy
|
Basis for Capacity
(square feet per person)
|
---|
|
Arenas and field houses
|
4
|
|
Assembly halls with stage
|
7
|
|
Banquet halls
|
10
|
|
Churches (auditoriums)
|
7
|
|
Churches (dining rooms)
|
10
|
|
Dance halls
|
10
|
|
Dining rooms
|
10
|
|
Gymnasiums
|
|
|
|
For seated space
|
6
|
|
|
For unseated space
|
15
|
|
Lecture halls
|
7
|
|
Lodge halls
|
|
|
|
For seated space
|
6
|
|
|
For unseated space
|
15
|
|
Skating rinks
|
45
|
|
Theaters
|
7
|
|
Theater lobbies
|
7
|
ASSEMBLY OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof by a gathering of 100 persons or more.
AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION
The Fire Chief, Assistant Chief or designee of the Fire Chief
to enforce this chapter, the laws of the state pertaining to the prevention
of fires and public safety and approving equipment, installation or
procedure as outlined in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
standards.
AUTOMATIC CLOSING DEVICE
One which functions without human intervention and is actuated
as a result of predetermined temperature rise, rate of rise of temperature,
combustion products or smoke density.
BUSINESS OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof for the transaction of business or the rendering or receiving
of professional services, including offices.
CEILING
The upper surface of a space, regardless of height. Areas
with a suspended ceiling would have two ceilings, one visible from
the floor and one above the suspended ceiling.
COMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
All materials not classified as noncombustible are considered
combustible. This property of a material does not relate to its ability
to structurally perform under fire exposure. The degree of combustibility
is not defined by standard fire test procedures.
COMMON AREA
Refers to any area in the building that can be accessed by
more than one person from different families at one time.
DAY-CARE CENTER
Any place which receives at any one time for compensation
four or more children under the age of seven years for care and supervision
for less than 24 hours a day for more than 10 days a month without
the attendance of a parent, relative or legal guardian.
DWELLING
Any building or portion thereof designed or used as the living
and/or sleeping place of one or more persons and including:
(2)
TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGA detached building containing not more than two individual dwelling units which are entirely separated by vertical walls or horizontal floors, unpierced except for access to the outside or common basement.
DWELLING STRUCTURE
Any structure containing one or more rooms providing sleeping
and sanitary facilities, but not including a hotel, hospital, nursing
home, dormitory, fraternity or sorority house.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms, which may include a kitchen or kitchenette,
sleeping areas, dining areas and sanitary facilities, designed as
a unit for occupancy by not more than one family.
EDUCATIONAL OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof by persons assembled for the purpose of learning or of receiving
educational instruction.
FAMILY UNIT
One or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption,
living and cooking together, exclusive of household servants; a number
of persons living together as a single housekeeping unit, although
not related by blood, adoption or marriage, shall be deemed to constitute
a family unit. A boardinghouse shall not be considered a family.
FIRE PREVENTION AND INSPECTION BUREAU
The Fire Prevention and Inspection Bureau is made up of the
Chief of the City of New Berlin Fire Department, the Assistant Chief,
appointed Fire Inspectors, any designee of the Fire Chief.
FIRE RESISTIVE
That type of construction in which the structural members,
including walls, partitions, columns, floor and roof construction,
are of noncombustible materials with fire-resistant ratings approved
by the Fire Prevention and Inspection Bureau.
FIRE SPRINKLER EQUIPMENT, AUTOMATIC
A system of piping connected to an adequate water supply
and provided with approved automatic fire sprinklers or devices so
arranged and located as to discharge water automatically to the seat
of the fire. Installation shall comply with National Fire Protection
Association No. 13 "Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems"
or other applicable NFPA code.
FIRE WALL
(1)
A wall which has a fire-resistance rating of not less than four
hours and which divides a building or separates buildings to restrict
the spread of fire. A three-foot parapet wall may be a required part
of a fire wall approved by the Fire Prevention and Inspection Bureau.
(2)
For the purpose of determining square footage, fire walls shall
not be considered as area dividers.
(3)
For the purpose of determining square footage as it relates
to the sprinkling of a building, fire walls shall not be considered
as area dividers.
FLOOR, BASEMENT
That level where less than 1/2 the height between floor and
ceiling is above the average level of street, sidewalk or finished
grade.
FLOOR, GROUND
That level of a building on a sloping or multilevel site
which has its floor line at or not more than three feet above exit
discharge grade for at least 1/2 of the required exit discharges.
HIGH-HAZARD OCCUPANCY
Any building which by reason of its construction or highly
combustible occupancy involves a severe life hazard to its occupants
as determined by the Fire Prevention and Inspection Bureau.
HOME TO SHARE
Any single-family dwelling where more than three unrelated
adults live who might be asked to voluntarily participate in the expense
of the operation and maintenance of that unit. These units may be
inspected on the authorization of the Fire Chief of the City of New
Berlin Fire Department.
INDUSTRIAL OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof for assembling, fabricating, finishing, manufacturing, packaging
or processing operations, except when classified as a high-hazard
occupancy.
INSTITUTIONAL OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building or structure or any portion
thereof by persons harbored or detained to receive medical, charitable
or other care or treatment or by persons involuntarily detained.
MERCANTILE OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building, structure or any portion
thereof for the displaying, selling or buying of goods, wares or merchandise,
except when classified as a high-hazard occupancy.
MULTIFAMILY DWELLING
An apartment house or a building designed for occupancy by
three or more families living independently of each other and containing
three or more dwelling units, including, but not limited to, row houses,
garden or elevator apartments and rooming houses.
NFPA
The National Fire Protection Association.
NONCOMBUSTIBLE MATERIAL
A noncombustible material is one which, in the form in which
it is used, meets one of the requirements listed below. Materials
used adjacent to or in contact with heat-producing appliances, warm
air ducts, plenums and chimneys shall be classified as noncombustible
only on the basis of Subsection (1) of this definition. Noncombustible
does not apply to the flame spread characteristics of interior finish
or trim materials. No material shall be classed as noncombustible
building construction material which is subject to increase in combustibility
or flame spread classification (FSC) beyond the limits herein established
through the effects of age, moisture or other atmospheric conditions.
See note on flame spread rating in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
(1)
Materials which pass the test procedure of ASTM E-136 for defined
noncombustibility of elementary materials when exposed to a furnace
temperature of 1,382° F. for a minimum period of five minutes
and do not cause a temperature rise of the surface or interior thermocouple
in excess of 54° F. above the furnace air temperature at the beginning
of the test and which do not flame after an exposure of 30 seconds.
(2)
Materials having a structural base of noncombustible material
as defined above, with a surfacing not more than 1/8 inch thick which
has a flame spread classification (FSC) not greater than 50 when tested
in accordance with the method of test for surface burning characteristics
of building materials (ASTM E-84).
OWNER
Includes his authorized agent or attorney, a purchaser, devisee,
fiduciary or person having a vested or contingent interest in the
property in question.
PUBLIC BUILDINGS
Includes any structure, including exterior parts of such
building, such as a porch, exterior platform or steps providing means
of ingress or egress, used in whole or in part as a place of resort,
assemblage, lodging, trade, traffic, occupancy or use by the public
or by three or more tenants.
REMODEL
To remodel, alter or both means to change any building or
structure which affects the structural strength, fire hazard, internal
circulation or exits of the existing building or structure. This definition
does not apply to maintenance, reroofing or alterations to the heating
and ventilating or electrical systems.
ROOF SPACES
Multifamily, commercial, industrial, governmental and institutional
buildings with combustible roofs shall have all roof spaces subdivided
every 3,000 square feet by a one-hour-rated partition, unless protected
by an approved sprinkler system. All openings must have a minimum
of a one-hour-rated self-closing door.
ROW HOUSE
A place of abode arranged to accommodate three or more attached,
side-by-side or back-to-back living units.
SPACING
A horizontally measured dimension relating to the allowable
coverage of fire detectors.
SPS
Department of Safety and Professional Services.
STORAGE OCCUPANCY
The occupancy or use of a building, structure or any portion
thereof for the storage of goods, wares, merchandise, raw materials
or agricultural or manufactured products, including parking garages,
or the commercial sheltering of livestock and other animals, except
when classified as a high-hazard occupancy.
STORY
The space in a building between the surfaces of any floor
and the floor next above or below or roof next above, or any space
not defined as basement, ground floor, mezzanine, balcony, penthouse
or attic.
THEATER
All buildings or parts thereof containing an assembly hall
having a stage which may be equipped with curtains or movable scenery
or which is otherwise adaptable to the showing of plays, operas, motion
pictures or similar forms of entertainment.
VEHICLE
Any self-propelled device fueled by a flammable or combustible
liquid or compressed gas used to transport people or goods.