[HISTORY: Adopted by the Annual Town Meeting
of the Town of Chelmsford 5-6-1991 by Art. 27. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The following chapter is intended to provide
the Fire Department with authority to monitor and enforce fire safety
and prevention measures within the Town of Chelmsford.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
Any notification made to the Fire Department that a situation
exists or may exist that requires a response.
A combination of compatible initiating devices, control panels
and indicating appliances designed and installed to provide an alarm
signal in the event of a fire.
Any building wherein is kept or stored one or more motor
vehicles, including but not limited to a public or private garage,
carport, motor vehicle repair shop or paint shop, service station,
lubritorium or any building used for similar purposes.
RESIDENTIAL GARAGEA private building, or part thereof, having a capacity of not more than three motor vehicles when not used for commercial repair or servicing operations.
SPECIAL GARAGEA special structure limited in use to the parking of motor vehicles.
A municipal fire alarm box that may also be operated by remote
means.
Any dwelling that contains three or more living quarters,
including but not limited to hotels, motels, dormitories, apartments,
condominiums, lodging houses, boardinghouses and care facilities.
Any building or premises wherein or upon which gasoline or
other motor fuel is sold at retail.
FULL SELF-SERVICE FACILITYA service station where all the pumps are self-service.
SELF-SERVICE-TYPE BUSINESSThat type of business wherein the licensed motor vehicle operator dispenses his or her own motor fuel.
SPLIT-ISLAND FACILITYA motor fuel dispensing installation where part of the facility is used as self-service and part is used for attendant service.
The distance from a public or private way to the front of
a given building. A parking lot shall not be considered a public or
private way for purposes of this chapter.
A municipal fire alarm box that is operated manually.
An alarm caused by any of the following:
A.
The Select Board or its designee may determine and
designate numbers for all buildings abutting upon or adjacent to public
and private ways.
[Amended 6-17-2021 ATM by Art. 29]
B.
No person shall neglect or refuse to affix on any
building owned by him or her the street number designated for him
or her by said Board or its designee, nor shall any person affix or
suffer to remain on any building owned or occupied by him or her a
street number other than the one designated by said Board or its designee.
C.
All numbers shall comply with the following schedule:
|
Setback*
(feet)
|
Minimum Number Size
(inches)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
0 to 50
|
3
| |
|
51 to 100
|
4
| |
|
Greater than 100
|
6
|
|
NOTES:
*Defined in § 42-2.
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D.
Street numbers shall be affixed in locations approved
by the Fire Chief or his or her designee, and where possible the following
locations shall be mandatory:
(1)
If a setback is less than 200 feet, the number shall
be placed near the front or main door of the building, provided that
the door is visible from a public or private way.
(2)
If a setback is greater than 200 feet or if the main
or front door is not visible from the public or private way, the street
numbers must be affixed to a sign posted near the driveway or entrance
to the property in such a manner so that the sign is visible year-round.
E.
If several occupancies share a single address, each doorway shall be numbered with a street number and unit number. The unit number shall include all units served by the marked doorway. The street numbers shall comply with the schedule outlined in Subsection C, and in all cases the unit numbers shall be two inches or higher.
F.
Street numbers shall be a color that contrasts with
the background upon which they are mounted. If a signboard is used
for a background it shall be a minimum of one square foot per digit.
Street numbers may be attached to a curbside delivery mailbox, provided
that the mailbox is located adjacent to the delivery driveway that
accesses the property. The numbers shall be three inches high on both
sides of the mailbox.
[Amended 10-21-1999 ATM by Art. 37]
A.
An owner of a multiple dwelling who does not reside
therein and who does not employ a manager or agent for such dwelling
who resides therein shall post and maintain or cause to be posted
or maintained on such dwelling, adjacent to the mailboxes for such
dwelling or on the exterior of such dwelling in a location visible
to the public, a notice, not less than 20 square inches in size, bearing
his or her name, address and telephone number or the name, address
and telephone number of such manager or agent.
B.
The owner of said multiple dwelling shall submit annually
before January 31 the address of the dwelling, the name of the dwelling,
if any, the name of the trust, association or organization, if any,
which manages or owns the dwelling and the names, addresses and telephone
numbers of all owners and managers. Such information shall be provided
in a form approved by the Fire Department.
A.
Any owner of property applying for a tie-in to the municipal fire alarm system shall first obtain a permit, on a form provided by the Fire Department, prior to the installation of a master box or street box as those terms are defined in § 42-2. The fee for each tie-in permit shall be set pursuant to MGL c. 40, § 22F.
[Amended 10-17-2005 ATM by Art. 18]
B.
Any violation of this section shall be punishable
by a fine of $100 for each offense. Each day that any violation continues
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Amended 4-29-2013 ATM by Art. 28]
A.
The
installation of all required or nonrequired fire protection systems,
fire alarm systems, the master box or any other transmitting device,
including modifications, alterations, additions or deletions to an
existing fire protection system, the master box or other transmitting
device, shall be governed by the provisions of MGL c. 148, the then
current edition of the State Building Code pursuant to 780 CMR, including,
without limitation, 780 CMR 9.00 et seq., entitled "Fire Protection
and Life Systems," the reference standards cited at 780 CMR 35.00
et seq., the Massachusetts Board of Fire Prevention Regulations cited
at 527 CMR 24.00 et seq., entitled "Fire Warning Systems Installed
in Buildings Within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," and the appropriate
sections of the then current editions of the following National Fire
Protection Association ("NFPA") Standards: NFPA 72, National Fire
Alarm Code; NFPA 1221, Standards for the Installation, Maintenance
and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems; NFPA 70, National
Electrical Code, and all reference documents contained within said
codes and any related rules and regulations of the Town of Chelmsford
Fire Department. All such fire alarm systems shall be supervised in
accordance with the then current provisions of 780 CMR 907.14.
B.
All
new and existing buildings with sprinkler systems shall be connected
to the municipal fire alarm system via a master box connection or
shall use such fire alarm system which is supervised utilizing any
of the methods prescribed by 780 CMR 907.14 which is obtained by contract
with a private alarm company of the building owner's choice for the
purchase, lease, installation, maintenance and servicing of such supervised
fire alarm system at such buildings.
C.
As of the effective date of this bylaw, any property owner and/or
building owner must first obtain a permit, on a form provided by the
Fire Department, prior to installation of any fire alarm system or
equipment designed to summon the Fire Department, including the master
box or other transmitting device. The issuance of permits shall be
in compliance with MGL c. 148, § 10A. An application for
any permits shall also be accompanied by the following information:
(1)
The name, address and telephone number of the alarm user who will
be the permit holder and be responsible for the proper maintenance
and operation of the fire alarm system and the payment of fees assessed
under this bylaw.
(2)
Signed certification from the alarm user and the user's designated
alarm business charged with selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing,
repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing or monitoring a
fire alarm system at a building or property, stating:
(a)
The date of installation, conversion or takeover of the fire
alarm system, whichever is applicable;
(b)
The name, address, phone number, Massachusetts Alarm Installation
license number and the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety registration
number of the alarm business performing the fire alarm system installation,
conversion or fire alarm system takeover and responsible for providing
repair service to the fire alarm system;
(c)
The name, address and phone number of the alarm business monitoring
the alarm system if different from the installing alarm business;
(d)
That a set of written operating instructions for the fire alarm
system, including written guidelines on how to avoid unintentional
fire alarms, has been provided to the alarm user by the alarm business;
and
(e)
That the alarm business has trained the alarm user in proper
use of the fire alarm system, including instruction on to avoid unintentional
fire alarms;
(f)
That the application shall contain the name, address and telephone
number of at least two other persons who are authorized to respond
to a signal transmitted by the fire alarm system within 20 minutes
under normal weather conditions and who are authorized to gain access
to the premises on which the fire alarm system is installed;
(g)
Any other information that enhances the efficiency of administering
this bylaw.
D.
The fire alarm system owner or user, or the alarm company contracting for the servicing of the fire alarm system, shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of the fire alarm system, the master box or other transmitting device as required under this Chapter 42.
E.
The Fire Department will endeavor to insure the proper operation
of its alarm receiving equipment but accepts no liability for conditions
which prevent proper reception of signals from the fire alarm system
owner's or user's premises. Further, the Town of Chelmsford and its
departments, officers, agents and employees shall be under no obligation
whatsoever concerning the adequacy, operation or maintenance of any
supervised fire alarm system or alarm system monitoring facilities
of private contractors or within the Fire Department.
F.
Whenever a fire alarm system or equipment is to be disconnected,
removed or altered, the owner or user shall notify the Fire Department
in accordance with the requirements of MGL c. 148, §§ 10A,
27A, and 28.
G.
No fire alarm system designed to transmit emergency messages or signals directly to the Fire Department or through a dispatch center for the Fire Department shall be worked on, tested or demonstrated without first obtaining permission from the Fire Chief or his/her designee in accordance with MGL c. 148, § 27A. An alarm transmitted when such work is being performed without said permission will constitute an unintentional fire alarm and shall be subject to the fines assessment detailed in § 42-7.
H.
Any violations of this section shall be punishable by a fine of $200
for each offense. Each day that any violation continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
A.
The owner of any building which has a fire alarm system shall only be allowed three unintentional fire alarms, as that term is defined in § 42-2, per calendar year.
B.
After the third unintentional fire alarm the owner
shall be fined $50 and shall be fined $100 for each additional offense
thereafter. Each day that any violation continues shall constitute
a separate offense.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 8, Operation
of service stations, garages used for commercial purposes, self-service
stations including convenience stores, and Sec. 9, Tanks and containers,
which immediately followed this subsection, were deleted 10-21-1999
ATM by Art. 37.
The Fire Chief may make such rules and regulations
not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter as may be necessary
to promulgate a comprehensive fire safety code.
A.
The provisions of this chapter shall be enforced by the Fire Chief or his or her designee, and the Fire Chief shall, in addition to any other remedy available, have full power to initiate noncriminal disposition proceedings as set forth in Chapter 1, General Provisions, § 1-2 of the Code of the Town of Chelmsford.
B.
Except for those sections specifying a greater penalty,
any violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be punished
by a fine of $50. Each day any violation continues shall constitute
a separate offense.
It is hereby declared that the provisions of
this chapter are severable, and if any provisions of this chapter
shall be declared unlawful by a valid judgment or decree of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect any of
the remaining provisions of this chapter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original Sec. 13, Transportation
of flammable liquids by a cargo tank, which immediately followed this
section and was added 10-29-1992 ATM by Art. 14, was deleted 10-21-1999
ATM by Art. 37.
[Added 10-29-1992 ATM by Art. 14]
A.
Permit for open burning.
(1)
A permit must be obtained through the Fire Department
prior to any open burning. Controlled fires for the sole purpose of
cooking are exempt.
(2)
The permit holder must follow the guidelines set forth
in 310 CMR, Department of Environmental Protection, which includes
but is not exclusive to the following:
(a)
Burning between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. only.
Please note: Fire must be completely extinguished by 4:00 p.m.
(b)
Burning must be at least 75 feet from all dwellings.
(c)
Burning (with a permit) of the following is
allowed: brush, cane and forestry debris from other than commercial
or industrial land-clearing operations.
(d)
Burning of the following materials is prohibited:
brush, trees, cane and driftwood from commercial and/or institutional
land-clearing operations, grass, hay, leaves, stumps and tires.
(e)
Stacking, placing or storing combustible materials
such that a prudent person would presume that it will be burned is
prohibited.
(3)
Permit holder must attend the fire until completely
extinguished and shall have available a water supply, such as pressurized
water, pump can or a garden-type hose of sufficient length to reach
the fire area. The fire must be completely extinguished before leaving
it unattended.
B.
Violations. Any person who violates this section will
be warned by a written notice by the Fire Chief or his or her representative.
A second violation within any twelve-month period shall be punishable
by a fine of no more than $100 for each offense. Each day that a violation
continues shall constitute a separate offense.
C.
Severability. It is hereby declared that the provisions
of this section are severable, and if any provisions of this section
shall be declared unlawful by a valid judgment or decree of any court
of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect any of
the remaining provisions of this section.
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{END OF CHAPTER}
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