[Amended 2-6-1989]
A.
All residential projects and subdivisions submitted to
the Planning and Zoning Commission after the effective date of this article
shall, when constructed, be equipped with fire alarm street boxes which meet
the specifications of the Superintendent of Alarms or his duly authorized
designee, which shall be provided and installed at the expense of the subdivider/developer.
No less than one fire alarm street box for each fifty-lot subdivision or fifty-unit
residential project shall be provided and installed by the subdivider/developer.
B.
Prior to the final approval of a subdivision and/or the issuance of a building permit, each subdivider/developer shall deposit with the City of Middletown Department of Finance the sum of $5,000 per fire alarm street box as required by Subsection A. Multifamily complexes, including but not limited to apartments, condominiums and townhouses, shall be subject to an additional charge of $100 per unit.
[Added 7-2-1984]
A.
The location of all boxes shall be shown on the plan
submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The location of each box
as shown on the plan shall be approved by the Superintendent of Alarms of
the City of Middletown after consultation with the Fire Chief of the district
involved. The subdivider or developer shall submit such written data concerning
the proposed installation, construction and operation of the fire alarm boxes
to the Superintendent of Alarms as the Superintendent may require. In residential
subdivisions containing detached dwellings, a fire box shall be located within
1,000 feet of each dwelling unit. For residential subdivisions or projects
of multiple-family dwellings, such as townhouses, condominiums or apartments,
one box shall be provided for each 50 units or a portion thereof, provided
that no dwelling unit shall be located more than 500 feet from an alarm box.
B.
In the event a freestanding fire alarm box becomes irreparable
or is removed by parties unknown, the Superintendent of Alarms shall report
the same to the Fire Chief of the district within which the unit is located.
The unit shall not be replaced unless the Chief requires that it be replaced.
All fire alarm boxes shall conform to the following:
A.
All boxes shall be radio-type boxes which shall be compatible
with the existing emergency radio alarm system maintained by the City so that
the box will function effectively as a part of the system.
B.
Boxes shall be securely mounted on pedestals or structures
in a manner approved by the Superintendent of Alarms. No fire alarm box shall
be installed until the location and manner of mounting have been approved
by the Superintendent of Alarms.
C.
All fire alarm boxes shall be of conventional shape and
shall have instructions for use plainly marked on the outer door.
D.
The operating device for the box shall be readily available
and of such a design and so located as to make the method of its use apparent.
The subdivider or developer shall provide sufficient copies of instructions
to be distributed and shall distribute the same to persons initially purchasing
property in the subdivision or occupying any dwelling unit.
E.
Box cases and parts at any time accessible to users,
including antenna supports for radio-type boxes, shall be of insulated materials
or permanently and effectively grounded.
F.
All boxes shall be of a color approved by the Superintendent
of Alarms.
G.
Where more than one building is connected to a single
alarm box, indicating lights of a type approved by the Superintendent of Alarms
shall be installed.
H.
Any and all burglar/security and fire alarm systems installed
within any structure in the City shall be provided with two copies of “as-built”
drawings of the alarm system in order to facilitate a timely response to the
alarm location within the structure. These drawings shall be provided by the
structure owner and/or the alarm system installer at his/her expense. One
copy of the plan shall be filed with the Superintendent of Alarms. The second
copy shall be located within the alarm system control panel or in a secure
location not more than 48 inches from the alarm system control panel, to which
first responders and the Superintendent of Alarms shall be provided access.
Each device reporting to the control panel shall have individual identification,
and its location within the structure shall also be specifically identified.
These devices shall include but not be limited to smoke detectors, heat detectors,
motion sensors, water flow switches and low air alarms and any other device
deemed applicable by the Superintendent of Alarms. Any and all devices affected
by alterations, renovations, additions and deletions to the alarm system shall
be so noted on the existing drawing, or new, updated drawings shall be provided
within 48 hours at the owner’s expense. Within 30 days of installation
or alteration of a fire alarm system, the Superintendent of Alarms or his
designee shall be contacted for approval of such change.
[Added 7-3-2006 by Ord. No. 15-06]
Boxes shall conform to the following:
A.
Noninterference devices shall be designed so that manipulation
of box starting levers singly, concurrently or consecutively will not, under
any circumstances, result in an improper signal.
B.
Succession devices shall be designed so that no signal
will be lost if the starting levers of at least two boxes are pulled at or
about the same time.
C.
Boxes transmitting a coded indication shall send three
or four rounds of the box number.
D.
The boxes shall be designed so that recycling will not
occur if the box actuating device is held in the actuating position, but the
box will be ready to transmit a new signal as soon as the actuating device
is released.
E.
Boxes, when actuated, shall give a visual indication
to the user that the box has operated. The indication to the user shall be
of a type approved by the Superintendent of Alarms.
F.
All signals from boxes shall be received at the Emergency
Alarm Communications Center.
G.
Boxes to have police call.
A.
After the fire alarm boxes have been installed in the
subdivision or project in the location and manner approved by the Superintendent
of Alarms, and after said boxes have been inspected and tested by and/or under
the supervision of the Superintendent of Alarms, ownership of the boxes shall
be transferred to the City of Middletown, free and clear of any and all encumbrances,
liens, claims or defects of title, and said boxes shall be incorporated into
the City Emergency Alarm System and shall become the property of the City
of Middletown, to be maintained by the City thereafter.
B.
The subdivider or developer shall execute and deliver
all necessary documents, and obtain the execution and delivery of any documents
necessary from any other parties, to effect transfer of ownership of the boxes
to the City free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, claims or defects of
title and shall present to the Superintendent of Alarms satisfactory evidence
that the boxes are owned free and clear of any encumbrances, liens, claims
or defects of title.
C.
The subdivider or developer shall convey an easement
to the City, and obtain any conveyances necessary from any other parties,
to enable the City to continue in place and to maintain, repair and replace
any alarm box installed in any approved location on private property. The
subdivider or developer shall present to the Superintendent of Alarms satisfactory
evidence that the grantor or grantors have sufficient title to convey such
easement or easements to the City.
In enforcing the provisions of §§ 161-21 to 161-25, inclusive, the Superintendent of Alarms shall use the applicable standards as found in the National Fire Codes as compiled and adopted by the National Fire Protection Association in effect at the time the standard is applied with respect to any matter not specifically provided for in said sections or any other applicable federal, state or local law.
