City of Nashua, NH Article VI Fire-Suppression Systems

[Adopted 4-12-1988 by Ord. No. O-88-17 (Secs. 8-58 to 8-66 of the 1987 Code)]

§ 156-12 Scope; conflicting regulations.

This article establishes minimum requirements for the protection of buildings by the installation of fire-suppression systems. Such requirements are in addition to the fire-suppression requirements of the Building Code and Fire Code as adopted by the City.[1] Where the provisions of this article differ from other adopted codes of the City, the most stringent standard shall apply.

[1] Editor's Note: See Ch. 105, Building Construction, and Art. IV of this chapter.

§ 156-13 Definitions.

Words and terms used in this article shall have meanings as defined in the Nashua Building or Fire Codes or, if not defined herein, such words and terms shall have the meaning given in Webster's Unabridged Dictionary.

§ 156-14 Required; exceptions.

A. When systems required. Fire suppression systems shall be installed in all new buildings and all existing buildings which are hereafter enlarged or which are hereafter changed in use in whole or in part where such new use involves a greater degree of hazard to life or property.

B. Exceptions:

(1) Detached one- and two-family dwellings (Use Group R-4, 1987 Edition, BOCA National Building Code).

(2) Single-family dwellings including townhouses and row houses (Use Group R-3, 1987 Edition, BOCA National Building Code.

(3) Any building which is less than three stories in height and less than 10,000 square feet in aggregate floor area, unless fire suppression is otherwise required by the Building Code or the Life Safety Code of the City.

(4) Alternative protection. In special use areas of buildings or structures, an automatic fire alarm system shall be installed in lieu of a fire-suppression system where such fire-suppression system installation would be detrimental or dangerous to the specific use or occupancy, as approved by the Code Official and the Fire Code Official.

(5) Structures of Use Group A-5, outdoor assembly. This group shall include structures used for outdoor assembly intended for participation in or reviewing activities, including grandstands, bleachers, coliseums and stadiums, when of noncombustible construction.

§ 156-15 Floor area calculation.

For the purpose of this article, floor area shall be calculated without regard to division by walls or partitions; the entire floor area shall contribute to the determination of requirements.

§ 156-16 System selection; installation requirements.

Fire-suppression system selection shall conform to the Building Code of the City. The installation methods, repair, operation and maintenance of fire-suppression systems shall be in accordance with the Building and Fire Codes of the City.

§ 156-17 Benefits derived from Building and Fire Codes.

Whenever a building is protected by a fire-suppression system, all benefits derived from the provisions of the Building Code and Fire Codes of the City shall be applicable.

§ 156-18 Enforcement; violation.

The Fire Code Official or his designee shall enforce, interpret and administer the provisions of this article. It shall be the duty of the Director of the Code Enforcement Department to not issue any permit or certificate in violation of this article. It shall be unlawful to build, occupy or use any building in violation of this article.

§ 156-19 Appeals.

[Amended 12-13-2016 by Ord. No. O-16-026[1]]

A. Any person shall have the right to appeal to the Board of Building and Fire Codes Appeals within 20 days from the receipt of a written decision of the Building or Fire Official (also known as the "Code Official"). An application for appeal shall be based on the claim that the true intent of the codes or rules legally adopted have been incorrectly interpreted, the provisions do not fully apply, an equivalent form of construction can be used, or the decision appealed from results in manifest injustice and is contrary to the spirit and purpose of the Building or Fire Code and the public interest.

B. Application for appeals and actions upon the same shall be in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Board of Building and Fire Codes Appeals.

C. Said Board of Building and Fire Codes Appeals shall be established in accordance with the statutes of the State of New Hampshire and the ordinances of the City and shall consist of five members and three alternate members who are qualified by experience and training to rule on matters pertaining to building construction and fire prevention. Each member shall be a professional engineer, architect, builder, superintendent of building construction, master plumber, master electrician, gas fitter, fire inspector, fire investigator, or any other such person qualified by education or experience, in the opinion of the Building Official, Fire Official, and the Mayor, to serve as a member of the Board. Each member shall be a resident of the City. The members shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen. Each member shall hold office for three years or until a replacement is appointed.

D. The statutes of the State of New Hampshire and the provisions of this section shall take precedence, concerning appeals, over any conflicting provision in any referenced code adopted by the City.

E. Said Board of Building and Fire Codes Appeals has no authority to waive the requirements of the State Building Code or the State Fire Code.

[1] Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided that all members of the existing Building Code Board of Appeals and Board of Fire Prevention Code Appeals must be appointed and confirmed to this new Board of Building and Fire Codes Appeals and designated as a member or alternate member.

§ 156-20 Permits and fee schedules.

[Added 8-14-2007 by Ord. No. O-07-107]

A. A permit shall not be valid until the prescribed fees have been paid and the permit issued. No permit to begin work for new construction, alteration, removal, demolition or other building or fire operation shall be issued until the fees prescribed in this section have been paid to the Office of the Fire Marshal, nor shall an amendment to a permit necessitating an additional fee because of an increase in the estimated cost or scope of work involved be approved until the additional fee has been paid.

B. The Board of Aldermen may, at its option, waive or reimburse, as the case may be, payment of fees payable under this section, in whole or in part, to the extent of the value of municipal public improvements and/or land dedication, which an applicant obligates itself to make, over and above impact fees and the applicant's fair share of off-site improvements imposed as a condition of site plan or subdivision approval.

(1) Permits/fees:

(a) Life safety/site plan review fee, per building (includes one rough and one final inspection):

[1] Up to 5,000 square feet area: $75.

[2] Five thousand one square feet to 15,000 square feet: $200.

[3] Fifteen thousand one square feet to 25,000 square feet: $325.

[4] Over 25,000 square feet: $600.

(b) Fire suppression systems permit (includes one rough and one final inspection):

[1] Application fee: $20.

[2] NFPA 13D system (per riser): $55.

[3] NFPA 13R system (per riser): $110.

[4] NFPA 13 systems (per riser):

[a] Up to 10,000 square feet of protected area: $220.

[b] Ten thousand one square feet to 25,000 square feet: $450.

[c] Twenty-five thousand one square feet to 52,000 square feet: $600.

[5] Partial sprinkler system (not complete building protection):

[a] Up to 6 sprinkler heads: $30.

[b] Seven to 20 sprinkler heads: $110.

[6] Standpipe systems (not part of combined sprinkler/standpipe systems):

[a] Up to 3 floors (per riser): $110.

[b] Add per floor beyond 3 add: $55.

[7] Carbon dioxide systems:

[a] Preengineered systems, each: $150.

[b] Engineered systems, each: $220.

[8] Clean agent extinguishing systems:

[a] Preengineered, each: $150.

[b] Engineered, each: $220.

[9] Dry chemical systems:

[a] Preengineered systems:

[i] Commercial cooking: $75.

[ii] Service station pump protection: $100.

[b] Other systems: $110.

[i] Engineered, each: $220.

[10] Wet chemical systems, each: $110.

[11] Fire pump installation: $275.

(c) Modification to existing suppression systems (each system):

[1] Application fee: $20.

[2] Water and/or foam systems (all types):

[a] One to six heads (addition of heads): $30.

[b] Seven to 20 heads (addition of heads): $110.

[c] Twenty-one to 100 heads (addition of heads): $220.

[d] Add for each head beyond 100: $1.

[e] Change in head location only/per floor maximum 10 heads: $30.

[f] Annual corp. in-house modification permit (per building): $300.

[3] Standpipe systems up to three floors: $75.

[a] Add for each floor beyond 3: $25.

[4] Carbon dioxide systems: $75.

[5] Clean agent extinguishing systems: $75.

[6] Dry chemical systems: $75.

[7] Wet chemical systems: $75.

[8] Other systems: $75.

(d) Fire alarms systems permits:

[1] Application fee: $20.

[2] Master box installation: $110.

[3] Automatic fire-detection systems (per FACP):

[a] Up to 25 devices: $110.

[b] Fifty to 99 devices: $220.

[c] Add for each device beyond 99: $1.

[4] Modification to automatic fire-detection systems:

[a] FACP change out/upgrade (plus 20% of devices): $30.

[b] Add/Relocate one to 10 devices: $55.

[c] Add/Relocate 11 to 50 devices: $110.

[d] Add for each device beyond 50: $1.

[e] Annual corp. in-house modification permit (per building): $300.

(2) Permit fees:

(a) Place of assembly permits:

[1] Greater than 99 people (valid for three years): $50.

[2] One hundred people or more (valid for one year): $50.

(b) Fireworks display (per display): $100.

(c) Explosive/blasting (per site):

[1] Up to seven days: $100.

[2] Add for each additional day beyond seven: $10.

(d) Underground storage tank (per tank):

[1] Removal only (except LP-gas cylinders): $60.

[2] Installation only: $75.

[3] Removal and reinstallation (except LP-gas cylinders): $125.

(e) Aboveground storage tank (greater than 499 gallon capacity):

[1] Removal only (except LP-gas cylinders): $60.

[2] Installation only: $75.

[3] Removal and reinstallation (except LP-gas cylinders): $125.

(f) Hazardous materials storage (valid for three years):

[1] Explosives/dangerous when wet/pyrophoric:

[a] One to 25 pounds: $150.

[b] Twenty-six to 100 pounds: $300.

[c] Greater than 101 pounds: $450.

[2] Flammable liquids (Class I liquids):

[a] Sixty to 660 gallons: $150.

[b] Six hundred sixty-one to 2,500 gallons: $300.

[c] Greater than 2,500 gallons: $450.

[3] Flammable/combustible liquids (Class II and III):

[a] Two hundred seventy-six to 1,000 gallons: $100.

[b] One thousand to 2,5000 gallons: $300.

[4] Liquid petroleum (LPG) liquid natural (LNG) gases:

[a] Retail cylinder exchange: $75.

[b] One thousand to 3,000 gallon systems: $100.

[c] Greater than 3,000 gallon systems: $300.

[5] Cryogenic liquids:

[a] Nonflammable greater than 500 gallons: $75.

[b] Flammable greater than 10 gallons: $150.

[6] Poison by inhalation gases:

[a] Sixty to 660 gallons (water capacity): $150.

[b] Six hundred sixty-one to 2,500 gallons: $300.

[c] Greater than 2,500 gallons: $450.

[7] Caustics:

[a] Less than 2,000 pounds or 1,000 gallons: $150.

[b] Less than 4,000 pounds or 2,000 gallons: $300.

[c] Greater than 4,000 pounds or 2,000 gallons: $450.

(3) Inspection fees (every two years unless noted):

(a) Family day-care homes (up to six children): $30.

(b) Group day-care homes (seven to 12 children): $50.

(c) Day-care centers and/or nurseries (more than 12 children or more than four children under the age of two years old): $100.

(d) Foster care (up to three children/adults): $30.

(e) Residential board and care:

[1] Four to 16 persons: $100.

[2] More than 16 persons: $150.

(f) Rooming/lodging home inspections:

[1] Up to 16 beds: $100.

[2] More than 16 beds: $150.

(g) Health care facility (nursing home/hospital), annual: $200.

(h) Reinspection fee (each inspection):

[1] After first failed final inspection of permit: $150.

(4) Miscellaneous fees:

(a) Environmental searches (per address): $75.

(b) Incident reports (per incident): $10.

(c) Investigation report (per investigation): $25.

(d) Photocopies (per page): $1.

§ 156-21 Violations and penalties.

Any person who shall violate a provision of this article shall be subject to fines and penalties in accordance with the provisions of §§  1-9, 1-11 and 1-12 of the City Code.