A. 
Sprinkler systems, standpipe systems, fire detection systems and other fire-protective or extinguishing systems and other firesafety devices which have been installed in compliance with any permit or order or because of any law or ordinance shall be maintained in operative condition at all times, and it shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection so required, except that this shall not prohibit the owner or occupant from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations or additions. The Fire Inspector shall be notified before such tests, repairs, alterations or additions are commenced if the work is not to be completed within a twenty-four-hour period.
B. 
Sprinkler systems, fire detection systems and other fire-protective or extinguishing systems shall be inspected and tested in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or successor standards adopted by New York State and/or National Fire Protection Association standards by a qualified inspector or at intervals more frequent as required by the Fire Inspector or by other sections of this chapter or by other laws or ordinances.
C. 
Heat, smoke, flame detectors, water flow devices and similar devices shall be maintained in a proper operating condition at all times. Such systems shall be installed and maintained in order to prevent "false alarms." A "false alarm" is the sounding of the alarm and the dispatching of the Fire Department to a condition which is unnecessary (i.e., no fire, no smoke condition, not a good intent call, etc.). Multiple false alarms will be considered as not maintaining the fire alarm system in proper working condition and will be a violation of this chapter. A false alarm caused by the failure of a person, firm or corporation to properly put a system out of service when making repairs, tests, etc., shall be a violation of this chapter.
D. 
Whenever such tests, repairs, alterations or maintenance inspections are made, a written report in a form specified by the Fire Inspector shall be forwarded to the Building Department by the person, firm or corporation making said tests, repairs, alterations, inspections or additions.
E. 
All fire escapes and exterior fire exit stairs installed in the Village of Montebello shall be kept in good repair and are to be painted at least once every three years.
[1]
Editor's Note: Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
A. 
Adequate exits shall be provided in all buildings, structures and premises within the Village to insure safe egress in case of fire or other emergency. The location, number, type and other considerations on exits shall be provided in accordance with the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code and the most current edition of the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA 101).
B. 
No furnishings, decorations or other objects shall be so placed as to obstruct exits, access thereto, egress thereof, or visibility thereof.
C. 
Exit lights, emergency lighting and panic hardware shall be provided in accordance with the requirements listed in Table I.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Table I is included at the end of this chapter.
All electrical appliances, fixtures, and wiring shall be installed in accordance with the current edition of the National Electrical Code (NFPA 70). All electrical appliances, fixtures, and wiring shall be maintained so as not to be a fire hazard nor a source of ignition for combustible or hazardous substances, materials or devices.
Where smoking is considered a fire hazard, the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention, Fire Inspector or Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspectors shall be authorized to order the owner in writing to post "NO SMOKING" signs in conspicuous designated locations where smoking is prohibited. In areas where smoking is permitted, noncombustible ash trays shall be provided.
[Amended 6-21-2023 by L.L. No. 2-2023]
A. 
Definitions. The following terms used in this section shall be defined as follows:
BONFIRE
An outdoor fire utilized for ceremonial purposes.
OPEN BURNING
The burning of materials wherein products of combustion are emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack or chimney from an enclosed chamber. Open burning does not include road flares, smudgepots and similar devices associated with safety or occupational uses typically considered open flames, recreational fires or use of portable outdoor fireplaces. For the purpose of this definition, a chamber shall be regarded as enclosed when, during the time combustion occurs, only apertures, ducts, stacks, flues or chimneys necessary to provide combustion air and permit the escape of exhaust gas are open.
PORTABLE OUTDOOR FIREPLACE
A portable, outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed of steel, concrete, clay or other noncombustible material. A portable outdoor fireplace may be open in design, or may be equipped with a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening in the top.
RECREATIONAL FIRE
An outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill or barbeque pit and has a total fuel area of three feet (914 mm) or less in diameter and two feet (610 mm) or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking, warmth or similar purposes.
B. 
Bonfires, open burning, recreational fires and portable outdoor fireplaces. Section 307 of the 2020 Fire Code of New York State, as amended, shall apply.
C. 
Open flame cooking devices and other open flame devices. Section 308 of the 2020 Fire Code of New York State, as amended, shall apply.
A. 
The Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention or any inspector, in cooperation with the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief, is authorized, pursuant to the authority granted under § 1660-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law of the State of New York, § 130, Subdivision 5, of the Town Law and Article 10 of the Village Law of the State of New York, to determine and establish appropriate fire lanes and fire zones at parking areas, driveways, private streets and roadways, of all premises except one- , two-family and three-family dwellings.
B. 
Fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings that are set back more than 100 feet from a public road or exceed 30 feet in height and are set back over 50 feet from a public road. Where buildings are protected throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system, the provisions of this section may be modified by the Fire Inspector.
C. 
Fire lanes shall not be less than 20 feet of unobstructed width, able to withstand live loads of fire apparatus and have a minimum of 13 feet six inches of vertical clearance.
D. 
Fire zones and fire lanes shall be marked with freestanding signs that have the words NO PARKING - NO STANDING - FIRE LANE (or ZONE)".
E. 
No motor vehicle shall park, stand, or remain unattended in an established fire zone or fire lane. Fire zones and lanes shall be maintained free of all obstructions at all times.
F. 
More restrictive provisions for fire lanes may be imposed by the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
A. 
When a structure is protected by an automatic fire alarm system or fire suppression system and access to or within the structure is unduly difficult because of secured openings and where immediate access is necessary for lifesaving or fire-fighting purposes, the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have access and a key secured at a key box, as set forth hereinafter.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
B. 
All new business, mercantile, industrial, storage, assembly, institutional and three- or more story multiple residences constructed, altered or changed in use after the effective date of this chapter shall have installed a key box in an approved location. Such key boxes shall be installed prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy.
C. 
The key box shall be of the type approved by the Chief of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and, in order to maintain uniformity throughout Rockland County, order forms for said key box must be obtained from the Fire Inspector.
D. 
The key box shall contain:
(1) 
Keys to locked points of ingress, whether on the interior or exterior of such structures.
(2) 
Keys to locked mechanical rooms.
(3) 
Keys to locked electrical rooms.
(4) 
Keys to elevator controls.
(5) 
Keys to other areas as directed by the Fire Inspector or Fire Chief.
(6) 
The layout of the building showing the locations of the above.
(7) 
Other information as requested by the Fire Inspector or Fire Chief.
A. 
Premises identification. New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. The numbers should be at least three inches in height for residential buildings and four inches in height for nonresidential buildings and if possible made of a reflective material for nighttime visibility.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. III).
B. 
Shaftways to be marked. Every outside opening accessible to the Fire Department that opens directly on any hoistway or shaftway communicating between two or more floors in a building shall be plainly marked with the word "SHAFTWAY" in red letters at least six inches high on a white background. Such warning signs shall be so placed as to be readily discernible from the outside of the building.
C. 
Stairway marking. Stairways serving four or more stories shall be provided with signs indicating floor level, roof access or no roof access, and reentry locations in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association Life Safety Code (NFPA 101).
D. 
Identification of "lightweight" construction.
(1) 
Upon inspection and identification of a building, other than a one- or two-family dwelling, of truss, wood I-beam, or other "lightweight" type construction, the owner/occupant shall be notified by the Fire Inspector of the requirements of this Code.
(2) 
Upon notification, the owner/operator will be required to permanently affix an approved twelve-by-eighteen-inch reflective truss construction identification logo on the building. The exact location shall be identified by the Fire Inspector. The identification logos shall be properly installed within 10 days of receipt of written notice.
(3) 
The Fire Inspector should notify the local Fire Chief of any building with "lightweight" construction. This information should be provided to the Rockland County Fire Control Center to be included in the Rockland County computer dispatch system data base.
A. 
Every person owning or having control of any vacant building shall remove all combustible waste and refuse therefrom and lock, barricade, or otherwise secure all windows, doors, and other openings in the building to prohibit entry by unauthorized persons.
B. 
Buildings that are vacant shall maintain all required fire detection and suppression systems in service.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 89-23, Open flame cooking outside multiple residences, was repealed 6-21-2023 by L.L. No. 2-2023.
Where the use of security gates is permitted, such gates shall provide unobstructed view of at least 50% of the door(s), window(s) or other building opening which is protected by the security gate when the security gate is in place.
[Added 6-22-2005 by L.L. No. 4-2005]
A. 
No place of assembly shall be maintained, operated, or used as such without a certificate of compliance.
[Amended 5-19-2021 by L.L. No. 2-2021]
B. 
"Place of assembly" shall mean any building, room or space used for assembly or gathering for recreation, political, religious, social, amusement or entertainment purpose. "Place of assembly" occupancies shall include, but shall not be limited to, live performance and motion-picture theaters, meeting halls, auditoriums, exhibition halls, museums, skating rinks, gymnasiums, bowling alleys, poolrooms, restaurants, licensed premises dispensing alcoholic beverages, churches, dance halls and club rooms.
C. 
Posting of maximum occupancy. The maximum number of occupants permitted within assembly spaces shall be established by the Code Enforcement Official, and a sign setting forth such maximum number shall be conspicuously posted in each space and shall not be exceeded. Posting of the occupancy limit sign shall be deemed notice to the owner, manager or person in charge and shall be deemed an order to comply. Violation of the occupancy requirements is a violation of this chapter and punishable pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
D. 
Overcrowding. It is the responsibility of the owner, manager or person in charge to assure that the occupant load does not exceed the number established by the Code Enforcement Official; and he shall not permit overcrowding or admittance of any person beyond the approved number of occupants of any place of assembly nor permit, allow or suffer the total number of persons at any one time to be in such a number so as to constitute a threat or danger to the public health, safety or welfare.
E. 
The Fire Inspector or any Assistant or Deputy Fire Inspector, Building Inspector, Assistant Building Inspector, or police officer, upon finding overcrowding conditions, shall cause the premises to be brought into compliance with the occupancy limit, and shall stop any function, performance, spectacle or entertainment until such condition is corrected.
F. 
In attempting to bring a premises into occupancy compliance, any person refusing to leave a premises or comply with the order or direction of the person in charge or Fire Inspector, Assistant Fire Inspector, Building Inspector, Assistant Building Inspector or a police officer, as the case may be, shall be in violation of this chapter.