1377.11 SMOKE DETECTORS AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.
(a) Required. The owner of all existing and future non-owner occupied dwelling units located in the City shall install and maintain smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors as provided in this section. "Smoke detector" means a device which is designed to detect the visible and invisible products of combustion and which is designed to emit an alarm upon such detection. "Carbon monoxide detector" means a device which is designed to be capable of sensing the presence of carbon monoxide.
(b) Criteria for Smoke Detectors.
(1) The location and number of smoke detectors required shall be based upon NFPA 74-1975 as now existing and as from time to time amended hereafter, captioned "standard for the installation, maintenance and use of household fire warning systems".
(2) There shall be a smoke detector installed:
A. Within each story of each required family living unit, including basements but excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics;
B. Within the immediate vicinity of all sleeping areas.
(3) No smoke detector shall satisfy the requirements herein unless it shall bear the label of a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
(4) All detectors shall be sensitive to both visible and invisible products of combustion and shall not be acceptable if such smoke detectors are sensitive to heat only.
(c) Criteria for Carbon Monoxide Detectors.
(1) At least one carbon monoxide (CO) detector shall be installed in the immediate vicinity of the sleeping area, as per manufacturer's specifications.
(2) The carbon monoxide (CO) detectors shall be approved by a recognized testing agency by the State of Ohio or NFPA and shall be capable of sensing the presence of carbon monoxide gas and providing a suitable alarm thereof when current applicable standards for low-level threshold concentrations of the gas are reached.
(d) Sleeping Area Defined.
(1) For purposes of this section, a sleeping area is defined as the area or areas of the family living unit in which the bedrooms or sleeping rooms are located. Where bedrooms or rooms ordinarily used for sleeping are separated by other use areas, such as kitchens or living rooms, but not bathrooms or closets, they shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes of this section.
(2) When bedroom or sleeping areas are not fully enclosed or separated from other living areas within a living or sleeping unit, the smoke detector and carbon monoxide (CO) detector shall be installed nearest the area designated for sleeping, as per the manufacturer's specifications.
(e) Alternate Systems.
(1) As an alternate to self-contained smoke detectors, an approved fire detection system may be installed. Each fire detection system shall be individually approved by the Fire Chief. Where a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is required, a combination smoke detector / carbon monoxide (CO) detector may be used provided the unit meets all current codes and standards for each application and that the detector be tamper-proof in which a long-life battery pack, if so powered, is sealed within the detector. Such combination detectors shall be individually approved by the Fire Chief.
(Ord. 97-126. Passed 8-19-97.)
(f) Equipment and Installation.
(1) All devices, combinations of devices and equipment required herein are to be installed in conformance with the Building Codes adopted by the City and this section and shall be of a type approved by the Fire Chief. A suitable type detector, specifically designed and marketed for the hearing impaired, which is equipped with an additional strobe-light alarm feature, shall be provided for residents so impaired, as required herein. For the purpose of installation and maintenance only, the applicable sections of the most current edition, NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, shall be considered accepted engineering practice.
(2) In new residential buildings and existing buildings where smoke detectors or carbon monoxide (CO) detectors have been tampered with or where major renovations are performed (major renovations is defined as renovations exceeding more than fifty (50%) percent of the value of the structure at the time of renovation), smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, if required, shall be wired directly (hard-wired) to the building's power supply. In existing dwellings, it is preferred that smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors, if required, be wired directly to the power supply. However, smoke detectors may be powered by a self-monitoring battery or operated in a plug-in outlet provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply. Any battery powered smoke detectors required and installed after the effective date of this section shall be of the tamper-proof type in which the long-life battery packs are sealed within the detector. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors which are not wired directly to the building's power supply must be operated in a plug-in outlet provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply. Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors with a digital read out are preferred. Single use, battery-powered carbon monoxide (CO) detectors are not acceptable.
(Ord. 97-163. Passed 11-4-97.)
(g) Permits and Fees.
(1) No smoke detector, carbon monoxide (CO) detector or alternative system shall be directly connected (permanently wired) to the electrical system of the structure unless an electrical permit shall have been first obtained from the Building Division and any applicable fee paid.
(h) Supplemental Standards.
(1) This chapter is intended to be used with and supplemented by the applicable provisions of the most current edition of NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm Code, which are hereby incorporated herein. However, if there shall be any conflict between this chapter and the supplemental standards, this chapter and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall prevail.
(i) Enforcement.
(1) The Building Commissioner and Fire Chief shall have concurrent jurisdiction to inspect the installation of any smoke detector and/or carbon monoxide (CO) detector required to be installed by this chapter and any violations found to exist shall subject the property owners to the penalties set forth in Section 1379.99 of the Housing Code.
(j) Regulations.
(1) No occupancy permit shall be issued unless smoke detectors as required herein have been installed in proper locations and have been demonstrated to be properly operating.
(2) Compliance with this section shall be the responsibility of the owner of the dwelling unit who may designate the name and address of an authorized agent for this purpose in writing to the Building Division.
(3) The Building Division shall be charged with the responsibility of enforcing this section only during the course of routine housing inspections, or when specifically or actually informed of a violation of this section. Neither the City nor any of its employees shall be held responsible for any death, personal injury or property damages suffered by reason of any failure to comply with this section.
(4) This section shall not be construed to relieve any person, firm or corporation from any obligation otherwise imposed by it or other ordinances, regulations or statutes including, but not limited to, building and/or fire codes applicable to any structure.
(k) Tampering Prohibited.
(1) No person shall, without privilege to do so, knowingly move, deface, damage, destroy or otherwise improperly tamper with a smoke detector or carbon monoxide (CO) detector required to be installed pursuant to the provisions of this chapter so as to destroy or diminish its effectiveness or availability for its intended purpose.
(2) Any smoke detector or carbon monoxide (CO) detector found to be tampered with shall be replaced with a hard - wired device (missing or inoperable batteries shall not constitute tampering).
A. Any smoke detector which is missing a battery or has an inoperable replacement battery shall be replaced by the responsible party with a tamper-proof smoke detector with a sealed battery.
B. On January 1, 2000, all battery-powered smoke detectors in the City shall be tamper-proof smoke detectors with a sealed battery.
(Ord 97-126. Passed 8-19-97.)