The Ohio Fire Code as adopted herein is hereby modified by the addition, amendment or repeal of the following sections in the manner respectively indicated:
(a) Automatic Detector Warning Systems, Fire Alarm Systems, Standpipe Systems and Automatic Sprinkler Systems (Amended).
(1) Protective and Extinguishing Fire Equipment Required. No person shall construct any building hereinafter described without installing at the time of such construction the protective and extinguishing fire equipment hereinafter provided with respect to such building. No person shall construct, own or occupy any such building without thereafter maintaining in proper operative condition the protective extinguishing fire equipment hereinafter provided.
(2) Residential Group R buildings ("R" Uses as defined in the Ohio Fire Code).
Exception: One, two, three, and four-family residential buildings meeting exceptions given by the Ohio Fire Code.
A. Smoke Detection
(i) In addition to areas within individual dwelling units required to have smoke detection, all common, occupied, and mechanical areas shall have smoke detection, unless otherwise approved by the fire code official or approved alternate detection is more appropriate.
(ii) All smoke detection devices used shall be listed for the application for which they are intended and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
(iii) When activated detectors shall initiate an alarm event throughout the building and transmit a signal to an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
(iv) Occupant notification shall comply with paragraph 907.5 of the 2017 edition of the Ohio Fire Code..
B. A Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 or Class 3 standpipe hose connection.
C. An NFPA 13 compliant automatic sprinkler system throughout (including basement and/or cellar areas) connected to an NFPA 72 compliant UL listed central station alarm signaling system if such building meets any of the following:
1. Is more than one story in height,
2. Is over fifty (50) feet in height,
3. Has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Accommodates more than fifty (50) persons.
Exception: Where allowed by the Ohio Fire Code, materials and installation may follow NFPA 13R or NFPA 13D.
(3) Institutional Use I-1, I-2 and I-4 ("I" Uses as defined in the Ohio Fire Code).
A. Smoke Detection
1. Complete smoke detector coverage shall be provided throughout all buildings including areas where it is not required by the Ohio Fire Code.
(i) Where smoke detector coverage may generate nuisance alarms heat detectors may be substituted.
(ii) Unless contrary to the Ohio Fire Code, single or multiple station smoke alarms may be used in individual dwelling units, provided such devices shall be installed in accordance with paragraph (G)(2)(k)(iii)(907.2.11.3) to (G)(2)(k)(vii) (907.2.11.3) of the 2017 edition of the Ohio Fire Code.
2. All smoke detection devices used shall be listed for the application for which they are intended and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
B. A manual and automatic fire alarm system shall be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 72 and shall be clearly audible in all areas of the building and connected to a central station alarm signaling system.
(i) Visual appliances shall be provided in accordance with rule 907.5.2.3 of the 2017 edition of the Ohio Fire Code.
C. A Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 or Class 3 standpipe hose connection.
D. An automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 installed throughout the building:
1. Where required by the Ohio Fire Code
2. Includes one or more stories above or below the primary level of entry
3. Has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Accommodates more than fifty (50) persons
Exception: Where alternative automatic fire suppression systems are more suitable and approved by the AHJ.
Exceptions:
1. Minor accessory buildings
2. Where allowed by the Ohio Fire Code, materials and installation may follow NFPA 13R or NFPA 13D.
(4) Educational Uses ("E" Uses as defined by the Ohio Fire Code).
A. A manual and automatic fire alarm system that is clearly audible within sixty (60) seconds in all areas of the building in each building connected to an NFPA 72 compliant central station alarm signaling system.
B. A Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 or Class 3 standpipe hose connection.
C. An automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 installed throughout the building except in areas where alternative automatic fire suppression systems are more suitable and approved by the AHJ.
(5) Assembly Use Buildings (“A" Uses as defined by the Ohio Fire Code).
A. A manual and automatic fire alarm system designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 72 and shall be clearly audible in all areas of the building and connected to a central station alarm signaling system.
(i) Visual appliances shall be provided in accordance with rule 907.5.2.3 of the 2017 edition of the Ohio Fire Code.
B. A Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 or Class 3 standpipe hose connection.
C. An automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 installed throughout the building, if such building meets any of the following:
1. Is more than one story in height.
2. Is over fifty (50) feet in height.
3. Has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Accommodates more than One Hundred (100) people; and
Exception: Where alternative automatic fire suppression systems are more suitable and approved by the AHJ.
D. In buildings required to have an automatic sprinkler system, and not erected from Type I or Type II construction, complete smoke detector coverage shall be provided.
1. All smoke detection devices used shall be listed for the application for which they are intended and shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
2. When activated, detectors shall initiate an alarm event throughout the building and transmit a signal to an approved supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.
3. Occupant notification shall comply with paragraph (G)(5)(907.5) of the 2017 edition of the Ohio Fire Code.
4. Where smoke detector coverage may generate nuisance alarms heat detectors may be substituted.
(6) Business and Mercantile Use Buildings ("B" & "M" uses as defined by the Ohio Fire Code).
A. An NFPA 72 compliant manual and automatic fire alarm system monitored by central station and clearly audible within sixty seconds in all areas of the building if such building falls under any of the following:
1. More than one story in height,
2. Having a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
3. Accommodates more than fifty (50) persons; and
B. A Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 or Class 3 standpipe hose connection.
C. An automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 installed throughout the building, if such building meets any of the following:
1. More than one story in height,
2. Over fifty (50) feet in height,
3. Has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Accommodates more than fifty (50) persons
Exception: Where alternative automatic fire suppression systems are more suitable and approved by the AHJ.
(7) Storage & Factory Uses ("S" & "F" uses as defined by the Ohio Fire Code).
A. An NFPA 72 compliant manual and automatic fire alarm system monitored by central station and clearly audible within sixty (60) seconds in all areas of the building if such building falls under any of the following:
1. More than one story in height,
2. Over fifty (50) feet in height,
3. Having a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Occupied by fifty (50) or more persons; and
B. Excepting in areas where it is inadvisable to use water as a fire extinguishing agent, a Class 1 standpipe system shall be installed if such building:
1. Is more than one story in height above the lowest level of fire department apparatus access; and has a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more; or
2. Where the most remote portion of the building is more than 150' from fire department access into the building or the nearest Class 1 standpipe hose connection.
C. An automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 installed throughout the building, if such building meets any of the following:
1. More than one story in height,
2. Over fifty (50) feet in height,
3. Having a floor area of 5,000 square feet or more, or
4. Occupied by fifty (50) or more persons
Exception: Where alternative automatic fire suppression systems are more suitable and approved by the AHJ.
D. Standard chemical or foam fire extinguishers in number and locations where the AHJ deems advisable.
(8) Equipment to Meet Ohio Fire Code/Ohio Building Code. All protective and extinguishing equipment provided for herein shall meet specifications and standards set forth in the Ohio Fire Code and Ohio Building Code.
(9) Fire Protection System Maintenance.
A. All fire protection systems required by this chapter shall be installed, repaired, operated, tested, and maintained in accordance with this chapter of the Codified Ordinances of Blue Ash, the Ohio Fire Code as it applies to required fire protection systems, and the provisions set forth by the NFPA standards referenced in the applicable edition of the Ohio Fire Code.
B. Records for all life safety and fire protection system inspections, tests, and maintenance shall be forwarded to the Blue Ash Fire Department upon completion.
C. Maintenance of all required fire protection systems is ultimately the responsibility of the building owner regardless whether the building is occupied or not.
D. No fire protection system may be removed without fire department knowledge and an approved permit.
(10) Notification To Fire Department. The occupant and owner of the building containing such equipment shall promptly notify the Fire Department in case such sprinkler protection is withdrawn, interrupted, curtailed or altered. Approval must be obtained before removal or disconnection of any fire protection equipment. Removal of systems for greater than 24-hours requires a permit from the Fire Code Official.
(11) Equipment Subject to Inspection by The City. All detection and extinguishing equipment shall be subject to inspection by the Building Division and the Fire Department.
(12) Structural Alterations More Than Twenty-Five Percent or 5,000 Square Feet to Conform With Applicable Section. No existing building shall be reconstructed or structurally altered in single or multiple phases without conforming to this section, when that reconstruction or alteration exceeds the lesser of:
A. Twenty-five percent (25%) of its total area, or
B. 5,000 square feet in area.
(13) Change in Occupancy / Change in Use. No existing building shall change in occupancy or use, as determined by the Chief Building Official, without conforming to this section.
(b) Storage of Explosives (Amended). No person shall store at any time any powder house, magazine, or building within the City limits, a quantity of gunpowder or other similar explosive weighing in excess of twenty-five pounds without prior approval of the Chief Building Official and the Fire Chief.
(c) Sale of Explosives to Minors (Added). No person shall sell, offer for sale or give away to a minor any explosive cap, cartridge, shell, gun-cotton or other similar article containing explosives.
(d) Blasting: Permit (Added). No person shall cause a blast to occur within the City without making application in writing beforehand, setting forth the exact nature of the intended operation, and receiving a permit to blast from the City Manager or his designee. The City Manager or his designee, before granting such permit, may require the applicant to provide a bond to indemnify the City and all other persons against injury or damages which might result from the proposed blasting.
(Ord. 2006-34. Passed 4-27-06; Ord. 2017-10. Passed 8-10-17; Ord. 2019-7. Passed 9-12-19; Ord. 2024-03. Passed 4-11-24.)