(a) Smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
1. In each sleeping room.
2. Outside each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms.
3. On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements, but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling unit the alarm devices shall be interconnected in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with the provisions of the Residential Code of Ohio, the Ohio Building code, and the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72.
1369.01.1 Alterations, repairs and additions.
When interior alterations, repairs or additions requiring a permit occur, or when one of more sleeping rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling unit shall be provided with smoke alarms located as required for new dwellings; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hard wired.
1369.01.1.1 Exceptions.
1. Smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required to be interconnected and hard wired where the alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space, or basement available which could provide access for hard wiring and interconnection without the removal of interior finishes.
2. Repairs to the exterior surfaces of dwellings are exempt from the requirements of this section.
3. For the purpose of this section a screened porch, deck or similar structure is not considered an interior alteration, repair or addition.
1369.01.2 Power source.
In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a batter. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent protection. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or in buildings that undergo alterations, repairs or additions regulated by the Residential Code of Ohio.
1369.01.3 Permits and Fees.
No smoke detector or alternative system shall be directly connected (permanent wired) to the electrical system of the structure unless an electrical permit shall have first been obtained from the Building Department.
1369.01.4.1 Equipment.
All devices, combination of devices and equipment required herein are to be installed in conformance with the Building Code and this section, and approved by the Chief of the Division of Fire.
1369.01.4.2 Certification at Change in Occupancy.
At every change of occupancy of every dwelling unit occasioned by or incidental to a sale, lease or sublease of said unit, it shall be the duty of the grantor thereof (i.e., the seller, lessor, or sublessor, as the case may be) to certify, before occupancy, to the new occupant that all smoke detectors as required by this section (or other applicable laws) are installed and in proper working condition. Failure to comply with this section shall be punishable as set forth herein; provided, however, that this section shall not be construed to violate or render void any contract, lease or sublease hereto.
1369.01.4.3 Enforcement.
The Building Inspector shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Chief of Fire to inspect the installation of any smoke detectors required to be installed by this chapter.
1369.01.4.4 Penalty.
Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, whoever violates this section shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) or be imprisoned for a term of not more than 10 days or both for a first time offense. For a second or subsequent offense, a violator shall be fined not less than two hundred dollars ($200.00) nor more than one thousand dollars ($1,000) and be imprisoned for a term of thirty days or both, every day thereafter constituting a separate offense.
(Ord. 2011-33. Passed 6-13-11.)