(A) General.
(1) Scope. The provisions of this section shall govern the minimum conditions and standards for fire safety relating to buildings, dwellings, structures and exterior premises, including fire safety facilities and equipment to be provided.
(2) Responsibility. The owner of the building, dwelling, structure or premises shall provide and maintain such fire safety facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements, except as otherwise provided herein. A person shall not occupy as owner-occupant, or permit another person to occupy, any premises that do not comply with the requirements of this section.
(B) Means of egress.
(1) General. A safe, continuous and unobstructed path of travel shall be provided from any point in a building or structure to the public way.
(2) Aisles. The required width of aisles in accordance with the Ohio Fire Code shall be unobstructed.
(3) Locked doors. All means of egress shall be readily operable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge or effort, except where the door hardware conforms to that permitted by the codes.
(4) Emergency escape openings. Required emergency escape and rescue openings shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates, or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings, provided that the minimum net clear opening size complies with the codes and that such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening. Where such bars, grilles, grates or similar devices are installed in existing buildings, smoke detectors shall be installed.
(C) Fire-resistance ratings.
(1) Fire-resistance-rated assemblies. The required fire-resistance rating of fire-resistance-rated walls, fire stops, shaft enclosures, partitions and floors shall be maintained.
(2) Opening protectives. Required opening protectives shall be maintained in an operative condition. All fire and smoke-stop doors shall be maintained in operable condition. Fire doors and smoke barrier doors shall not be blocked or obstructed or otherwise made inoperable.
(D) Fire protection systems.
(1) Smoke detectors. Existing Group R occupancies not already provided with single-station smoke alarms shall be provided with approved single-station smoke alarms.
(2) Installation. Approved single station smoke alarms shall be installed in existing dwelling units, congregate residences, and hotel and lodging house guestrooms. Installation shall be in accordance with the Ohio Fire Code.
(3) Power source. In Group R occupancies, single-station smoke alarms shall be battery-operated or shall receive their primary power from the building wiring, provided that such wiring is served from a commercial source. When power is proved by the building wiring, the wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnection switch other than those required for over-current protection. When the power is provided by batteries, it shall be the duty of the occupant to maintain such power source.
(Ord. -, passed 10-2-08)