(a) Requirement. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of each new and existing occupied multiple-family dwelling structure to install and maintain in proper working order smoke detectors in each such dwelling unit as hereinafter provided. The smoke detectors shall be capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and providing a suitable audible alarm thereof; further, they shall be installed by May 1, 1984, in the manner hereinafter provided, unless any other provision of County, State or Federal Law shall require installation before that date. Failure to install smoke detectors as and where required by such date shall subject the property owner to the penalties set forth in subsection (i) hereof.
(b) Location.
(1) At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area. A sleeping area is defined as the area or areas of the multiple- 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) At least one smoke detector shall be installed at the head of stairways leading to occupied floors containing sleeping rooms or areas in such manner as to assure that rising smoke is not obstructed in reaching the detector and the detector intercepts rising smoke before it reaches the sleeping area.
(3) At least one smoke detector shall be installed in all basements or cellar areas.
(4) In all dwelling units sharing a common means of egress hallway, an adequate number of smoke detectors shall be installed in such hallways.
(c) Alternative. As an alternative to self-contained smoke detectors, an approved fire detection system may be installed. Each fire detection system shall be individually approved and a permit issued therefore by the Fire Chief.
(d) Equipment. All devices, combinations of devices, and equipment required herein are to be installed in conformance with the Building Code and this section, and approved by the Fire Inspector and listed by the Fire Department for the purpose for which they are intended; such list may be subsequently amended as necessary. Such approval shall be permanent unless the Fire Chief subsequently finds that the equipment is hazardous or unreliable, in which case, the Fire Chief may suspend or revoke approval. The Fire Chief may in any such case determine whether replacement of existing installation shall be required.
(e) Installation. In new multiple-dwellings, smoke detectors shall be wired directly (hard-wired) to the building is power supply. In existing dwellings, it is preferred that smoke detectors be wired directly to the power supply; however, such detectors may be powered by self-monitored battery or operated in a plug-in outlet which is fitted with a plug restrainer device, provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply.
(f) Permits and Fees. No smoke detector or alternative system shall be directly connected (permanently wired) to the electrical system of the structure unless an electrical permit shall have first been obtained from the Building Department. The Chief Enforcement Official is hereby authorized to adopt a fee schedule for the issuance of such permit which shall not exceed the cost of administration of this section; further, the Chief Enforcement Official is authorized to waive, partially or wholly, the fee requirement at his discretion, or to issue multiple permits under the payment of a single fee, unless otherwise provided by Council.
(g) Supplemental Standards. This section is intended to be used with and supplemented by the applicable provisions of the 2002 Edition of the National Fire Protection Association Standard 72 which are hereby incorporated herein; however, if there shall be any conflict between this section and such supplemental standards, this section and any rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall prevail.
(h) Enforcement. The Chief Enforcement Official shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Chief of Fire and Fire Inspectors to inspect the installation of any smoke detectors required to be installed by this section and violations found to exist shall subject the property owners to the penalties set forth in subsection (i) hereof.
(i) Inspections; Notifications. If any authorized representative inspector of the City upon inspection, shall determine that any provision of this section has been violated, he shall issue a written notice of such fact to the owner or person in charge of such property, which notice shall inform the owner or person in charge of such property, that the owner of the property has thirty days after the date of the notice, to conform to the provisions of this section or be subject to the penalties and remedies provided in such section. No owner or person in charge of property or premises subject to the provision of this section, shall refuse to allow inspection of such property or premises by duly authorized inspection representatives of the City at all reasonable times, and after notice as herein provided.
(Ord. 141-05. Passed 12-26-05.)