(a) Application required. A person shall not connect a fire protection system to the water system until application is made to the director, and then approved by the director and the city fire marshal.
(b) General requirements. A fire protection system is subject to the following regulations:
(1) The director shall not permit a fire protection system without an approved meter or detector check device with a bypass meter.
(2) A fire protection service line must be no larger than one size smaller than the water main serving the fire protection system, unless the director approves a size on size connection in writing; provided that, in every case, the water system must be capable of providing, at the point of delivery, the delivery rate specified by the city fire marshal for the customer’s fire protection system.
(3) A fire protection service line must not be larger than eight inches without the director’s written approval.
(4) A fire protection system must conform to the standards and regulations promulgated by the city fire marshal and other applicable provisions of this code.
(5) A fire protection system installed by the customer shall be inspected by the department at the time of installation.
(c) Installation of service connections. On service connections two inches or smaller, the city will perform installation and maintenance of the necessary meters and service lines connecting the fire protection system to the water system, which installation will be done at the sole expense of the customer. On service connections larger than two inches, the customer shall install the service connection in accordance with the rules prescribed for water service connections in Section 49-24(c)(4).
(d) Grounds for discontinuance. The director may, upon 10 days advance notice to the city fire marshal, discontinue treated water service to a fire protection system if:
(1) the director discovers an unauthorized connection has been made;
(2) water has been used from a fire protection system for a purpose other than extinguishing a fire;
(3) a fire protection system has been installed or used without a meter, where a meter is required;
(4) a waste of water is permitted from a fire protection system through pipes or fixtures;
(5) charges for service are delinquent under Section 49-7; or
(6) the director discovers a non-potable contaminant or pollutant in the fire protection system, where the fire protection system and the potable private water system are not separated by a backflow protection device.
(e) Restoration of service. Upon discontinuance under Subsection (d)(3), the director shall not restore the service until the customer remedies the problem causing discontinuance, or makes application for the kind and size of meter prescribed by the director for the particular system. The meter will be installed at the customer’s expense.
(f) Availability of service. Availability of treated water will depend upon water main sizes and normal operating pressures in the area where the applicant’s property is located. The applicant must construct adequate storage facilities on his premises or additional mains, pursuant to a private development contract under Section 49-60(f), to meet the necessary fire flow demand in the event his demand causes inadequate water pressure to other customers in the area for a sustained period.
(g) Storage facilities. The construction and maintenance of water storage facilities for fire protection purposes, as required by Subsection (f), are subject to the following standards:
(1) A storage facility, including pumps installed by an applicant, must discharge into the applicant’s fire protection system. The storage facility, whether or not pumps are used, must not be of the pressure type unless the applicant installs an approved backflow prevention device between the point where the facility discharges into the fire protection system and the point of its connection to the water system so as to prevent backflow into the water system.
(2) A constructed storage facility must be maintained in accordance with the applicable standards of the city and the State Department of Health. Water in the storage facility must be maintained in a potable condition and subject to periodic inspection by the director.
(3) Every storage facility must have an approved air gap, except for a facility of the pressure type permitted in Subsection (g)(1). Quick acting valves must not be used to control the supply line to the storage facility, if such valves cause water hammer in the water system.
(4) A storage facility, if not of the pressure type permitted in Subsection (g)(1), must be equipped with an overflow pipe at least eight inches below the supply line from the water system. The overflow pipe must be protected in order to prevent access of insects, birds or other animals. The overflow pipe must be at least two inches in diameter larger than the supply line from the water system.
(5) A storage facility must be provided with a drain pipe and valve for easy discharge purposes. The drain pipe must not be connected to the wastewater system.
(h) Nonconforming systems. Any person modifying, changing or adding to his premises or his existing fire protection system must at that time come into compliance with the requirements of this section, if his fire protection system did not previously conform to the requirements of this section. (Ord. Nos. 19201; 19622; 20215)