(a) Requirement.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent or designee of each new residential construction and mobile home installation to install smoke detectors in each such dwelling unit as hereinafter provided, effective immediately.
(2) It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent or designee of all existing dwellings and mobile homes at the time of any change of ownership and/or occupancy, whichever occurs first, effective immediately, to install smoke detectors in each such dwelling unit as hereinafter provided.
(3) It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent or designee of all new and existing multi-family units to install smoke detectors in each such dwelling unit at the time of any change of ownership and/or occupancy, whichever occurs first, effective immediately.
(4) It shall be the responsibility of the owner of all new and existing multi-family units to install smoke detectors in the public exit halls and such detectors, when activated, shall sound a building alarm on all floors. This section will take effect when any part of the building or complex undergoes one thousand dollars ($1,000) worth of repairs or modifications or effective immediately for any existing building that does not have a minimum of individual smoke detectors mounted in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations in such exit halls.
(5) The smoke detectors shall be capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion and providing a suitable alarm thereof; further, they shall be installed in the manner hereinafter provided. Failure to install smoke detectors as and where required shall subject the property owner, agent or designee to the penalties set forth in Section 1385.99.
(6) Any new construction, alterations, repairs or additions in existing residential buildings shall require the installation of smoke detectors as prescribed in this Code under subsection (b) hereof.
(b) Location.
(1) At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping area. A "sleeping area" means the area or areas of the family living unit in which the bedrooms or sleeping rooms are located. Where bedrooms or rooms ordinarily used for sleeping are separated by other used 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 or top of each stairway leading up to an occupied area in such a 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.
(c) 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 Chief of the Fire Department and listed by the Department for the purpose for which they are intended; such list may be subsequently amended by the Chief of the Fire Department 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. Transfer to the inactive list shall not affect equipment approval.
(d) Installation. In new residential dwellings, smoke detectors with a D.C. power supply only and smoke detectors with an A.C. power supply backed up by a secondary power supply which is D.C. are permitted. An A.C. - only powered unit is not acceptable for residential-type occupancies. Where A.C. - D.C. combination units are used, it is required that the A.C. line be wired directly to the building's power supply.
(e) Permits and Fees. No smoke detector or alternative system shall be directly connected, i.e. permanently wired, to the electrical system of the structure unless an electrical permit has first been obtained from the Building Department. The Chief Building Official or his authorized representative is hereby authorized to adopt a fee schedule for the issuance of such permit which shall not exceed the cost of the administration of this section.
(f) Supplemental Standards. This section is intended to be used with and supplemented by the applicable provisions of the National Fire Protection Association, Chapter 74, "Household Fire Warning Systems" which are incorporated herein; however, if there shall be any conflict between this section and such supplemental standards, the more restrictive requirements shall prevail.
(g) Enforcement. The Chief Building Official or his authorized representative shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the Chief of Fire 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 Section 1501.99 of the Fire Prevention Code.
(h) Real estate agents selling property in the City shall ensure that smoke detectors are installed in accordance with this Code prior to the property being occupied.
(Ord. 1999-021. Passed 1-26-99.)