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FIRE PREVENTION
(A) The City Council hereby adopts all volumes of the current edition of the National Fire Codes, and supplements thereto, as published by the National Fire Protection Association, and the same are hereby in full force and effect as to all real and personal property in the city.
(B) The above codes are on file in the office of the City Clerk, Fire Department and Department of Planning and Development. Any person violating any provision of such codes shall be punished as provided in § 10.99 of this code of ordinances.
(Prior Code, § 93.01) (Ord. passed 4-3-1972; Ord. passed 2-18-1974; Ord. passed 6-5-1978; Ord. passed 1-20-1986; Ord. 08-2002, passed 6-17-2002)
(A) The Kentucky Fire Prevention Code (Standards of Safety) as promulgated in 815 KAR 10:060 by the Commissioner of the Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction on the advice and recommendation of the state’s Fire Marshal, is hereby adopted in full as an ordinance of the city. Copies of the code book are available through the Department of Housing, Buildings and Constructions, 1047 U.S. 127, South Frankfort, Kentucky 40601.
(B) The city’s Fire Chief shall be designated as the local enforcement agent/agency for said Standards of Safety as appointed by the Fiscal Court or city.
(C) All final decisions of the Fire Code Official of the city shall be appealable to a local appeals board pursuant to the procedures adopted by the Mayor and City Council.
(Prior Code, § 93.02) (Ord. passed 7-21-1997; Ord. 08-2002, passed 6-17-2002)
The following minimum fire protection requirements shall apply to all future developments and additions in the city.
(A) Water supply.
(1) For residential subdivision and small commercial districts, water main shall be not less than six inches in diameter, including fire hydrant branch connections, and shall be arranged into a gridiron or “looped” system. If intersecting mains are at a distance in excess of 800 feet, or if dead end or poor circulation is likely to exist for a considerable period of time, or if other physical characteristics indicate, the developer may be required to install mains of a large diameter. Fire flows based on the following guidelines shall be the determining factor:
Minor mercantile districts | 1,500 g.p.m. at flow pressure |
Residential subdivisions | 1,000 g.p.m. at flow pressure |
Scattered residential area | 500 g.p.m at flow pressure |
(2) For large commercial and industrial subdivisions, water mains shall be “looped” or interconnected with existing mains and their diameter shall be equal to or greater than the smallest diameter line to which they are being connected. In addition to the previous conditions, a fire flow of at least 2,000 gallons per minute at flow pressure must be expected to be obtained. If a minimum flow of 2,000 gallons per minute can be proven, the conditions for “looping” and sizing may be waived.
(3) The Engineering Department in conjunction with the Fire Department shall make the final determination of the minimum size pipe for all systems.
(4) The distribution system shall be equipped with a sufficient number of valves located at all branches and placed so that no more than 800 feet of a main is shut down at any time.
(5) All water mains shall be installed in conformity with the minimum requirements of the city and the local water authorities. Fire protection services shall be equipped with a detector check valve and backflow preventer. Approval shall be obtained for all fire protection systems prior to the issuance of a building permit.
(B) Fire hydrants.
(1) (a) Fire hydrants shall be spaced not further than 500 feet apart as measured over hard surfaced roads. The distance between a fire hydrant and any portion of a building shall not exceed 400 feet as measured on a hard-surface access road.
(b) Fire hydrants in single-family subdivisions shall be spaced not further than 500 feet apart along city rights-of-way or the public travel way. The builder or owner of a single-family structure located more than 1,200 feet from a fire hydrant shall provide, at his or her expense, a fire hydrant within 1,200 feet of the structure. The fire hydrant shall be connected to a public water main and provide adequate flow to meet the requirements of this section.
(2) Fire hydrants must be located at least 25 feet away from the exterior wall of any masonry building, and at least 50 feet away from any exterior wall of frame or equivalent construction, including brick and stone veneer.
(3) Fire hydrants shall meet the minimum specifications and be installed in conformity with the requirements of the city and the local water authorities. The location of all hydrants must be approved by the Fire Chief and the City Engineer.
(4) Fire hydrants shall be equipped with not less than two two and one-half inch outlets and a four and one-half inch pumper outlet, and shall have national standard threads. Each hydrant shall have an inlet gate valve installed in conjunction with it.
(Prior Code, § 93.04) (Ord. passed 5-5-1986; Ord. 25-2011, passed 11-21-2011) Penalty, see § 93.99
It is essential that the foregoing minimum requirements be completed prior to the issuance of building permits for any construction. The city department responsible for issuing building permits shall not issue building permits until such time as a certification of completion of fire hydrant installation is received. This can be done at the same time there is a physical inspection of the other development improvements.
(Prior Code, § 93.05) (Ord. passed 6-5-1986)
(A) Installation of private fire protection systems.
(1) Installation of private fire protection water supply systems shall follow the guidelines found in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 24 and § 93.03 of this chapter.
(2) Easements to allow access to and maintenance of a private fire protection water supply system shall be provided by the property owner. Easements may be required for approval of any subdivision or development plans. The minimum easement width shall be ten feet; however, the City Engineer or Fire Chief may determine that a greater width is required for proper access and maintenance of the private fire protection water supply system as warranted by specific site circumstances.
(B) Maintenance of fire protection systems required. The approved private fire protection water supply system, as required by NFPA Standard 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, shall be maintained by each property owner when such system is not part of the publically maintained fire protection system.
(C) Testing of fire protection systems required. Fire protection water supply systems, including private fire hydrants, shall be subject to periodic tests as required by the Fire Chief or his or her designee and shall be operable at all times.
(1) Fire hydrants shall be inspected annually and after any operation of the hydrant. Flow tests shall be conducted every three years by the property owner.
(2) Unobstructed access to fire hydrants shall be maintained at all times, which shall include a three-foot clear space around the hydrant, unless otherwise approved by the Fire Chief or his or her designee. Physical protection to prevent damage to hydrants may be required.
(D) Repairs to fire protection systems required. Private fire protection water supply systems shall be repaired upon notification by the Fire Chief or his or her designee as prescribed in NFPA Standard 25.
(1) By order of the Fire Chief or his or her designee, the owner of a private fire protection system including hydrants and appurtenances shall make repairs for the proper operation of the system, which shall include the repair of leaks, physical damage and corrosion.
(2) Should repairs not be made within the time prescribed by the order of the Fire Chief or his or her designee, the city shall effect such repairs by city personnel or contractor and shall bill the owner of the system for said repairs.
(3) For emergency conditions where the issuance of an order by the Fire Chief or his or her designee to make repairs is not feasible or timely, the city personnel or contractor may make repairs and subsequently invoice the property owner for all costs. The city shall make effort to provide notice to the property owner before any such emergency work is undertaken.
(Ord. 20-2015, passed 11-16-2015) Penalty, see § 93.99
SMOKE DETECTORS IN RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
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