(A) Generally. The city requires that all new construction of any buildings that require fire sprinkler systems to be installed as determined or required by local or state laws, regulations, ordinance or codes, or as required by the local or state building or fire inspectors, must also install a city-approved inline mag meter to measure flow and use of water conveyed through said meter into the sprinkler system. The mag meter shall be purchased through the city at the city’s cost plus 15%, or be exactly the same as those used by the city to insure compatibility for billing purposes. If the mag meter is purchased through a source other than the city, the mag meter shall be subject to the approval of the City Water Distribution Superintendent, in his or her sole discretion.
(B) Approval of plans; submission for review by the Water Distribution Superintendent.
(1) Prior to the installation of the meter to a fire suppression system, plans shall be submitted to the Water Distribution Superintendent for review and approval. All fire suppression systems must comply with all applicable NFPA standards and local standards.
(2) Two copies of the plans, specifications and calculations shall be submitted for review to the Water Distribution Superintendent. Reviewed plans shall be signed off as conditionally approved by the Water Distribution Superintendent for meter installation only if approved. One approved copy will be returned to the submitter.
(3) All copies of the plans, specifications and calculations submitted shall be signed and sealed by a state registered architect, fire protection engineer and/or fire protection designer before the fire suppression contractor installs the work. Plans and/or calculations which are not signed and sealed will not be reviewed.
(4) The Water Distribution Superintendent’s conditional approval of the fire suppression plans does not confirm or admit the accuracy of the plans or the functionality of any part of the fire suppression system. The conditional approval is for the installation of the meter only. Full responsibility for the accuracy of the system design and calculations is the responsibility of the fire protection contractor and/or building owner. The city will assume no liability in this regard.
(5) No meters for the fire suppression system shall be installed nor shall any existing system be altered until the plans and specifications have been reviewed and approved by the Water Distribution Superintendent and a signed copy returned to the submitter.
(C) Installation standards.
(1) Approved fire suppression systems shall be installed in accordance with current National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, building codes, federal, state and local laws or ordinances and/or recommended practices, whichever are applicable.
(2) The location of all Fire Department connections shall be approved by the Fire Chief.
(3) The city-approved inline mag meter shall be same size as the inflow piping of the fire sprinkler pipe with shutoff valves on both sides of the meter to insure the ability to change or maintain the meter. The meter shall be installed before any connections to the fire main. All bypass connections in the piping must also have and maintain an inline valve to remain in the off position except in situations that the bypass is necessary for maintenance.
(D) Inspections and fees. The Water Distribution Superintendent or his/her representative must have access for inspection of the meter installation at all times. There will be a one-time inspection fee of $100 to inspect the installation of the meter.
(E) Billing for water usage. The meter shall be read on a monthly basis with the normal reading cycle to determine any usage on the meter for billing purposes. There will not be a charge to the building owner if there is no water usage. If there is water usage as determined by the meter, the building owner shall be charged for the water used at then current water rates as set forth in the city’s ordinances and amended from time to time. Provided, however, that the billing for the usage as set forth in this section shall not be adjusted for alleged or actual leaks in accordance with other pertinent provisions in the city’s code of ordinances.
(Ord. 610.7-06-2014, passed 6-23-2014) Penalty, see § 55.99