(A) The purpose of this section is to provide the citizens of the city with early warning protection against fire in order to save lives and protect property.
(B) Every building used in whole or in part for residential purposes, including, not by way of limitation, mobile homes and all buildings zoned R-1 through R-6, shall have installed therein a smoke detection device or devices which comply with the provisions of this section.
(C) (1) Each building hereinbefore specified shall have installed therein an approved fire detection, products-of-combustion smoke detection device which shall be sensitive to any of the products of combustion and which shall be of either the ionization chamber or photo-electric type and shall comply with all specifications of the Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. standard UL 217 (standard for safety single and multiple station smoke detectors) as revised.
(2) Detectors sensitive only to heat are not acceptable. Alarm signaling devices shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms when all intervening doors are closed.
(D) Every dwelling unit shall be equipped with at least one approved smoke detector in operating condition within 15 feet of every room used for sleeping purposes. The detector shall be installed on the ceiling and at least six inches from any wall, or on a wall located between four and six inches from the ceiling. Every single family residence shall have at least one approved smoke detector installed on every story of the dwelling unit, including basements but not including unoccupied attics. In dwelling units with spilt levels, a smoke detector installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level if the lower level is less and one full story below the upper level; however, there is an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke detector shall be installed on each level. Every structure which contains more than one dwelling unit, or contains at least one dwelling unit and is a mixed-use structure, shall contain at least one approved smoke detector at the uppermost ceiling of each interior stairwell. The detector shall be installed on the ceiling, at least six inches from the wall, or on a wall located between four and six inches from the ceiling.
(E) It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a structure to supply and install all required detectors. The owner shall be responsible for making reasonable efforts to test and maintain detectors in common stairwells and hallways. It shall be the responsibility of a tenant to test and to provide general maintenance for the detectors within the tenant's dwelling unit or rooming unit, and to notify the owner or the authorized agent of the owner in writing of any deficiencies which the tenant cannot correct. The owner shall be responsible for one tenant per dwelling unit with written information regarding detector testing and maintenance. The tenant shall be responsible for replacement of any required batteries in the smoke detectors in the tenant's dwelling unit, except that the owner shall ensure that such batteries are in operating condition at the time the tenant takes possession of the dwelling unit. The tenant shall provide the owner or the authorized agent of the owner with access to the dwelling unit to correct any deficiencies in the smoke detector which have been reported in writing to the owner or the authorized agent of the owner.
(F) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell within the city any smoke detection device unless said detection device meets the standards hereinbefore specified in this section.
(G) In the case of any dwelling unit that is newly constructed, reconstructed, or substantially remodeled after December 31, 1987, the requirements of this Section shall apply beginning on the first day of occupancy of the dwelling unit after such construction, reconstruction or substantial remodeling. The smoke detectors required in such dwelling units shall be permanently wired into the structure's AC power line, and if more than one detector is required to be installed within the dwelling unit, the detectors shall be wired so that the actuation of one detector will actuate all the detectors in the dwelling unit.
('71 Code, § 11-4-14) (Ord. 1413, passed 9-13-60; Am. Ord. 2515, passed 5-27-85; Am. Ord. 2687, passed 12-12-88) Penalty, see § 155.999