(A) The International Fire Code, (2018 edition, including Appendix Chapters A-M (See International Fire Code section 101.2.2012 edition)), as published by the International Code Council, Inc., a copy of which is on file in the office of the Clerk of Kochville Township, is hereby adopted as the Fire Code of Kochville Township, State of Michigan regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from the occupancy of buildings and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefore. All of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and said terms of said Fire Code are hereby adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this section, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any prescribed in division (B) below. The Code is hereby adopted by reference as provided under M.C.L.A. § 41.805.
(B) The following sections are hereby revised:
Amend Section 101.1 Title.
These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of Kochville Township, hereinafter referred to as The Fire Code.
Amend to read Section 102.7.1 Conflicts.
Where conflicts occur between provisions of this code and referenced codes and standards, the provisions which establishes the higher standard for the promotion of the safety and welfare of the public shall apply.
Add Section 102.7.3- References to International Codes.
In this Code, all references to the following International Codes shall be deemed to be references to the following Current Michigan Codes. References to other International or NFPA Codes shall apply to the extent that said Codes have been adopted by Kochville Township by reference, as authorized by Michigan law.
Amend to read Section 106.2- Schedule of Permit Fees.
A fee for each permit shall be paid as required in accordance with the schedule as established by the Governing Authority. The fees shall be subject to modification by the Township Board by resolution.
Amend to read Section 108.3 Recordkeeping.
A record of periodic inspections, tests, servicing and other operations and maintenance shall be maintained on the premises or other approved location for not less than 3 years, or a different period of time where specified in this code or referenced standards. Records shall be made available for inspection by the fire code official on site and a digital copy of the records shall be provided to the fire code official. The fire code official is authorized to prescribe the form and format of such recordkeeping. The fire code official is authorized to require that all inspection, testing, and maintenance records be submitted electronically.
Amend to read Section 110.4 Violation Penalties.
Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or who shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair, or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or direction of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction. Unless otherwise stated in this code the referenced penalties and sanctions shall be those which are established under the Kochville Township Municipal Sanctions for Ordinance Violations Ordinance, as amended from time to time. The imposition of one (1) municipal civil infraction fine for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all persons who are violation shall be required to correct or remedy such violation or defects. Every day of noncompliance shall be deemed a separate violation.
Amend to read Section 112.4- Failure to Comply.
Any person who shall continue any work after being served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform or remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be liable for a fine of not less than $95.00 and not more than $500.00.
Section 202 Definitions.
Delete Bonfire
Section 302.1
Delete Bonfire
Amend to read Section 305.1- Clearance from Ignition Sources.
Clearance between ignition sources, such as luminaries, heaters, flame-producing devices, and combustible materials shall be a minimum of thirty-six inches (36") clear space or the clearance specified by the manufacturer.
Amend to read Section 307.1.1- Prohibited Burning.
Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous or offensive because of location, smoke, or odor emissions. Exception: Prescribed burning for the purpose of reducing the impact of wild land fire when authorized by the fire code official.
Exception: Prescribed burning for the purpose of reducing the impact of wild land fire when authorized by the fire code official.
Amend to read Section 307.3- Extinguishment Authority.
Where open burning creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or a required permit for open burning has not been obtained, the fire code official or other identified member of the Fire Department is authorized to order the extinguishment of the open burning operation.
Amend to read Section 307.4- Location.
The location for open burning shall be not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from any structure, and provisions shall be made to prevent the fire from spreading to within 50 feet (15 240 mm) of any structure for piles that are in approved containers or are less than 3 feet (914mm) in diameter and less than 2 feet high (610mm). Exceptions: 1. Fires in approved containers that are not less than 15 feet (4572 mm) from a structure. 2. The minimum required distance from a structure shall be 100 feet (7620 mm) where the pile size is greater than 3 feet or less in diameter and 4 feet or less in height.
Delete Section 307.4.1- Bonfires.
Amend to read Section 307.4.3- Portable outdoor fireplaces.
Delete Exception
Amend to read Section 307.5- Attendance.
Open burning, recreational fires, and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended, by a responsible adult, at least eighteen (18) years of age, until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with Section 906 with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire extinguishing equipment such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.
Add Section 307.6- Operational Times.
Open burning, recreational fires and fires in portable outdoor fireplaces shall begin at 8:00 am and extinguished by 11:00 pm each day.
Add Section 307.7- Prohibited Materials.
Materials other than natural vegetation shall not be burned
Amend to read Section 401.5- Making a false report.
It shall be unlawful for a person to give, signal or transmit a false alarm. Any person convicted of knowingly making a false report shall be liable for a fine equal to the actual costs of the fire department response, but not less than $1000.00.
Amend to read Section 503.3 Marking.
Where required by the fire code official, an approved marking or signs shall be provided at 50-foot intervals along fire apparatus roads and designated fire lanes to identify such roads or prohibit the obstruction thereof. Signs shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and replaced or repaired when necessary to provide adequate visibility.
Add Section 504.4- Equipment Access.
An approved ladder shall be provided when building equipment is located above the first floor and on or above the roof level. Access ladders shall extend from finished floor or exterior grade to at least three (3) feet above equipment level, roof, or parapet wall. Roof access ladders shall be provided with side rails and be capable of supporting a 500 lbs. load.
Amend to read Section 505.1 Address Identification.
New and existing buildings shall have approved address numbers, building numbers or approved building identification placed in a position that is plainly legible and visible from the street.
Add Section 506.3- Mounting Height.
The approved lock box shall be mounted at a height not less than five (5) feet and not greater than six (6) feet above finish grade of new and existing buildings.
Amend to read Section 507.5.5 Clear space around hydrants.
A five (5) foot (1542 mm) clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except as otherwise required or approved.
Amend to read Section 603.5.2- Heating appliance installation and maintenance.
Heating appliances shall be installed and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, the International Building Code, the International Fuel Gas Code, and the ICC Electrical Code. A minimum of thirty-six (36) inches of clear space shall be maintained around the perimeter of all heating appliances.
Amend to read Section 604.10- Portable electric space heaters.
Where not prohibited by other sections of this code, portable electric heaters shall be permitted to be used in all occupancies other than Group I-2 and in accordance with Sections 605.10.1 through 605.10.5.
Add Section 604.10.6- Tip over switch.
Portable heating appliances shall be equipped with a tilt or tip over switch that automatically shuts off the unit if the appliance is tilted more than 15 degrees (0.26 rad) from the vertical position.
Add Section 607.5- Appliance Location Identifiers.
Appliances that are provided with casters or that can be moved for cleaning, shall be provided with an approved method to ensure the equipment is placed back in the proper position.
Amend to read 806.1.1- Natural cut trees.
Natural cut trees shall be prohibited in Group A, B, E, I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4, M, R-1, R-2, and R-4 occupancies.
Delete Exceptions 1 & 2
Amend to read Section 901.6.4 Records.
Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the referenced standards shall be submitted to the fire code official as required by section 108.3
Amend to read Section 901.7 Systems out of service.
Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the fire department and the fire code official shall be notified immediately and, where required by the fire code official, the building shall be either evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been returned to service. Where utilized, fire watches shall be in compliance with Appendix O
Amend to read Section 901.8 Removal of or tampering with equipment.
It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant, fire detection and alarm system, fire suppression system or other fire appliance required by this code except for the purposes of extinguishing fire, training, recharging or making necessary repairs or where approved by the fire code official. Person(s) found to have violated this section shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction with a fine of $200.00 per offense in a calendar year.
Amend to read Section 903.4.3 Control valves.
Approved supervised indicating control valves and flow switches shall be installed on each floor of buildings that exceed 1-story in height. The Fire Code Official is also authorized to require supervised indicating control valves and flow switches in multiple tenant occupancies that are one or more stories in height.
Add Section 912.1.1 Approved Fire Department Connections.
All fire department connections for fire sprinkler systems shall be a 5-inch Stortz connection with a 30° downward angle.
Add Section 915.7 Notification of alarm.
Occupancies that are required to have a monitored fire alarm system shall also monitor the carbon monoxide alarm system. Upon activation of the carbon monoxide alarm, the monitoring company shall receive the signal as an alarm and the occupant notification system shall activate.
Amend to read A101.5 Secretary of Board.
The Fire Board of Appeals shall appoint one of the members to be the secretary and they shall keep a detailed record of all its proceedings, which shall set forth the reason for its decisions, the vote of each member, the absence of a member and any failure of a member to vote.
Amend to read A101.10 Procedures.
The board shall be operated in accordance with the Open Meetings Act of Michigan. Meetings shall also be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order.
Amend to read Section C 103.1 Hydrant spacing.
The number of fire hydrants available to a building shall be not less than the minimum specified in Table C102.1. Hydrants shall be provided at all intersections within all plats. In residential areas, hydrants shall have a maximum spacing of 500 feet. Hydrant spacing in commercial, industrial, or high-density residential areas shall not exceed 300 feet unless otherwise required per table C102.1.
Add Appendix O- Fire Watch
Add Section 0 101 General-
0 101.1 Scope.
When a fire watch is required by this code, the fire code official, and or fire code official designee in an existing structure(s) or portions thereof, or for a fire protection system that is out of service, or other fire hazard situation, it shall be in accordance with this appendix.
Add Section 0 102 Definitions
0 102.1 Definitions.
For the purpose of this appendix certain terms are defined as follows:
Fire Code Official- See section 202
Fire Watch- See section 202
Add Section O 103 Requirements
O 103.1 Fire Watch.
A fire watch shall have all of the elements listed in this section
O103.2- Dedicated Persons.
At least one dedicated person is required to conduct patrols. Additional personnel shall be added as necessary to meet the interval requirements of K103.3. All personnel shall meet the following criteria and be:
1. 18 years of age or older
2. Competent to identify fire and unsafe conditions
3. Capable of effectively communicating the need for a fire department response
4. Physically capable to perform patrols and self-preservation
5. Familiar with the structure(s), hazards associated with the structure(s), and the emergency plan for the structure(s)
O103.3 Patrol Intervals.
The structure(s) or portions there of shall be checked for fire and life safety hazards a minimum of every 30 minutes or as approved by the fire code official.
O103.4 Notification.
At least one reliable method of communication to initiate a fire department response is required. Fire watch personnel shall have a cellular phone or other means of communications acceptable to the fire code official. In the event of a fire, fire watch personnel shall alert occupants, take appropriate actions, and notify the fire department immediately.
O103.5 Documentation.
The fire code official and or designee shall have the responsible person for the fire watch complete a notice of fire watch form and also complete an activity log that lists who conducted the fire watch, time of each activity, and the description of the activity performed
O103.7 Termination.
A fire watch shall continue until the initiating circumstances have been abated and the fire code official has been notified.
(Ord. 20-03, passed 10-19-2020)