(A) Purpose. This subchapter is intended to facilitate the more efficient use of fire, medical, and public personnel resources for true emergencies and for people who genuinely believe they need fire, medical or public personnel assistance. The focus of this subchapter is on mechanical failure, faulty equipment, improper installations, and the negligence of fire alarm users and those engaged in the maintenance, repair or testing of all life safety systems located in a commercial building. The subchapter is not intended to discourage or otherwise inhibit the use of alarms or 9-1-1 systems to seek emergency assistance. Therefore, this subchapter shall always be construed in a manner that serves to prompt residents and businesses to correct mechanical and operational fire alarm system deficiencies, but not to discourage residents and businesses from seeking emergency help. All fire alarm users shall be responsible for properly maintaining their life safety systems. This shall include ensuring all life safety systems within the user's control are inspected annually, kept in good operating order, and code compliant.
(B) Fee charged for responding to false fire alarms, generally. Every fire alarm user shall pay to the Township of Orion a fee for responding to the second and any subsequent "false fire alarm signaled by that person's alarm system within a calendar year." The schedule of false fire alarm fees shall be periodically set by resolution of the Township of Orion. The fee shall be reasonably based on the township's direct and indirect costs of responding to false fire alarms, administering the system of recording and classifying the alarms, staffing costs, and collecting and accounting for the user fees charged. Such fee shall be paid within 30 days of written notice. The failure to pay within said time shall be a debt in favor of the Township of Orion, and the obligation of the alarm user and/or property owner subject to any collection process set forth here and/or allowed by law.
(C) Responding to false alarms, commercial occupant. A contractor and/or his or her employer conducting an inspection, repair, replacement, and/or installation of a fire alarm system within a commercial occupancy shall be responsible for alerting the Fire Department and any other monitoring agency of testing an alarm system at least one hour before completing any testing, repairing or maintenance procedures. The commercial occupant is also responsible for ensuring its contractor has provided adequate notice to the Township of Orion in accordance with this section.
(1) In the event the notice requirements set forth in this section are not met, the commercial occupant, the contractor, and the contractor's employer shall all be held responsible, jointly and severally, and shall pay the Township of Orion a fee and/or fine for responding to the second and any subsequent false fire alarms signaled within any calendar year due to a contractor and/or contractor's employer failing to give the Township of Orion adequate notice that it is testing, repairing or performing maintenance of the alarm system.
(2) Commercial occupants shall only be responsible for fees and penalties arising from the second and any subsequent false fire alarm signaled by the commercial occupant's alarm system within a calendar year.
(3) The contractor and contractor's employer may be held responsible for fees and penalties arising from the second and any subsequent false fire alarm signaled by each separate commercial occupancy for which it conducts an inspection, repair, replacement, or installation of the alarm system during a calendar year.
(D) First false alarm. All fire alarm users shall ensure fire alarm systems within its control are inspected annually by a licensed contractor. The Fire Department shall conduct a follow up inspection within 48 hours of the initial false fire alarm. Such inspections shall be provided free of charge. At the time of inspection, the Fire Department shall provide notice of the associated fees should the fire alarm user trigger an additional false fire alarm response in that current calendar year. Such notice may be provided to the fire alarm user, commercial occupant, contractor, and/or contractor's employer at his, her or its last known address by first class mail or personal service at the time of inspection or within 30 days thereafter. The notice shall indicate the potential penalties, as set forth in this subchapter, for future false fire alarm occurrences.
(E) Automatic dialing prohibited. No person shall install or use a device or combination of devices which will, upon activation, either mechanically, electronically or by other means, initiate the automatic intrastate calling, dialing or connection to any telephone number assigned to the Township Sheriff Substation, Fire Department, Department of Public Works or the 9-1-1 emergency number which connects or assigns the call to the department or its dispatchers.
(F) Due care in operation required. Every fire alarm user shall exercise due care to install, maintain, and use every fire alarm system so as to avoid false fire alarms. Every fire alarm user shall diligently instruct, supervise, and control those having access to the fire alarm system and the alarmed premises and shall take all reasonable steps to prevent the system from signaling false alarms.
(Ord. 22.08, passed 5-23-22)