All rental housing shall be provided with fire protection equipment as follows:
(A) Fire extinguishers. All dwelling units with three or more dwelling units shall be provided with a sufficient number of fire extinguishers which are approved by the Fire Marshal. Fire extinguishers shall be properly mounted and accessible to all occupants. Fire extinguishers shall comply with National Fire Protection Association, Standard 10. Minimum size shall be 2A 10B C (5 Pound). Fire extinguishers shall be equipped with a sight gauge to indicate pressure and shall be maintained in accordance National Fire Protection Association, Standard 10.
(B) Smoke/dual sensor detectors. All dwelling units shall be provided with smoke detectors as defined in the City of Newton adopted Fire Code. In multiple-unit dwellings, there shall be smoke detectors in common hallways accessible to two or more units. Detectors shall also be located in cellars or basements when such cellars or basements are used for storage, laundry equipment or central heating units. Effective January 1, 2015, all dwelling units shall be equipped with dual sensor smoke detectors as defined in Iowa Code § 100.18 and 661 I.A.C. 210.1.
(1) Effective January 1, 2015, all dwelling units that have attached garages or within which fuel-fired appliances exist shall have an approved carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. Single-station carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and shall be installed in accordance with this code and the manufacturer’s installation instructions. Dual-sensor smoke detectors that have carbon monoxide and smoke detection sensors which are listed to UL 2034 and UL 217, shall be allowed.
(2) Effective July 1, 2014, all newly registered dwelling units shall be provided with dual sensor smoke detectors as defined in Iowa Code § 100.18 and 661 I.A.C. 210.1. In accordance with 661 I.A.C. 210.3(11), smoke detectors shall be located as follows:
(a) Placement. On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms;
(b) Bedrooms. In each room used for sleeping;
(c) Levels. In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements, but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwelling units with split-levels and without intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke detector installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level; provided that, the lower level is less than one story below the upper level; and
(d) Dual sensor. All new smoke detectors are required to be a dual-sensor smoke detector as defined in 661 I.A.C. 210.1. DUAL-SENSOR SMOKE DETECTORS means a smoke detector which contains both an ionization sensor and a photoelectric sensor which is designed to detect and trigger an alarm in response to smoke detected through either sensing device, or a smoke detector which has two sensors and is listed to UL Standard 217, Single- and Multiple-Station Smoke Alarms, or another standard approved by the State Fire Marshal.
(C) Carbon monoxide alarms. Effective July 1, 2014, all registered dwelling units that have attached garages or within which fuel-fired appliances exist, shall have approved carbon monoxide alarm installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedrooms. Single-station carbon monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and shall be installed in accordance with this code and the manufacturer’s installation instructions.
(D) Exits. Every floor above the first floor used for human occupancy shall meet the exit requirements of § 151.31 of this chapter. If the structure cannot meet such exit requirements because it has only one approved means of egress, fire escape stairs will be permitted to serve as part of the second approved means of egress; provided, such second means of egress meets all of the following performance standards in addition to all other requirements for means of egress:
(1) Fire escapes. Fire escape stairs must serve an occupant load of ten or less or a single dwelling unit or guestroom.
(2) Stair access. There must be access to the fire escape stairs from each dwelling unit on each story served by the fire escape stairs, by means of either an approved exit or an approved balcony. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to vary the provisions of § 151.31(B) of this chapter requiring emergency escape or rescue windows in every sleeping room, or the provisions of divisions (D)(1) above and this (D)(2), regarding access to dwelling units and between the various rooms of dwelling units.
(3) Structural requirements.
(a) Placement. Fire escape stairs must not pass in front of any building opening below the unit being served.
(b) Activating. The means of activating the escape device must be accessible to the rental unit or balcony being served.
(c) Fire escape installation. Installation of fire escape stairs must not cause a person to pass within six feet of external electrical wiring.
(d) Code. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall meet all requirements per the International Fire Code and International Building Code that have been adopted by the city.
(e) Extensions. Fire escape stairs must reach the ground or be equipped with counterbalanced extensions which allow them to extend to the ground.
(f) Acceptability criteria. Acceptability criteria are the same as performance and structural requirements. In addition, fire escapes must be kept clear and unobstructed and must be in good operating order.
(Ord. 2364, passed 9-3-2019)