(A) International code adopted by reference; title. Pursuant to the authority of Iowa Code § 380.10, the International Fire Code, 2015 Edition, copyrighted by the International Code Council, except as hereinafter amended by this section, is hereby adopted by reference for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion within the city. The provisions of said Code, except as amended herein, shall be controlling in all matters contemplated therein within the city. The provisions of this section shall be known as the “Fire Code”.
(2011 Code, § 20.0401)
(B) Copies on file. An official copy of said Code, including amendments as adopted, is on file in the office of the Building Official.
(2011 Code, § 20.0402)
(C) Available for public inspection. A copy of said Code, as amended, shall be kept available at the Building Official’s office for public inspection.
(2011 Code, § 20.0403)
(D) Amendments to the International Fire Code.
(1) Section 101.1. Insert: City of Newton, Iowa
(2) Sections 109.4 and 111.4 shall reference Section (M) Penalties of this Code.
(3) Section 308.1.4 Open-flame Cooking Devices. Charcoal burners, other open-flame cooking devices, and other devices that produce ashes or embers shall not be operated on balconies or within 20 feet (3048mm) of combustible construction. Location of LP containers shall comply with Section 6104.
a. Exceptions:
i. One- and two- family dwellings, constructed in accordance with the International Residential Code.
ii. LP-gas cooking devices having LP-gas container with water capacity not greater than 20 pounds.
(4) Section 507.5.1.1 Hydrant for fire department connections. Buildings equipped with a fire department connection installed in accordance with Section 912 shall have a fire hydrant located on a fire access road within 100 feet (30 m) of the fire department connection as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building.
a. Exception: The distance shall be permitted to exceed 100 feet (30m) where approved by the fire code official.
(5) Section 903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance to Section 903.3 shall be provided to all buildings in Group R fire areas with four (4) or more living units, and to townhomes greater than two stories in heights, and to single family homes greater than 8,000 sq. ft. including basements.
(6) Section 907.6.6 Monitoring. Fire alarm systems are required by this chapter or by the International Building Code shall be monitored by a central station approved and listed under UL 827 in accordance with NFPA 72
a. Exception: Monitoring station is not required for:
i. Automatic sprinkler and fire alarm systems in one- and two- family dwellings.
(7) Section 1009.2. Add item #11 with the following language: Components of exterior walking surfaces shall be concrete, asphalt, or other approved hard surface
(8) Section 1013.3 Exit Sign Illumination. Exit signs shall use an LED lighting system and be illuminated internally. Exit signs are required to have battery backup unless an onsite generator is used. Luminance on the face of an exit sign shall have an intensity of not less than 5.0 footcandles (53.82 lux).
a. Exception: Tactile Exit signs required by Section 1013.4 need not be provided with illumination.
(9) Section 1030.5.3 Window Wells Drainage. All window wells shall be provided with approved drainage.
(10) Adoption of Appendices:
(a) Appendix A: Board of Appeals;
(b) Appendix B: Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings;
(c) Appendix C: Fire Hydrant Location and Distribution;
(d) Appendix D: Fire Apparatus Access Roads;
(e) Appendix F: Hazard Ranking;
(f) Appendix H: Hazardous Materials Management Plan and Materials Inventory Statement Instructions;
(g) Appendix I: Fire Protection Systems - Non-compliant Conditions; and
(h) Appendix J: Emergency Responder Radio Coverage.
(11) Note: Appendices E and G are for information purposes only, therefore they are not to be adopted as part of the ordinance:
(a) Appendix E: Hazard Categories (Reference Guide); and
(b) Appendix G: Cryogenic Fluids-Weight and Volume Equivalents (Reference Guide).
(2011 Code, § 20.0404)
(E) Establishment and duties of Bureau of Fire Prevention.
(1) The International Fire Code shall be enforced by the Fire Department of the city, which shall be operated under the supervision of the Fire Chief.
(2) The Fire Chief may detail such members of the Fire Department as inspectors as shall from time to time become necessary. The Fire Chief shall recommend to the City Administrator the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and non-members of the Fire Department and the appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term, with removal only for cause.
(2011 Code, § 20.0405)
(F) Definitions. Whenever the word “jurisdiction” is used in the International Fire Code, it shall mean the city.
(2011 Code, § 20.0406)
(G) Establishment of limits of districts in which storage of flammable or combustible liquids in outside above ground tanks is prohibited. The limits referred to in Ch. 34, Flammable and Combustible Liquids of the International Fire Code, which the storage of flammable or combustible liquids is restricted are hereby established as follows: corporate city limits excluding areas identified as “existing industrial areas” or “heavy industrial expansion” or “light industrial expansion” in the Comprehensive Plan for the city.
(2011 Code, § 20.0407)
(H) Establishment of limits of districts in which storage of liquified petroleum gases is to be restricted. Ch. 38 LP - Gas, § 3804.2 of the International Fire Code, in which storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted are hereby established as follows: corporate city limits excluding areas identified as “existing industrial areas” or “heavy industrial expansion” or “light industrial expansion” in the Comprehensive Plan for the city.
(2011 Code, § 20.0408)
(I) Establishment of limits of districts in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is to be prohibited. Ch. 33 Explosives and Fireworks of the International Fire Code, in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited, are hereby established as follows: corporate city limits excluding areas identified as “existing industrial areas” or “heavy industrial expansion” or “light industrial expansion” in the Comprehensive Plan of the city.
(2011 Code, § 20.0409)
(J) Establishment of regulations for use of candles and other open-flame devices.
(1) Candelabra with flame-lighted candles shall be supported by a sturdy broad base to prevent overturning and shall be located away from occupants using the area and away from possible contact with drapes, curtains or other combustibles.
(2) When the following safeguards have been taken, hand-held flame-lighted candles may be used.
(a) Hand-held candles shall not be passed from one person to another while lighted.
(b) Monitors shall be assigned to observe the occupants of the room or building where hand-held candles are used, and flame-suppressing blankets shall be provided, to assist in suppression of fire which might involve a person’s hair or clothing.
(c) Fire extinguishers shall be provided as required for normal occupancy use.
(d) Attention shall be directed at maintaining proper aisleways and exits during such public assemblies.
(2011 Code, § 20.0410)
(K) Appeals. Whenever the Fire Chief disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the Fire Code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the Fire Code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Fire Chief to the Building Trades Board within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed. When the Building Code Board of appeals hears appeals under the Fire Code, the Fire Chief shall act as Secretary to the Board.
(2011 Code, § 20.0411)
(L) New materials processes or occupancies which may require permits. The Building Official, the Fire Chief and the City Engineer shall act as a committee to determine and specify after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies for which permits are required in addition to those now enumerated in said Code. The Fire Chief shall post such list in a conspicuous place in the Chief’s office and distribute copies thereof to interested parties.
(2011 Code, § 20.0412)
(M) Penalties.
(1) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of this Code or standards hereby adopted or fail to comply with any order made thereunder or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder and for which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such order as affirmed or modified by the Board of appeals, within the time fixed herein, shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and on conviction thereof be subject to the penalty imposed by § 10.99(A) of this code of ordinances; the imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation of permit to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violation or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified each day prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.
(2) The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.
(2011 Code, § 20.0413)
(Ord. 2184, passed 10-25-2011; Ord. 2336, passed 6-18-2018)