(A) Notwithstanding the provisions found in §§ 2.5-1 et seq., of Chapter 2.5 of the County Code, whenever faulty or nuisance alarms in an occupancy exceed three in any one-month period, the Fire Official may require the owner or occupant to conduct a witnessed test of the fire protection system causing the faulty or nuisance alarm.
(B) For the purpose of this section, a faulty or nuisance alarm is deemed to occur whenever the Fire Officer in charge responding to a fire alarm call shall determine, after investigation, that faulty equipment initiated the alarm. An alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, or lack of proper maintenance, or an alarm activated by a cause that cannot be determined may be deemed a faulty alarm.
(C) As soon as practical following the faulty or nuisance alarm, the responding officer-in-charge shall cause the Fire Marshal’s office to be notified in writing of the facts and circumstances supporting his or her determination that faulty equipment initiated the alarm.
(D) Whenever an owner or occupant is required by this section to conduct a test of a fire alarm or suppression system, the Fire Official shall notify the owner or occupant in writing and prescribe a certified test consistent with standard procedures to be witnessed by the Fire Official or his or her designee.
(E) (1) Any faulty equipment or systems identified during the test which will reduce the effectiveness of the protection shall be recorded and a notice of violation prepared and served in accordance with the provisions of § 111.0 of Statewide Fire Prevention Code (2009). The notice of violation will require the repair, abatement, or correction of any noted defects, the restoration of the system to normal operative condition, and compliance with any law, ordinance, or order affecting such alarm system.
(2) The notice of violation shall be enforced pursuant to the provisions of § 110 of the International Fire Code (2009).
(1998 Code, § 22-15)