SEC. 11-79. FIRE ALARMS: DEFINITIONS.
   As used in this division, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:
   (A)   ADOPTED CODE(S) - Codes adopted by this code. In the absence of any such code adoption, the National Fire Protection Association National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code 72 ("NFPA 72") shall apply as referenced in one or more of the following codes: the National Fire Protection Association, Life Safety Code 101 ("NFPA 101"), the International Building Code ("IBC"), the California Fire Code ("CFC"), and the International Residential Code ("IRC").
   (B)   COMMERCIAL FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS - Those alarm systems installed in other than one-family and two-family homes.
   (C)   ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL - The fire chief or his or her designee.
   (D)   FALSE FIRE ALARM - The activation of any fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke, or fire, exclusive of a nuisance fire alarm.
   (E)   FEE - The assessment of a monetary charge based on the cost of services provided by the city, payable to the city pursuant to this division.
   (F)   FINE - The assessment of a monetary charge for noncompliance with this division, payable to the city pursuant to this division.
   (G)   FIRE ALARM ACTIVATION REPORT - A document issued by the enforcement official indicating that the activation was deemed to be the result of fire alarm activation due to fire, a nuisance fire alarm, or a false fire alarm.
   (H)   FIRE ALARM BUSINESS - Any individual, partnership, corporation, or other entity that is appropriately licensed in the state/jurisdiction and installs, causes to be installed, permits to be installed, alters, maintains, repairs, replaces, or services any fire alarm system.
   (I)   FIRE ALARM SYSTEM - A commercial or household system, or portion of a combination system, consisting of components and circuits arranged to monitor and/or annunciate the status of a fire alarm, or supervisory signal-initiating device(s), and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals.
   (J)   FIRE DEPARTMENT - The Oxnard Fire Department.
   (K)   FIRE WATCH - An enforcement official approved person or persons assigned to the premises for the purpose of protecting the occupants from fire or similar emergencies. A fire watch may involve at least some special action beyond normal staffing, such as assigning an additional security guard(s) to walk the premises who has been specially trained in fire prevention and in the use of fire extinguishers, in notifying the fire department, in sounding the fire alarm system located on the premises, and in understanding the particular fire safety situation.
   (L)   INITIATING DEVICE - A system component that originates transmission of a change of state condition, such as in a smoke detector, manual fire alarm box. or supervisory switch.
   (M)   MONITORED SYSTEM - The process by which a supervising station receives fire alarm, supervisory, and trouble signals, from a fire alarm system for the purpose of re-transmission.
   (N)   NUISANCE FIRE ALARM - The activation of any fire alarm system, which results in a response by the fire department, caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation, lack of proper maintenance, human activity that is determined by the fire chief or his or her designee to be negligent, or any other response for which the fire department personnel are unable to determine the apparent cause of the alarm activation. A false alarm includes an alarm caused by a power outage, but does not include an alarm caused by a force majeure or an extraordinary condition not reasonably within the control of the alarm business or alarm user.
   (O)   OWNER - Any person who owns the premises in which a fire alarm system is installed or the person or persons, who lease, operate, occupy, or manage the premises.
   (P)   PREMISES - Any building, structure, or combination of buildings and structures, which serve as dwelling units such as single-family, multi-family, or any other area within a building, structure, or combination thereof, which is used for any purpose, wherein a fire alarm system is installed.
   (Q)   QUALIFIED FIRE ALARM TECHNICIAN - Any person who inspects, installs, repairs, or performs maintenance on fire alarm systems. This person shall be:
      (1)   Factory trained and certified;
      (2)   National Institute of Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) Fire Alarm Level II certified;
      (3)   Electronic Security Association (ESA) Certified Fire Alarm Technician; or
      (4)   Licensed or certified by state or local authority.
   (R)   RECORD OF COMPLETION - The completion of a form equivalent to the record of completion form included in the National Fire Protection Association's National Fire Alarm Code ("NFPA 72").
   (S)   REPORT OF SERVICE/REPAIR - Appropriate documentation in a format acceptable to the fire department's third party vendor for data collection that verifies proper repairs or maintenance performed by the fire alarm business and/or the owner.
   (T)   REPORTING - The annual notification by the occupant/owner's contractor to the fire department's third party vendor for data collection, that a commercial fire alarm system is installed and 100% tested.
   (U)   RESPONSIBLE PERSON - Owner or occupant responsible for the alarm system for the building/occupancy.
   (V)   SUPERVISING STATION - An approved facility that monitors the signals transmitted from a protected premises fire alarm system, at which trained personnel are in constant attendance to take the appropriate action in response to those signals.
(Ord. 2951)