For the purpose of this chapter, certain terms, phrases, words, and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Words used in the singular include the plural, and the plural the singular. Words used in the masculine gender include the feminine, and in the feminine include the masculine.
ACCESSIBLE. (As applied to electrical equipment.) Admitting close approach; not guarded by locked doors, elevation, or other effective means. (See ACCESSIBLE, READILY.)
ACCESSIBLE, READILY (READILY ACCESSIBLE). Capable of being reached quickly for operation, renewal, or inspections, without requiring those to whom ready access is requisite to climb over or remove obstacles or to resort to portable ladders, chairs, and the like. (See ACCESSIBLE.)
ACCESSORY BUILDING. A supplementary building or a portion of a main building, the use of which is incidental to that of the main building and which is located on the same lot as the main building. ACCESSORY BUILDINGS include garages, garden equipment sheds, small greenhouses, swimming pools, and similar structures.
ADDITION. An extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.
AIR CONDITION EQUIPMENT. All of that equipment intended or installed for the purpose of cooling air by mechanical means and discharging such air into any room or space.
ALTER or ALTERATION. Any change, addition, or modification in construction or occupancy.
APARTMENT HOUSE. Any building or portion thereof which contains three or more dwelling units and, for the purpose of this chapter, includes residential condominiums.
APPLIANCE. Utilization equipment, generally other than industrial, normally built in standardized sizes or types, which is installed or connected as a unit to perform one or more functions such as clothes washing, air conditioning, food mixing, deep frying, and the like.
APPROVED. Approval as to materials and types of construction by the Chief Inspector as the result of investigation or tests conducted by him or her, or by reason of accepted principles or tests by recognized authorities or technical or scientific organizations.
BASEMENT. Any floor level below the first story in a building, except that a floor level in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a basement unless such floor level qualifies as a story (first) as defined herein.
BATHROOM. A room equipped with facilities consisting of one or more water closets, lavatories, and either bathtubs or showers.
BRANCH CIRCUIT. The circuit conductors between the final overcurrent device protecting the circuit and the outlets.
BRANCH CIRCUIT, APPLIANCE. A branch circuit supplying energy to one or more outlets to which appliances are to be connected; such circuits to have no permanently connected lighting fixtures not a part of an appliance.
BRANCH CIRCUIT, GENERAL PURPOSE. A branch circuit that supplies a number of outlets for lighting and appliances.
BRANCH CIRCUIT, INDIVIDUAL. A branch circuit that supplies only one utilization equipment.
BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
BUILDING CODE. The Michigan Building Code promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials, as adopted by the city.
CLOSET. A small private room or recess used primarily for storing clothes, linens, and the like.
CONDEMN. To declare that a dwelling structure is unfit for human habitation, use, or occupation. The term may also include an order that the structure shall be vacated.
CONDUCTOR (ELECTRICAL). An approved material used for the transmission of electrical energy.
CONDUIT (ELECTRICAL). An approved material enclosing only air and unspliced electrical conductors.
CROSS-CONNECTION. Any physical connection or arrangement between two otherwise separate piping systems, one of which contains potable water and the other either water of unknown or questionable safety or steam, gas, or chemical whereby there may be a flow from one system to the other, the direction of flow depending on the pressure differential between the two systems.
DEAD FRONT (ELECTRICAL). Without live parts exposed to a person on the operating side of the equipment.
DEVICE (ELECTRICAL). A unit of an electrical system which is intended to carry but not utilize electric energy.
DORMITORY. A room occupied by more than two guests.
DWELLING. Any building or portion thereof which contains not more than two dwelling units.
DWELLING UNIT. Any building or portion thereof which contains living facilities, including provisions for sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation, as required by this chapter, for not more than one family.
EFFICIENCY DWELLING UNIT. A dwelling unit containing only one habitable room.
ELECTRICAL CODE. The National Electrical Code promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association, as adopted by the city.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Every supplied piece of electrical equipment, including, but not limited to, services, permanently connected electrical appliances, conductors, boxes, fittings, conduit, receptacles, switches, devices, cover plates, and fixtures shall be installed in accordance with the Electrical Code of the city and shall be maintained in a safe, satisfactory working condition, free of hazards, and adequate to carry the loads required.
EXIT. A place or means of going out.
EXTERMINATION. The control and elimination of insects, rodents, or other pests by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping, or by any other recognized and legal pest elimination methods approved by the local or state authority having such administrative authority.
FIRE CODE. The Uniform Fire Code promulgated jointly by the Western Fire Chiefs Association and the International Conference of Building Officials, as adopted by the city.
FIRE-RESISTIVE CONSTRUCTION. Construction complying with the requirements of the Building Code for the time period specified.
FLOOR AREA. The area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts and courts. The FLOOR AREA of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above.
GROUND. A conducting connection, whether intentional or accidental, between an electrical circuit or equipment and the earth, or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.
GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT-INTERRUPTER. A device intended for the protection of personnel that functions to de-energize a circuit or portion thereof within an established period of time when a current to ground exceeds some predetermined value that is less than that required to operate the overcurrent protective device of the supply circuit.
GROUND-FAULT PROTECTION OF EQUIPMENT. A system intended to provide protection of equipment from damaging line-to-ground fault currents by operating to cause a disconnecting means to open all ungrounded conductors of the faulted circuit. This protection is provided at current levels less than those required to protect conductors from damage through the operation of a supply circuit overcurrent device.
GROUNDED. Connected to earth or to some conducting body that serves in place of the earth.
GUEST. Any person hiring or occupying a room for living or sleeping purposes. A GUEST shall be considered an occupant upon the expiration of 30 consecutive days of such occupancy.
GUEST ROOM. Any room or rooms used or intended to be used by a guest for sleeping purposes. Every 100 square feet of superficial floor area in a dormitory shall be considered a GUEST ROOM.
HABITABLE SPACE (ROOM). Space in a structure for living, sleeping, eating, or cooking. Bathrooms, toilet compartments, closets, halls, storage or utility space, and similar areas are not considered HABITABLE SPACE.
HEATING EQUIPMENT. Includes all warm-air furnaces, warm-air heaters, combustion products vents, heating air-distribution ducts and fans, all steam and hot-water piping together with all control devices and accessories installed as part of, or in connection with, any environmental heating system or appliance regulated by the Mechanical Code.
HEATING SYSTEM. A warm-air heating plant consisting of a heat exchanger enclosed in a casing, from which the heated air is distributed through ducts to various rooms and areas. A HEATING SYSTEM includes the circulating-air and conditioned-air supply and all accessory apparatus and equipment installed in connection therewith.
HOT WATER. Water at a temperature greater than or equal to 110°F.
HOTEL. Any building containing six or more guest rooms intended or designed to be used, or which are used, rented, or hired out to be occupied, or which are occupied for sleeping purposes by guests.
INSPECTOR. The official also known as Chief Inspector who has been assigned the duty of enforcing this chapter, and all deputies and assistants of said official designated by him or her to enforce this chapter.
LODGING HOUSE. Any building or portion thereof containing not more than five guest rooms where rent is paid in money, goods, labor, or otherwise.
MECHANICAL CODE. The Michigan Mechanical Code as adopted by the state and the city.
MOTEL. A building or a group of buildings in which overnight lodging is provided and offered to the public for compensation and catering primarily to the public traveling by motor vehicles.
MULTIPLE DWELLING. Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
OCCUPANCY. The purpose for which a building, or part thereof, is used or intended to be used.
OCCUPANT. Any person, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in, or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or rooming unit, except that in dwelling units a guest will not be considered an OCCUPANT.
OPERATOR. Any person who has charge, care, control, or management of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
OUTLET. A point on the electrical wiring system at which current is taken to supply utilization equipment.
OVERCURRENT. Any electrical current in excess of the rated current of equipment or the amperage of a conductor.
OWNER. Every person who is listed on the records in the office of the City Assessor or Register of Deeds Office for Saginaw County as owning an interest in a parcel of property on which any dwelling or dwelling unit is located.
PERMIT. An official document or certificate issued by the Building Official authorizing performance of a specified activity.
PERSON. A natural person, his or her heirs, executor, administrator, agents, or assigns, and also includes a firm, partnership, or corporation, its or their successors or assigns, or the agent of any of the aforesaid.
PLUMBING. The practice, materials, and fixtures used in the installation, maintenance, extension, and alteration of all piping, fixtures, plumbing appliances, and plumbing appurtenances in connection with sanitary drainage or storm drainage facilities; venting system and public or private water supply systems; within or adjacent to any building or structure. Not included in this definition are installations of gas piping; chilled water piping in connection with refrigeration, process, and comfort cooling; hot water piping in connection with building heating; and piping for fire sprinklers and standpipes.
PLUMBING APPLIANCE. Any one of a special class of plumbing fixtures which is intended to perform a special function. Its operation or control may be dependent upon one or more energized components, such as motors, controls, heating elements, or pressure or temperature sensing elements. Such fixtures may be manually adjusted or controlled by the user or operator, or may operate automatically through one or more of the following actions: a time cycle; a temperature range; or a pressure range, a measured volume or weight.
PLUMBING APPURTENANCE. A manufactured device or prefabricated assembly of component parts which is an adjunct to the basic piping system and plumbing fixtures. An appurtenance does not demand additional water supply, nor does it add any discharge load to a fixture or the drainage system. It is presumed that it performs some useful function in the operation, maintenance, servicing, economy, or safety of the plumbing system.
PLUMBING FIXTURE. A receptacle or device which is either permanently or temporarily connected to the water distribution system of the premises, and demands a supply of water therefrom; or discharges used water, waste materials, or sewage either directly or indirectly to the drainage system of the premises; or requires both water supply connection and a discharge to the drainage system of the premises. Plumbing appliances as a special class of fixture are further defined.
PLUMBING SYSTEM. Includes the water supply and distribution pipes; plumbing fixtures, and traps; soil, waste, and vent pipes; and sanitary and storm sewers and building drains; including their respective connections, devices, and appurtenances within a building or premises.
PORTABLE HEATING APPLIANCE (PORTABLE HEATING EQUIPMENT). A heating appliance designed for environmental heating which may have a self-contained fuel supply and is not secured or attached to a building other than by fuel piping or electrical wiring.
RECEPTACLE (ELECTRICAL). A contact device installed at the outlet for the connection of a single attachment plug.
REPAIR. The reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance.
ROOMING HOUSE. Any dwelling, or that part of any dwelling, containing one or more rooming units, in which space is let by the owner to three or more persons who are not husband or wife, son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter, mother or father, or sister or brother of the owner or operator.
ROOMING UNIT. Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking or eating purposes.
RUBBISH. Nonputrescible solid wastes (excluding ashes) consisting of either:
(1) Combustible wastes such as paper, cardboard, plastic containers, yard clippings, and wood; or
(2) Noncombustible wastes such as tin cans, glass, and crockery.
SERVICE. The conductors and equipment for delivering energy from the electricity supply system to the wiring system of the premises served.
SERVICE EQUIPMENT. The necessary electrical equipment, usually consisting of a circuit breaker or switch and fuses, and their accessories, located near the point of entrance of supply conductors to a building or other structure, or an otherwise defined area, and intended to constitute the main control and means of cutoff of the supply.
SHALL. As used in this chapter, is mandatory.
SMOKE DETECTOR. An approved detector which senses visible or invisible particles of combustion. The DETECTOR shall bear a label or other identification issued by an approved testing agency having a service for inspection of materials and workmanship at the factory during fabrication and assembly.
STORY. The portion of a building included between the upper surface of any floor and the upper surface of the floor next above, except that the topmost STORY shall be that portion of a building included between the upper surface of the topmost floor and the ceiling or roof above. If the finished floor level directly above a usable or unused under-floor space is more than six feet above grade as defined herein for more than 50% of the total perimeter or is more than 12 feet above grade as defined herein at any point, such usable or unused under-floor space shall be considered a STORY.
STORY (FIRST). The lowest story in a building which qualifies as a story, as defined herein, except that a floor level in a building having only one floor level shall be classified as a FIRST STORY, provided such floor level is not more than four feet below grade, as defined herein, for more than 50% of the total perimeter, or not more than eight feet below grade, as defined herein, at any point.
STRUCTURE. That which is built or constructed, an edifice or building of any kind, or any piece of work artificially built up or composed of parts joined together in some definite manner.
SUPPLIED. Paid for, furnished, or provided by or under the control of the owner, operator, or agent.
SWITCH. An approved electrical device, other than circuit breakers and fuses, manually used to interrupt electrical current.
UBC STANDARDS. The Uniform Building Code Standards promulgated by the International Conference of Building Officials, as adopted by the city.
VENT (MECHANICAL). A listed factory-made vent pipe and vent fittings for conveying flue gases to the outside atmosphere.
VENTING SYSTEM (MECHANICAL). The vent or chimney and its connectors assembled to form a continuous open passageway from an appliance to the outside atmosphere for the purpose of removing products of combustion. This definition also shall include the venting assembly which is an integral part of an appliance.
WATER CLOSET. An approved plumbing fixture designed, installed, and used, or intended to be used, for the deposit and disposition of human wastes.
WATER CLOSET COMPARTMENT. Any room containing a water closet.
WATER HEATER. Any heating device that heats potable water and supplies it to the potable hot water distribution system.
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM. The water service pipe, water distributing pipes, and necessary connecting pipes, fittings, control valves, and all appurtenances in or adjacent to the building or premises.
(Prior Code, § 151.003) (Ord. D-1595, passed 7-31-1989, effective 9-1-1989; Ord. D-1884, passed 2-19-2001, effective 3-1-2001; Ord. D-1911, passed 1-28-2002, effective 2-7-2002)