(A) Fire hydrants. The following requirements shall be met for each new hydrant erected in the town and extra-territorial jurisdiction.
(1) All hydrants must have three ports (outlets): one, 4-1/2 inches in diameter, two, 2-1/2 inches in diameter, all bearing national standard threads (NST). The Town Fire Code Official locations in accordance with the North Carolina Fire Code.
(2) Hydrant outlets shall be placed 18 inches to 24 inches above ground at finished grade.
(3) All hydrants shall have at lateral gate valve within ten inches of hydrant for that hydrant only.
(4) When running the water line to the hydrant, there shall be no dead end laterals off main lines and water lines shall be looped.
(5) All new hydrants that are installed by independent contractors shall be reviewed, inspected and approved by the Fire Code Official before the hydrant is dedicated to the town.
(6) All hydrants that are not in service shall be bagged to visibly identify that the hydrant is “not in service” and shall remain bagged until th hydrant is dedicated and placed in service.
(7) All newly installed fire hydrant locations shall be identified with a blue reflector that will be permanently installed in the center road of travel lane closer to the fire hydrant.
(8) Water lines serving hydrants shall be no smaller than six inches in size.
(9) Water lines servicing hydrants will not be downsized and then upsized.
(10) All hydrants on town water lines shall be painted in accordance with the Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Development Standards Manual.
(11) No hydrant shall be fenced in or barricaded in ay manner so as to impeded access.
(12) No hydrant may be used by any person or organization other tan the town or Fire Department personnel without written permission (permit) from the Utilities Director.
(13) If permission is granted for the use of a fire hydrant, no appliance, hose, or fitting may be left attached to the hydrant. While using the hydrant, an individual must be present at the hydrant and be capable of immediate restoring hydrant to normal operating condition.
(14) Any person granted permission (permit) or the use of a fire hydrant shall produce an “approved” fire hydrant wrench at time of permit issuance to be verified by the Fire Code Official as to its approved type. Pipe wrenches shall not be considered of “approved” type.
(15) Any fire hydrants required to meet needed fire-flow requirements shall be installed prior to any building construction on al commercial projects.
(B) Fire protection systems. The following requirements shall be met for each new or retrofit of an existing fire protection system erected in the town and the extra-territorial jurisdiction.
(1) Any fire protection system that is subject to regulation by the Fire Code shall conform to all applicable standards, guidelines and requirements to include but not limited to the North Carolina Fire Code, National Fire Protection Association, and specific manufacturers specifications.
(2) Where a fire sprinkler system is required in accordance with Chapter 9 of the North Carolina Fire Code a fire department connection (FDC) shall be located within 150 feet of a fire hydrant. In addition, signage and design for a fire department connection (FDC) shall conform to the technical specifications within Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Standards Manual.
(3) Where a fire alarm system is required in accordance with Chapter 9 of the North Carolina Fire Code all commercial locations with a fire alarm system shall have a legend and operating instructions posted a the annunciator panel.
(4) Where a smoke control system is required in accordance with Chapter 9 of the North Carolina Fire Code all commercial locations with a duct detector(s) shall automatically shutdown via global shutdown to prevent and reduce the spread of super heated gases and smoke within a commercial building. In addition to having a manual key operated reset station within access to Fire Department personnel within a maximum height of six feet from floor service. Where a fire alarm system is provided all duct detectors shall be monitored by the fire alarm systems and activate a general fire alarm mode upon smoke detection system activation.
(5) Where a fire sprinkler system is required in accordance with Chapter 9 of the North Carolina Fire Code a yard post indicator valve (PIV) shall be required and meet the specifications within the Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Development Standards Manual. In addition to a breakaway padlock installed as a locking mechanism to prevent tampering.
(C) Fire Department connections (FDC). The following requirements shall be met for each new Fire Department connection erected in the town and extra-territorial jurisdiction:
(1) Minimum size pipe shall be four-inch diameter.
(2) All Fire Department inlet pumper connections shall have at least one, 2-1/2-inch female siamese-swivel connection with national standard threads and protective two and one-half locking Knox plugs with swivel-guard.
(3) The Fire Department connections at buildings provided with more than two standpipe risers shall have one 2-1/2-inch female siamese-swivel connection with national standard threads, for each additional standpipe riser.
(4) Fire Department connection on residential structures with residential sprinkler systems shall have on single two and one-half-inch national standard threads swivel connection.
(5) All Fire Department connections shall be located not less than 18 inches, nor more than five feet above finished grade.
(6) All Fire Department connections shall be provided a clear shape of ten feet horizontally and vertically in all directions.
(7) All Fire Department connections shall be readily visible and not more tan 50 feet from a street, fire lane or similar area providing access to Fire Department apparatus. The area between the connection and vehicular access shall be free of obstructions.
(8) There shall be an approved pumper fire hydrant within 150 feet of the Fire Department connection measured along an approved path of travel for the fire apparatus.
(9) A Fire Department connection (FDC) sign shall be in accordance with the Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Development Standards Manual.
(D) Fire lanes/emergency vehicle lanes.
(1) Fire lanes shall be designated at all locations within the authority and jurisdiction of the town in accordance with the North Carolina Fire Code and as approved by the Fire Code Official.
(2) Fire lanes installed shall conform to the requirements of the North Carolina Fire Code and shall approved by the Fire Code Official prior to installation.
(3) Fire lanes shall be installed in accordance with the specifications within the Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Developer Standards Manual.
(E) Signs and marking. Existing fire lanes shall continue in effect as installed until such time as they are in need of re-stripping due to wear or re-paving. When re-striped, existing fire lanes shall be installed to current specifications within Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Development Standards Manual.
(F) Knox box program.
(1) A Knox box(s) shall be required when a commercial occupancy meets one of the following items below. the intent is for commercial occupancies within the town and the extra-territorial jurisdiction to provide a means of immediate access necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes.
(a) Where fire protection systems are present to include but not limited to fire sprinklers, hood systems, fire alarms, fire pumps and duct detectors.
(b) Exception, where a shopping plaza is involved a single Knox box model 4100 series can be used to serve the plaza in its entirety where units don’t exceed 24 units when 24 units are exceed a model 4400 series will be required.
(2) Existing commercial buildings shall be required to install a Knox box at the request of the Fire Code Official when on of the following situations occur.
(a) An addition, remodel, or upfit to the structure where fire protection systems are required to include but not limited to fire sprinklers, hood systems, fire alarms, for pumps, and duct detectors.
(b) Exception, where a shopping plaza is involved a single Knox box model 4100 series can be used to serve the plaza in its entirety where units don’t exceed 24 units, when 24 units are exceed a model 4400 model series will be required.
(3) Knox box order forms are available and issued out by the Fire Code Official.
(4) Additional sets of access keys will be required if building consist of multiple stories (Example: two stories, two sets; three stories, three sets; etc.).
(5) Master key(s) to the building must be kept updated and the Fire Code Official shall be notified when locks are changed out and provided with updated keys to be stored within the Knox box on site for that occupancy type.
(G) Electrical power shutdown box program.
(1) (a) A Knox Electrical Power Shutdown box shall be required on all new commercial construction types listed below. the intent is for commercial occupancies within the town an the extra-territorial jurisdiction to provide a means immediate shutdown by emergency responders during an emergency to remove electrical shock hazards and possible fuel sources related to electricity to reduce risks and control utilities for fire-fighting purposes.
(b) Only applies to the following occupancy types: large assembly, factory industrial, educational, high-hazard, institutional and residential group R-1 hotels and motels. these occupancy types indicate an increased life safety or additional hazard(s) to emergency responders.
(2) (a) Existing commercial buildings listing in division (G)(1) above shall be required to install an Electrical Power Shutdown box at the request of the Fire Code Official when one of the following situations occur.
(b) When a change in operation, use, upfit, addition that creates the following occupancy, types: large assembly, factory industrial, educational, high-hazard, institutional, and residential group R-1 hotels and motels. These occupancy types indicate an increased life safety or additional hazard(s) to emergency responders.
(H) Data storage box program.
(1) A data storage box shall contain current information to assist the Fire Department and hazardous materials teams responding to emergencies at the facility including but not limited to, facility maps or plans showing the type, quantities, container material, and locations of hazardous materials, Tier II forms, lists of chemicals with CAS numbers, telephone numbers for facility employees and other person to be contracted in case of such emergencies.
(2) All information requested shall be provided in the forms provided by the Fire Code Official, or in a substantially similar format, and must be placed in the date storage box. Such information must be updated continuously to ensure its accuracy.
(3) The date storage box itself shall be Knox box model 1100 type. Knox box order forms are available and issued out by the Fire Code Official.
(4) This shall only apply to occupancy types of a factory industrial classification according to the North Carolina Building Code: Fire Prevention Code.
(5) A data storage box shall be required on all new commercial factory industrial buildings and contain all required information.
(6) A data storage box shall be required on all existing commercial factory industrial buildings within 12 months following adoption of this chapter and pending written notification delivered in person as well as certified mail to inform the operator of the program and the intent related to hazardous material mitigation following an incident.
(I) Fire Prevention Development Specification Manual Program.
(1) The Town of Shallotte Fire Prevention Development Standards Manual utilizes the North Carolina Building Code as the basis for application of standards within.
(2) All references within the Manual include the current North Carolina Building Codes with North Carolina Building Code Council Amendments as periodically revised and adopted by the State of North Carolina.
(3) These are minimum fire prevention standards only and are not to be construed as complying with the other regulations of other departments of the town.
(4) The omission of any code requirements not listed within the development manual does not excuse the requirement.
(5) The development manual should be updated and reflect changes when significant changes occur within the North Carolina State Fire Code.
(Ord. 10-11, passed 7-6-2011; Ord. 14-17, passed 12-2-2014)