The following sections of the 2015 International Fire Code shall be amended and written as follows:
CHAPTER 1 Scope and Administration
Section 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Sunland Park, hereinafter referred to as "this code."
Section 101.2 Scope. This section of the IFC shall not apply. 10.25.5.2 NMAC defines the scope of this rule and states as follows:
10.25.5.2 SCOPE:
A. This rule applies to structures, processes, premises and safeguards regarding:
(1) the hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices;
(2) conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises;
(3) fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy or operation;
(4) matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire protection systems; and
(5) conditions affecting the safety of firefighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.
B. This rule does not apply to detached, one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses not more than three stories above the grade plan in height with a separate means of egress and their accessory structures not more than three stories above grade in height built to the New Mexico Residential Building Code.
C. Other agencies have adopted rules that may apply and that are not affected by these rules.
(1) CID has adopted rules for housing and construction that include provisions on fire prevention in Title 14, Chapters 5 through 10 NMAC.
(2) The environmental improvement board has adopted rules for aboveground and underground storage tanks containing petroleum or hazardous substances and rules governing hazardous waste administered by the environment department in Title 20, Chapter 5 NMAC.
(3) The board of licensure for professional engineers and surveyors has adopted rules for the design of fire protection and alarm systems in Title 16, Chapter 39 NMAC.
D. AHJs [authorities having jurisdiction] may adopt fire protection requirements that are more stringent or comprehensive than 10.25.5 NMAC, as long as the requirements do not conflict with these rules.
Section 101.2.1 Appendices. The provisions in appendices B, C, D, I, and K shall apply as specifically adopted in the Ordinance.
Section 104.6 Official Records. The fire code official shall keep official records as required by Sections 104.6.1 through 104.6.4. Such records shall be retained in accordance with the record retention requirements established by the City of Sunland Park and the State of New Mexico in NMSA 1978 Sections 14-2-1 through 14-2-12; the provisions of the Inspections of Public Records Act shall control.
Section 104.10.1 Assistance from other agencies. The Fire Code Official will work in conjunction with Sunland Park Police CID, State Fire Marshal Investigations, and other enforcement agencies in the investigation of fires and/or explosions when requested to do so.
104.11.2 Obstructing Operations. No person shall obstruct the operations of the fire department in connection with the extinguishment or control of any fire, or actions relative to other emergencies, non-emergency incidents, or training, or disobey any lawful command of the fire chief or officer of the fire department in charge, or any part thereof, or any lawful order of a police officer assisting the fire department.
Section 105.1 General. Permits required by the fire code official shall be in accordance with Section 105.
Exception: Permits that are issued by the Sunland Park Fire Department and the City of Sunland Park Community Economic Development Department (CED) in accordance with City Ordinances and the 2015 International Building Code (IBC).
Section 105.2.4 Action on Application. The fire code official shall examine or cause to be examined applications for permits and amendments thereto within 14 days after filing. If the application or the construction documents do not conform to the requirements of pertinent laws, the fire code official shall reject such application in writing, stating the reason therefor. If the fire code official is satisfied that the proposed work or operation conforms to the requirements of this code and laws and ordinances applicable thereto, the fire code official shall issue a permit therefor as soon as practical.
Section 105.3 Conditions of a Permit. Such permission, if granted in Section 105.1.2.2., shall not be construed as authority to violate, cancel, or set aside any other provisions of this code or other applicable regulations or laws of the jurisdiction.
Section 105.4 Construction Documents. Construction documents shall be in accordance with this section and the requirements set forth by the City of Sunland Park and the State of New Mexico
(a) Two sets of construction documents shall be submitted
(b) All construction documents shall be submitted with the applicant's certificate of fitness, permit application, and permit number or building official unique identifier and shall comply with the approval process provided in 10.25.5.16 NMAC
Section 105.6 Required Operational Permits. The fire code official is authorized to issue operational permits for the operations set forth in Sections 105.6.1 through 105.6.48. The fire code official will establish requirements for permit issuance and associated permit costs relating to fire protection.
Section 105.7 Required Construction Permits. The fire code official is authorized to issue construction permits for work as set forth in Sections 105.7.1 through 105.7.14. Such permits shall be processed through the Sunland Park Community Economic Development Department (CED) and shall be in conformance with the requirements established by this code and the Community Economic Development Department.
Section 105.7.1.1 Design Safety Margin. Shall be added as follows
Unless otherwise approved by the fire code official, all automatic sprinkler systems shall be designed with a minimum 10 psi safety margin.
Section 105.7.1.2 Hydraulic Calculations Required. Shall be added as follows When required by the fire code official, hydraulic calculations shall be provided for modification to an existing automatic fire-extinguishing system requiring the installation of additional heads with either of the following occur:
1. Number of heads being added exceeds 10.
2. Number of heads being added is greater than 10 percent of the total heads for the system.
The fire code official may require hydraulic calculations be submitted for any modifications to an existing system when deemed necessary to adequately evaluate the impact on the system.
Section 105.7.18 Temporary Membrane Structures, Tents and Canopies. A construction permit is required to erect an air-supported temporary membrane structure having an area in excess of 400 square feet.
Section 107.6 Overcrowding. Overcrowding or admittance of any person beyond the approved capacity of a building or portion thereof shall not be allowed. The fire code official, upon finding overcrowding conditions or obstructions in aisles, passageways, or other means of egress, or upon finding any condition that constitutes a life safety hazard, shall be authorized to immediately cause the event to be stopped until such conditions or obstructions is corrected. The following shall apply:
(a) Definition of Offender: Unless otherwise stated, the "offender" shall apply to each and all responsible parties, including, but not limited to, any owner, whether sole proprietor, partnership or corporation, manager, agent, employee or sponsoring agency of any kind.
(b) Fire code official to establish applicable minimum penalties for overcapacity in accordance with Federal, State, and local laws and that forbid the overcrowding or admittance of any person beyond the approved capacity of any place of public assemblance which creates a hazardous condition or is a serious menace to life.
Section 109.4 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under the provision of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Punishable by a fine of not more than 500.00 dollars or by imprisonment not to exceed 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
Section 110.1 Unsafe Buildings General. If within the City of Sunland Park during an inspection of a premises, a building or structure, or any building system, in whole or in part, constitutes a clear and inimical threat to human life, safety or health, the fire code official shall immediately issue such notice or orders to remove or remedy the conditions as shall be deemed necessary in accordance with this section, and shall refer the building to the Sunland Park Codes Officer and Building Official for any repairs, alterations, remodeling, removing, or demolition required.
Section 111.4 Failure to Comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be considered to be in violation of this code and shall be subjected to the penalties as set forth in section 109.4.
Section 112.1 Authority to Disconnect Service Utilities. The fire code official shall have the authority to authorize the disconnection of utility service to the building, structure, or system in order to eliminate the immediate hazard. The fire code official shall notify the serving utility and, where possible, the owner or the owner's authorized agent and the occupant of the building, structure, or service system of the decision to disconnect prior to taking action. If not notified prior to the disconnection, then those previously mentioned shall be notified in writing as soon as practical thereafter. Once service has been disconnected to a building, structure, or system it is the utilities responsibility to reconnect service, not that of the Sunland Park Fire Department.
CHAPTER 2 Definitions
Section 202 General Definitions. Shall be added as follows
Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ): An organization, office, or individual responsible for enforcing the requirements of a code or standard, or for approving equipment, materials, an installation, or a procedure. For the purpose of this code, the Fire Chief is the Authority Having Jurisdiction in the City of Sunland Park, New Mexico
Jurisdiction. This code shall be applicable to all property within the corporate limits of the City of Sunland Park, New Mexico.
Section 202 General Definitions. "Record Drawings" means "as builts" that document the location of all appurtenances of fire protection systems.
CHAPTER 3 General Requirements
Section 301.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the occupancy and maintenance of all structures and premises for precautions against fire and the spread of fire and general requirements for fire safety. The provisions of this chapter apply as mandated by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction
Section 301.2 Permits. Permits shall only apply to the extent mandated by the Authority Having Jurisdiction for activities and uses regulated by Sections 307, 308, and 315.
Section 304.1.2 Vegetation. Weeds, grass, vines, or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property, shall be cut down and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises. Vegetation clearance requirements in urban-wildland interface areas shall be in accordance with the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code. This section will apply to the extent mandated by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
Section 307.1 Open Burning, Recreational Fires, and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces General. A person shall not kindle or maintain or authorize to be kindled or maintained any open burning unless conducted and approved in accordance with Sections 307.1.1 through 307.5. This section of the International Fire Code applies only to the extent mandated by the local Authority Having Jurisdiction. The Sunland Park Fire Department requires issuance of a burn permit from the location of the prospective burn prior to allowing open burning to occur. Failure to obtain a burn permit prior to burning is consistent with illegal burning and subject to citation.
Section 307.1.1 Prohibited Open Burning. Open burning shall be prohibited when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. The fire official is required to verify with Central Dispatch or the National Weather Service that the conditions are not disallowed prior to issuance of a permit.
Section 307.1.2 Prohibited Materials. Shall be added as follows in accordance with 20.2.60.110 NMAC
The burning of the following materials is prohibited:
(a) Natural or synthetic rubber products, including tires;
(b) Waste oil or used oil filters;
(c) Insulated wire or copper wiring;
(d) Plastic, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe, tubing, and connectors
(e) Tar, asphalt, asphalt shingles, or tar paper;
(f) Railroad ties;
(g) Wood, wood waste, or lumber which has been painted or which has been treated with preservatives containing arsenic, chromium, pentachlorophenol, or creosote;
(h) Batteries;
(i) Motor vehicle bodies or interiors;
(j) Pathogenic wastes
(k) Asbestos or asbestos containing materials
Section 307.2 Permit Required. A permit shall be obtained from the fire official in accordance with Section 105.6 prior to kindling a fire. This permit will be issued within the district the burn is being requested at. Application for such approval shall only be presented by and permit issued to the owner of the land to which the fire is to be kindled. Fire personnel are required to complete a site visit to issue the permit to allow for visual observation of compliance with permit requirements.
Section 307.2.1 Authorization. Where required by state or local law or regulations, open burning shall only be permitted with prior approval from the state or local air and water quality management authority, provided that all conditions specified in the authorization are followed. Verification by fire personnel that the conditions allow open burning to proceed qualify as authorization in accordance with permitting procedure.
Section 307.3 Extinguishing Authority. When open burning creates or adds to a hazardous situation, or a required permit for open burning has not been obtained, the fire code official or fire official is authorized to immediately order the extinguishment of the open burning operation.
Section 308.3 Group A Occupancies Exception #2. Heat-producing equipment complying with Chapter 6 and the New Mexico Mechanical Code.
Section 313.1.1 Removal. The fire code official is authorized to immediately order the removal of fueled equipment from locations where the presence of such equipment is determined by the fire code official to be hazardous.
Section 315.3.1 Ceiling Clearance. Storage of materials shall be maintained 2 feet (610 mm) or more below the ceiling in non-sprinklered areas of the building or not less than 18 inches (457 mm) below the sprinkler head deflector in sprinklered areas of the buildings. Utilize marking method to ensure compliance with the height requirements.
Section 315.3.3 Equipment Rooms. Combustible materials shall not be stored in boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, electrical equipment rooms, water heater closets, or in the fire command center as specified in Section 508.1.5.
CHAPTER 4 Emergency Planning and Preparedness
Section 401.3 Emergency responder notification. Notification of emergency responders shall be in accordance with Sections 401.3.1 through 401.3.3
Section 401.3.2 Alarm activations. Upon activation of a fire alarm signal, employees or staff shall immediately notify the fire department of each occurrence.
Section 401.3.3 Delayed notification. A person shall not, by verbal or written directive, require any delay in the reporting of a fire to the fire department. This includes fires that occur in facilities which have been extinguished by occupants. The fire department shall still be notified.
Table 405.2 Fire and evacuation drill frequency and participation.
Group-H occupancies shall be included with Group-A occupancies in the table.
Section 405.5 Record keeping. Item number 7 is deleted and replaced with the following language "Problems encountered and corrective actions for the problems encountered."
CHAPTER 5 Fire Service Features
Section 503.3.1 Citations. added to read as follows:
The fire code official shall have the power and authority to issue citations for parking violations in designated fire lanes, obstructed exits, fire escapes, fire hydrants, or for other hazards being created by parking of a motor vehicle.
Section 503.3.1.1 Citation Procedure. added to read as follows:
The suspected violator's signature need not be required on a citation, but only the description of the vehicle, license plate number, date, section of ordinance violated and location. The citation may be placed under the windshield wiper or affixed to the vehicle in a conspicuous place.
Section 503.3.1.1.2 Removal of vehicles. added to read as follows:
Any vehicle stopped or parked within a fire lane established, designated, and marked in accordance with this subsection, or within fifteen feet (15') of a fire hydrant, or parked on a sidewalk so as to obstruct an entrance or exit, may be removed at the expense of the vehicle owner. The person in lawful possession of the property shall keep designated fire lanes free of vehicles and all other obstructions.
Section 505.1 Address identification. added to read as follows: Address identification shall also conform to Title 9 Chapter 2 of the Sunland Park City Code.
Section 507.5.1.1 Fire protection in recreational vehicle, mobile home and manufactured housing parks, sales lots and storage lots. is added to read as follows:
Fire protection in recreational vehicle, mobile home and manufactured housing parks, sales lots and storage lots shall provide and maintain fire hydrants and access roads in accordance with Sections 503 and 507.
Section 507.5.7 Hydrant reflectors. is added to read as follows:
When new hydrants are required, an approved reflective marker shall be installed in fire department access roadways to make hydrants more discernible to approaching apparatus. Placement and location of the markers shall be determined by the fire code official.
CHAPTER 6 Building Services and Systems
Section 603.9 Gas meters. Above-ground gas meters, regulators, and piping subject to damage shall be protected by a barrier complying with Section 312 or otherwise protected in an approved manner as required by the fire code official.
CHAPTER 9 Fire Protection Systems
*Delete the term "International Mechanical Code" where used in this chapter and replace with the term "New Mexico Mechanical Code".
* Delete the term "International Plumbing Code" where used in this chapter and replace with the term "New Mexico Plumbing Code".
Section 902.1 Definitions. Shall have the definition of Standpipe Systems, Classes of Standpipe classes are as follows:
Class I System. A system providing 2.5-inch (64mm) hose connections to supply water for use by fire departments and those trained in handling heavy fire streams.
Class II System. A system providing 1.5-inch (38mm) hose stations to supply water for use primarily by the building occupants or by the fire department during initial response. 1.5-inch hoses and hose cabinets shall not be provided, unless required by the fire code official.
Class III System. A system providing 1.5-inch (38mm) hose stations to supply water for use by building occupants and 2.5-inch (64mm) hose connections to supply a larger volume of water for use by fire departments and those trained in handling heavy fire streams. 1.5-inch hoses and hose cabinets shall not be provided, unless required by the fire code official.
Section 903.4 Exceptions
2. Limited area systems serving fewer than 20 sprinklers in other than Group H and Group I occupancies.
Section 903.4.4 Multi-Story Buildings. added to read as follows:
When required by the fire code official, approved supervised indicating valves shall be provided in multi-story buildings and attached tenant spaces. For the purpose of this section a basement shall be considered a story.
Section 904.12 Commercial Cooking Systems Exception. The exception of the IFC shall not apply. The replacement of commercial cooking equipment, including but not limited to a stove, hood, deep fryer, grill, griddle, or any other device used in the cooking process requires the simultaneous installation of an automatic fire suppression system.
Section 913.4 Valve Supervision.
Where provided the fire pump suction, discharge and bypass valves, and the isolation valves on the backflow prevention device or assembly shall be supervised open by one of the following methods.
1. Central-station, proprietary, or remote-station signaling service.
2. Local signaling service that will cause the sounding of an audible signal at a constantly attended location when approved by the fire code official.
3. Locking valves open.
Number 4 is to be deleted in its entirety.
CHAPTER 10 Means of Egress
Table 1004.1.2 add the following:
“New and existing correctional facilities and detention centers: the occupant load for which the means of egress is calculated by the maximum number of persons intended to occupy the floor or area, shall be no less than 60 square feet of gross floor area per person”.
CHAPTER 11 Construction requirements for existing buildings
Section 1101.2.1 Existing building and structures is added to read as follows:
An owner or contractor is not required to renovate or adapt an existing building or structure to comply with the 2015 International Fire Code but shall comply with the requirements in place when the existing building or structure was constructed.
An existing structure or part of a structure that changes its occupancy classification, however done, must comply with the 2015 International Fire Code.
An existing fire protection system that is replaced, repaired, or altered, whose classification has not changed, shall comply with the 2015 International Fire Code.
Fire protection systems constructed prior to November 15, 200 shall be required to have a permit using the requirements of the 2015 International Fire Code.
Approval of Fire Protection Systems shall refer to 10.25.5.18 NMAC Sections A-H
Code Requirements for Existing Buildings and Structures shall refer to 10.25.5.19 NMAC Sections A-D
CHAPTER 56 Explosives and Fireworks
Section 5601.1.3 Exceptions. Exception 2 shall be deleted in its entirety. If there is any conflict between Chapter 56 of the IFC and the Fireworks Licensing and Safety Act, Sections 60-2C-1 through 60-2C-11 NMSA 1978, the Fireworks Licensing and Safety Act shall control.
NMAC Title 10 Chapter 25 Part 5 (Inclusions) (Ord. 2020-4, 8-18-2020)