(A) Smoke detectors required. Subject to such exceptions and conditions for compliance as stated herein, smoke detectors shall be required in all rental units.
(B) Type and placement of smoke detectors.
(1) Only ionization or photo electric type smoke detectors approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory shall be installed.
(2) Smoke detectors with power sources not directly connected to an AC primary power source may be battery-powered in self-monitored detectors or operated from an electrical outlet which is fitted with a plug restraining device, provided the outlet is not controlled by any switch other than the main power supply; provided further that nothing in this subchapter shall be construed to permit battery-operated smoke detectors when such are otherwise prohibited by the Indiana Building Code, Indiana One and Two Family Dwelling Code, or by state statute.
(3) Smoke detectors shall be placed in accordance with applicable N.F.P.A. (National Fire protection Association) standards for the installation, maintenance, and use of household fire warning equipment. Detectors may be ceiling or wall mounted, provided that if wall mounted they shall be within 12 inches, but not closer than six inches of the ceiling; and provided further that the Chief of the Fire Department, or his/her designee, may approve and authorize, in writing, specific placement of smoke detectors in a rental building upon request of an owner. A copy of such written approval shall be provided to the Rental Housing Officer.
(4) In a dwelling unit which contain(s) a well-defined sleeping room(s) separated from the other activity areas of the same unit, the detector shall be located in the corridor within the unit or interior area giving access to the rooms used for sleeping purposes. In a dwelling unit where a single smoke detector will not adequately service all sleeping areas, there shall be a smoke detector installed adjacent to each sleeping area.
(5) In a rental building which contain(s) a rooming unit(s), there shall be a smoke detector installed in each sleeping room.
(6) In a rental building containing two or more dwelling units or any rooming unit, in addition to the requirements for individual smoke detectors in each dwelling unit or rooming unit, detectors shall be placed in centrally located common areas so that smoke detectors will adequately service all sleeping areas; at a minimum one detector shall be located on each level of a rental building, including basements but excluding crawl spaces and unfinished attics.
(C) Providing, installing and maintaining smoke detectors.
(1) The owner of a rental building shall be responsible for supplying and installing in an operable condition the required smoke detector(s).
(2) The owner of a rental building shall be responsible for maintenance and testing of detectors, in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, which are located in common areas and/or detectors in dwelling units and/or rooming units where the occupancy of any one tenant is for less than one month.
(3) The tenant in any occupancy of one month or more shall be responsible for maintaining and testing the detector(s), in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, the tenancy. The tenant shall be responsible for notifying the owner in writing when a detector(s) become(s) inoperable, where after the owner has ten days in which to repair or replace in operable condition said detector(s). In the battery- operated type of detector, battery replacement shall be the responsibility of the tenant.
(4) At every change of tenancy, where the occupancy of any one tenant is of one month or more, it shall be the duty of the owner to test and ascertain that those detectors contained in the unit are in operable condition, and if not, the owner shall be responsible for placing them in operable condition.
(Ord. 27-92, passed 9-14-92; Am. Ord. 21-2008, passed 12-8-08)