(A) The entire private fire protection service on a customer's premises shall be subject to inspection and testing by the utility at such times as it is deemed necessary by the utility or other authority having legal interest in such private systems.
(B) Before any modifications are made to any private fire protection system or before service is furnished to any new private fire protection system connected to or proposed to be connected to and supplied with water from the utility's distribution mains, the owner of the private fire protection system or the owner's contractor shall provide certification in accordance with this chapter to the utility, that the system has been disinfected, and final plans of such fire protection system shall be filed with and approved by the utility and the Fire Department. The following shall be shown on the final plans:
(1) The number of sprinkler heads to be served;
(2) The sizes and location of the system's piping;
(3) The sizes and locations of all connections to the utility's distribution mains;
(4) The sizes, locations of all those connections, reels and/or cabinets;
(5) The sizes and locations of storage tanks connected to the fire system;
(6) The outlet sizes and locations of all fire hydrants;
(7) The sizes, locations and types of all valves.
(C) All fire protection lines within buildings must be installed in such manner that all pipes will be easily accessible for inspection at any time. Underground pipes outside of buildings must be placed and be maintained at a minimum depth of four and one-half feet.
(D) No connection with a fire protection system will be permitted to supply water for general purposes unless the connection has been approved by the customer's fire underwriter and unless the general-purpose water is metered. If such a connection is approved, both the fire protection line and the general-purpose line shall be separately valved outside the building to be served and proper cross-connection devices provided, all in accordance with the utility's specifications, thus permitting either line to be turned on or off without affecting the other.
(E) A private fire protection system without a tank shall be equipped with an alarm valve and an approved cross-connection backflow protection device, to be located on the main service pipe(s) supplying fire protection to the property. All valving installed as part of the fire system shall protect the utility's distribution from water "hammer" damage.
(F) An unmetered private fire service is furnished for the sole purpose of supplying water for the extinguishment of accidental fires, and the use of water from such a service connection for any other purpose is absolutely forbidden.
(G) Hydrants and other fixtures connected to a private fire service connection may be sealed by the utility, and such seal shall be broken only in case of fire or as specifically permitted by the utility; the customer must immediately notify the utility when any such seal is then broken for any purpose.
(H) When a service tap on a utility distribution main provides water for both fire and general purposes to a customer or customers, separate charges will be made for each purpose to each customer by the utility in accordance with the established rules and schedule of rates.
(I) A private fire service, at the option of the customer and after approval by customer's fire underwriter, may be connected to the metered water service. The monthly charges for such combined fire and general-purpose uses will be as set out in the established scheduled rates. Any additional investment costs incurred by the utility in such metering must be paid by the customer; maintenance of such meter will be at the water utility's expense.
(J) Whenever a private fire system is to be tested under the regulations of the fire service underwriters, the customer shall notify the utility of such proposed testing, naming the day and the hour of the testing, so that the water utility may have a representative present.
(Ord. 19-01, passed 4-9-19) Penalty, see § 52.999