(A) Inspection, testing and maintenance. Fire detection, alarm and extinguishing systems, mechanical smoke exhaust systems, and smoke and heat vents shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, and shall be replaced or repaired where defective in accordance with the Ohio Fire Code.
(1) Installation. Fire protection systems shall be maintained in accordance with the original installation standards for that system. Required systems shall be extended, altered or augmented as necessary to maintain and continue protection where the building is altered or enlarged. Alterations to fire protection systems shall be done in accordance with applicable standards.
(2) Required fire protection systems. Fire protection systems required by this code, the Ohio Fire Code or the Ohio Building Code shall be installed, repaired, operated, tested and maintained in accordance with this code. A fire protection system for which a design option, exception or reduction to the provisions of this code, the Ohio Fire Code or the Ohio Building Code has been granted shall be considered to be a required system.
(3) Fire protection systems. Fire protection systems shall be inspected, maintained and tested in accordance with the following Ohio Fire Code requirements:
(a) Automatic sprinkler systems, see Section 903.5;
(b) Automatic fire-extinguishing systems protecting commercial cooking systems. See Section 904.12.5;
(c) Automatic water mist extinguishing systems, see Section 904.11;
(d) Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems, see Section 904.8;
(f) Carbon monoxide alarms and carbon monoxide detection systems, see Section 915.6;
(g) Clean-agent extinguishing systems, see Section 904.10;
(h) Dry-chemical extinguishing systems, see Section 904.6;
(i) Fire alarm and fire detection systems, see Section 907.8;
(j) Fire department connections, see Sections 912.4 and 912.7;
(k) Fire pumps, see Section 913.5;
(l) Foam extinguishing systems, see Section 904.7;
(m) Halon extinguishing systems, see Section 904.9;
(n) Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms, see Section 907.10;
(o) Smoke and heat vents and mechanical smoke removal systems, see Section 910.5;
(p) Smoke control systems, see Section 909.20;
(q) Wet-chemical extinguishing systems, see Section 904.5.
(B) Standards. Fire protection systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the referenced standards listed in Table 158.44(B) and as required in this section.
Table 158.44(B)
Standard Protection System Maintenance Standards
System | Standard |
System | Standard |
Portable fire extinguishers | NFPA 10 |
Carbon-dioxide fire-extinguishing systems | NFPA 12 |
Halon 1301 fire-extinguishing systems | NFPA 12A |
Dry-chemical extinguishing systems | NFPA 17 |
Wet-chemical extinguishing systems | NFPA 17A |
Water-based fire protection systems | NFPA 25 |
Fire alarm systems | NFPA 72 |
Smoke and heat vents | NFPA 204 |
Water-mist systems | NFPA 750 |
Clean-agent extinguishing systems | NFPA 2001 |
(1) Records. Records shall be maintained of all systems inspections, tests, and maintenance required by the referenced standards.
(2) Records information. Initial shall include the: name of the installation contractor; type of components installed; manufacture of components; location and number of components installed per floor; and manufactures' operation and maintenance for the life of the installation.
(C) Systems out of service. Where a required protection system is out of service, the Fire Department, Fire Code Official or his or her designee shall be notified immediately and, where required by the Fire Code Official, either the building shall be evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been returned to service. Where the Fire Code Official orders the building evacuated, the Chief Code Enforcement Officer shall placard the building condemned until such time as the protection system has been placed back into service and approved by the Fire Code Official. Where utilized, fire watches shall be provided with not less than one approved means for notification of the Fire Department and shall not have duties beyond performing constant patrols of the protected premises and keeping watch for fires. Actions shall be taken in accordance with Section 901 of the Ohio Fire Code to bring the system back into service.
(1) Emergency impairments. When unplanned impairments of fire protection systems occur, appropriate emergency action plan shall be taken to minimize potential injury and damage. The impairment coordinator shall implement the steps outlined in Section 901.7.4 of the Ohio Fire Code.
(D) Removal of or tampering with equipment. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant, fire detection and alarm system, fire suppression system or other fire appliance required by this code except for the purposes of extinguishing fire, training, recharging, or making necessary repairs. Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and charge so under R.C. §2909.07(A)(4). Should a violation of this section create a risk of physical harm to any person, the charge shall be upgraded to a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(1) Removal of or tampering with appurtenances. Locks, gates, doors, barricades, chains enclosures, signs, tags and seals that have been installed by or at the direction of the Fire Code Official or his or her designee shall not be removed, unlocked, destroyed or tampered within any manner. Whoever violates this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree and charge so under R.C. §2909.07(A)(4). Should a violation of this section create a risk of physical harm to any person, the charge shall be upgraded to a misdemeanor of the first degree.
(2) Removal of existing occupant-use hose lines. The Fire Code Official or his or her designee is authorized to permit the removal of existing occupant-use hose lines where all of the following apply:
(a) The installation is not required by the Ohio Fire Code or the Ohio Building Code;
(b) The hose line would not be utilized by trained personnel or the Fire Department; and
(c) The remaining outlets are compatible with local Fire Department fittings.
(3) Termination of monitoring service. For fire alarm systems required to be monitored by the Ohio Fire Code, notice shall be made to the Fire Code Official or his or her designee whenever alarm monitoring services are terminated. Notice shall be made in writing by the provider of the monitoring service being terminated.
(E) Fire Department connection. Where the Fire Department connection is not visible to approaching fire apparatus, the Fire Department connection shall be indicated by an approved sign mounted on the street front or on the side of the building. Such sign shall have the letters "FDC" not less than six inches (152 mm) and the words in letters not less than two inches (51 mm) high or an arrow to indicate the location. Such signs shall be subject to the approval of the Fire Code Official.
(1) Fire Department connection access. Ready access to Fire Department connection shall be maintained at all times and without obstruction by fences, bushes, trees, walls or any other fixed or movable object. Access to Fire Department connections shall be approved by the Fire Code Chief.
(a) Exception: Fences, where provided with an access gate equipped with a sign complying with the legend requirements of Section 912.5 of the Ohio Fire Code and a means of emergency operation. The gate and the means of emergency operation shall be approved by the Fire Chief and maintained operational at all times.
(2) Clear space around connections. A working space of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width, 36 inches (914 mm) in depth 78 inches (1,981 mm) in height shall be provided and maintained in front of and to the sides of wall-mounted Fire Department connections and around the circumference of free-standing Fire Department connections.
(F) Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in existing group I-1 and R occupancies in accordance with divisions (F)(1) through (F)(7) of this section.
(1) Where required. Existing group I-1 and R occupancies shall be provided with single-station smoke alarms in accordance with divisions (F)(2) through (F)(5) of this section. Interconnection and power sources shall be in accordance with divisions (F)(6) and (F)(7) of this section.
(a) Exceptions:
1. Where the code that was in effect at the time of the construction required smoke alarms and smoke alarms complying with those requirements are already provided;
2. Where smoke alarms have been installed in occupancies and dwellings that were not required to have them at the time of construction, additional smoke alarms shall not be required provided that the existing smoke alarms comply with requirements that were in effect at the time of installation;
3. Where smoke detectors connected to a fire alarm system have been installed as a substitute for smoke alarms;
(2) Group R-1. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in all of the following locations in Group R-1:
(a) In sleeping areas;
(b) In every room in the path of the means or egress from the sleeping area to the door leading from the sleeping unit;
(c) In each story of the sleeping unit, including basements. For sleeping units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
(3) Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1 regardless of occupant load at all of the following locations:
(a) On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms;
(b) In each room used for sleeping purposes;
(c) In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwelling or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.
(4) Installation near cooking appliances. Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required by divisions (F)(2) or (F)(3) of this section.
(a) Ionization smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 20 feet (6,096 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance;
(b) Ionization smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch shall not be installed less than ten feet (3,048 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance;
(c) Photoelectric smoke alarms shall not be installed less than six feet (1,829 mm) horizontally from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
(5) Installation near bathrooms. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than three feet (914 mm) horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a tub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke detector required by divisions (F)(2) or (F)(3) of this section.
(6) Interconnection. Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within an individual dwelling or sleeping unit, the smoke alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation of one alarm. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
(a) Exceptions:
1. Interconnection is not required in buildings that are not undergoing alterations, repairs or construction of any kind.
2. Smoke alarms in existing areas are not required to be interconnected where alterations or repairs do not result in the removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available that could provide access for interconnection without the removal of interior finishes.
(7) Power source. Single-station smoke alarms shall receive their primary power form the building wiring provided such wiring is served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Smoke alarms with integral strobes that are not equipped with battery backup shall be connected to an emergency electrical system. Smoke alarms shall emit a signal when the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than as required for overcurrent protection.
(a) Exceptions:
1. Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in existing buildings where construction is not taking place.
2. Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in buildings that are not served from a commercial power source.
3. Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in existing areas of buildings undergoing alterations or repairs that do not result in the removal of interior walls or ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available that could provide access for building wiring without the removal of interior finishes.
(8) Smoke detection system. Smoke detectors listed in accordance with UL 268 and provided as part of the building's fire alarm system shall be an acceptable alternative to single- and multiple-station smoke alarms and shall comply with the following:
(a) The fire alarm system shall comply with all applicable requirements in Section 907 of the Ohio Fire Code.
(b) Activation of a smoke detector in a dwelling or sleeping unit shall initiate alarm notification in the dwelling or sleeping unit in accordance with Section 907.5.2 of the Ohio Fire Code.
(c) Activation of a smoke alarm in a dwelling or sleeping unit shall not activate alarm notification appliances outside of the dwelling or sleeping unit, provided that the supervisory signal is generated and monitored in accordance with Section 907.6.6 of the Ohio Fire Code.
(G) Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be tested and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke alarms that do not function shall be replaced. Smoke alarms in one- and two-family dwellings shall be replaced not more than ten years from the date of manufacture marked on the unit, or shall be replaced if the date of manufacturing cannot be determined.
(Ord. 3673, passed 8-11-20)