(A) (1) General. This division (A) shall cover installation and maintenance of all manual and automatic fire alarm systems in new and existing structures.
(2) Monitoring.
(a) Fire alarm systems required by 675 I.A.C. 13, 675 I.A.C. 22 or this division (A) installed after the effective date of this chapter shall be monitored as set forth in accordance with the rules of the FPBSC.
(b) The Fire Department’s emergency communications center shall immediately be notified upon activation of any fire alarm by telephone, except in the case of a supervised fire drill or periodic testing of the system, installed after the effective date of this chapter.
(3) Faulty/false alarms. Whenever the Fire Department responds to an automatic fire alarm at a premises or building more than three times in a calendar year due to improper alarm installation, lack of maintenance, servicing, improper construction or maintenance work, or failure to notify the Fire Department of a drill or test, a fee/fine as approved by the Town Council shall be imposed.
(4) Remote fire alarm annunciator panels. When a fire alarm is required by the Indiana Fire Code to be installed, a zoning panel and associated controls shall be provided at the entrance the Fire Department will use as its main entrance point to the building.
(B) (1) It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly give, or cause be given, any false alarm or fire, or to tamper with or set off any fire alarm or signal box with like intent; or tamper, meddle or interfere with any such box, wiring or supports thereof connected with the fire alarm or sprinkler system.
(2) (a) The premises owner or the occupant of the premises shall not conduct a fire drill or test a monitored fire alarm system without first notifying the Fire Department and the Fire Department Dispatch Center.
(b) A false alarm fee shall be imposed after the third false alarm is received in a calendar year. That fee is set forth in this chapter and has been approved by the Town Council. However, additional fees may be assessed to the suspect and the owner if the activation is determined to be a malicious act.
(3) A person who gives a false alarm of fire to the Fire Department of a governmental entity, knowing the alarm to be false commits false informing, a Class B misdemeanor. However, the offense is a Class A misdemeanor if it substantially hinders any law enforcement or Fire Department process, or if it results in harm to an innocent person.
(4) All sections of this division (B) shall apply to Class 1 and Class 2 structures.
(Ord. 2010-16, passed 12-6-2010) Penalty, see § 10.99