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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Adopting New Fire Code ORDINANCE NO. 3196 AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF AMES, IOWA, BY REPEALING CHAPTER 8 AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 8 ADOPTING THE 1988 EDITION OF THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE; ESTABLISHING A CIVIL PENALTY; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ENACTED by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa: Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa, shall be and is hereby amended by repealing Chapter 8 and enacting a new Chapter 8 as follows: "DIVISION I. Sec. 8.101. UNIFORM FIRE CODE ADOPTED. The 1988 Edition of the Uniform Fire Code as published by I the International Conference of Building Officials, Whittier, CAL. is hereby adopted by the City of Ames, Iowa, for the purpose of prescribing regulations pertaining to conditions hazardous to life from fire and explosives, together with the deletion, additions and modifications hereinafter stated. Sec. 8.102. PERMITS. Delete Article 4 of the Uniform Fire Code relating to permits. Sec. 8.103. INCINERATORS AND OPEN BURNING. Delete Division 1 of Article 11 of the Uniform Fire Code relating to incinerators and open burning. The use of incinerators and open burning is hereby prohibited except as specifically provided elsewhere in the Municipal Code. Sec. 8.104. DEFINITIONS. Adding to Sec. 9.103 Definitions as follows: (a) Fire Apparatus Access Road. Roads whose purpose is to provide a continuous, unobstructed route up to a building or site so that fire department and rescue medical vehicles may render services. Fully improved public streets may fulfill this purpose when they meet the surface, width and other requirements of Sec. 8.105 of this chapter. For parking signage purposes, fire apparatus access roads may be referred to as fire lanes. 1 9-8-92 (b) Open Burning. Open burning means any burning of materials where the products of combustion are emitted into the open air without passing through an approved chimney or stack. Sec. 8.105. FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS. Deleting Sec. 10.207, UFC, and insert in lieu thereof the following: (a) General. Fire apparatus access roads shall be provided and maintained in accordance with the provisions of this section for all buildings and structures. Such roads may be required by the fire chief for existing buildings when emergency access to a structure is not adequate. All fire apparatus access road designations made by the fire chief which are signed or marked for enforcement under chapter 18 of the Municipal Code shall be in writing and that list shall be maintained at one location available to the public. EXCEPTION: i) When access roadways cannot be installed due to topography, waterways, non-negotiable grades or other similar conditions, the chief may require additional fire protection as specified in Sec. 10.301(b). (b) Where Required. Fire apparatus access roads shall be required for every building when any portion of an exterior wall is located more than 150 feet from fire department vehicle access. EXCEPTIONS: i) When buildings are completely protected with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system, the provisions of this section may be. modified; ii) When there are not more than two buildings of Group R, Division 3 or Group M occupancy completed at a site and no further development occurs, the requirements of this section may be modified, provided, in the opinion of the*chief, fire fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired. iii) When there are not more than two Group R, Division 3 or Group M occupancies or a single commercial building under construction in an area of new development, the location requirements of this subsection may be modified temporarily to require fire apparatus access roads when any portion of an 2 9-8-92 exterior wall is located more than 300' from fire department vehicle access. This modification shall be permitted only during the period prior to occupancy. (c) Width. Fire apparatus access roads shall have unobstructed width of 20 feet. EXCEPTIONS: i) When there are not more than two Group R Division 3 or Group M occupancies or a single commercial building under construction in an area of new development, the width requirements may be temporarily modified during the period prior to occupancy, as approved by the Chief, when, in the opinion of the chief, fire fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired. The minimum width of such road shall be 121. ii) When there are not more than two Group R, Division 3 or Group M occupancies completed at a site, and no further development occurs, the width requirements may be modified as approved by the chief, when, in the opinion of the chief, fire fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired. The minimum width of such road shall be 12'. (d) Vertical Clearance. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed vertical clearance of 13'6", except the fire chief may allow less clearance provided the reduction does not impair access by fire apparatus and it is clearly signed indicating the actual clearance. (e) Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be provided with a concrete or asphalt surface not less than 5" depth so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities. EXCEPTIONS: i) When there are not more than two Group R Division 3 or Group M occupancies or a single commercial building under construction in an area of new development, the surface requirements may be temporarily modified during the period prior to occupancy, as approved by the Chief, when, in the opinion of the chief, fire fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired. A well maintained 8" gravel surface with adequate drainage shall be the minimum allowed. 3 9-8-92 ii) When there are not more than two Group R, Division 3 or Group M occupancies completed at a site, and no further development occurs, the surface requirements may be modified as approved by the chief, when, in the opinion of the chief, fire fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired. A well maintained 8" gravel surface with adequate drainage shall be the minimum allowed. (f) Turn Arounds. All dead end fire apparatus access roads in excess of 150' shall be provided with adequate turn around, as approved by the fire chief. EXCEPTIONS: i) In areas of new residential development, a fire apparatus turn around shall not be required at the dead end of a street until the street has been built and has remained without further extension for a period of twelve (12) months. (g) Turning Radii. The inside turning radius of a 20' fire apparatus access road shall be a minimum 201, and the outside turning radius of such road or lane shall be fifty (50) feet. (h) Bridges. Bridges on all fire apparatus access roads shall be designed to carry the maximum weight of .the heaviest piece of available fire apparatus. (i) Grade. Grade on all fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed 10%. (j) Signs. Approved signs, red painted curbs, red striped surfaces, or other notices shall be provided and maintained as required by the fire chief for fire apparatus access roads to identify such . roads and prohibit the obstruction thereof or both. (k) Obstructions. Where fire apparatus access roads are established and are signed or marked as required by the fire chief, parking or obstructing in any manner of those roads shall be prohibited. The fire chief and police chief or their representatives are authorized to enforce this subsection by the issuance of citations, or removal and impoundment of the obstructions, or both. EXCEPTION: Attended vehicles may be stopped in a fire apparatus access road for loading and unloading. Sec. 8.106. WATER SUPPLY. Delete sections 10.301(c) and (d) and replace with the following: 4 9-8-92 (c) Water Supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying required fire flow shall be provided to all premises upon which buildings or portions of buildings are constructed. Fire hydrants shall be spaced on the street such that no point along the street is in excess of 150' from a public hydrant. Increased spacing may be approved by the fire chief. Additional public fire hydrants shall be placed on the private property as designated by the Chief. (d) Installation. All required fire hydrants shall be installed and operational prior to construction above the foundation. Sec. 8.107. OIL BURNERS. Delete Section 61.106 (a) - (d) of the Uniform Fire Code, as amended, relating to portable unvented oil burning heating appliances and replace with the following: Portable Unvented Heaters. Use of portable unvented fuel burning heating appliances is prohibited within the city, except fuel burning portable heating equipment (including but not limited to salamander heaters) is permitted as temporary heating equipment on construction sites if safety precautions are observed. Sec. 8.108. UNIFORM FIRE CODE APPENDICES ADOPTED AND NFPA ADOPTED AS A GUIDE. Appendix Divisions III A, IV, V and VI A & D to the aforesaid Uniform Fire Code, 1988 Edition, and its supplement, are hereby expressly adopted. Whenever this code is inapplicable for any reason to any situation involving the protection of persons and property from the hazards of fire and explosion, the materials, methods of construction, installation, practices or operations necessary to provide such protection shall, to a reasonable degree, be in accordance with nationally recognized accepted standards. The NFPA National Fire Codes and Standards, most current edition, Volumes I through XI are intended for use as a guide in the design, fabrication, testing, and use of properties and equipment. Requirements may be modified if their application clearly would be impractical in the judgement of the authority having jurisdiction. In no case shall life safety requirements be less protective than required by the code in effect at the time the building was constructed. Sec. 8.109. BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS HAS JURISDICTION. The provisions of Section 2.303 of the Uniform Fire Code notwithstanding, the Ames Building Code Board of Appeals as established and constituted under the ordinances of the City of Ames shall have jurisdiction to determine the suitability of 5 9-8-92 alternative materials and types of construction and to provide for reasonable interpretations of the provisions of this Fire Code, except those relating to open burning, Sec. 8.113. When so acting, the fire chief may designate an individual knowledgeable in fire safety to render professional advice to the Board on matters related to the Fire Code. The Building Code Board of Appeals, when acting pursuant to this subsection, shall have authority to review and make recommendations on any and all proposed changes to this chapter of the code. Recommendations shall be forwarded to the City Council for final action. Sec. 8.110. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIMITS OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN OUTSIDE ABOVE GROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED. Section 79.501, UFC is amended by adding the following: The limits in which the storage of flammable or combustible liquids is restricted are hereby established as follows: R1-10, R1-6, R-2, R2-7, R-3, R-4, R-5, H-M, S-R, Zoning Districts. The fire chief, or designees, will have the authority to alter or allow installations in prohibited zones after the consideration of special features stated in UFC Sec. 79.101(c), including but not limited to topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks. and degree of fire protection to be provided and available. Any installation shall be in compliance with state and local codes. This section shall not apply to heating oil installations. Sec. 8.111. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIMITS OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH STORAGE OF FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN BURIED OR UNDERGROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED. Section 79.601, UFC is amended by adding the following subsection (b): (b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), above, the installation of underground flammable or combustible liquid storage tanks is prohibited in the following zoning districts: A-1, R1-10, R1-6, R-2, R2-7, R-3, R-4, R-5, H-M and S-R. The fire chief, or designees, will have the authority to alter or allow installations in prohibited zones after the consideration of special features including but not limited to topographical conditions, nature of occupancy and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks, and degree of fire protection to be provided and available. 6 9-8-92 Any installation shall be in compliance with state and local codes. This section shall not apply to underground heating oil installations. Sec. 8.112. ESTABLISHMENTS OF LIMITS IN WHICH STORAGE OF LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GASES IS TO BE RESTRICTED. Section 82.104, UFC is amended by adding the following: The limits in which storage of liquified petroleum gas is restricted, are hereby established as follows: R1-10, R1-6, R-2, R2-7, R-3, R-4, R-5, H-M and S-R Zoning Districts. The fire chief, or designees, will have the authority to alter or allow installations in prohibited zones after the consideration of special features including but not limited to topographical conditions, nature of occupancy and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed tanks, and degree of fire protection to be provided and available. Any installation shall be in compliance with state and local codes. Sec. 8.113. ESTABLISHMENTS OF LIMITS TO OPEN BURNING. (1) Prohibition. No person shall allow, cause, or permit open burning of combustible materials, except as provided in the following subsections. The burning of garbage and refuse is prohibited within the city. (2) Types of Open Burning on Private or Public Property (a) Yard Waste. Yard Waste may be burned on private property on which there is located a dwelling of two family units or less, provided that the yard waste originated on the premises by growing or falling on the property. Trees or branches which are to be burned must be cut into pieces not larger than 4" diameter and 30" in length. (b) Landscape Waste. Landscape waste is yard waste and tree stumps produced in clearing, grubbing and construction operations. Landscape waste which originated on the premises may be burned on site. No building materials, trade wastes, rubber tires, material left from demolition of any structure, landscape waste originating from a different location nor any other material may be mixed with the landscape waste when burned. Gasoline shall not be used to ignite landscape waste. Authorization from the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee is required prior to burning. 7 9-8-92 (c) Open Fires for cooking, heating, recreation and ceremonies are permitted. (d) Burning on Public Property. No person shall conduct or permit open burning on public property without prior authorization from the Fire Chief or the Chief's designee. (e) Prairies, Pastures, Fields, Yards and Road Ditches. Open burning of these areas is prohibited except at such locations and under such conditions as are approved in advance by the Fire Chief. (f) Training Fires. Fires set for the purpose of bona fide training of public or industrial employees in fire fighting methods are permitted; provided, that when structures are to be utilized, that the Department of Natural Resources for the State of Iowa has been notified in writing before such action commences. (3) General Conditions for Open Burning. (a) Fire Chief may prohibit. The Fire Chief may prohibit any or all open burning when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous or a nuisance. (b) Attendance of Open Fires. Open fires shall be constantly attended by an adult person until such fire. is extinguished. This person shall have a hose connected to the water supply, or other fire-extinguishing equipment readily available for use. (c) Offensive Smoke and Odors. Upon receipt of a complaint regarding the smoke or odors from open fires, the fires shall be extinguished. (d) Hours. Open burning may only be performed between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. and by 8:00 p.m. all fires must be completely extinguished so that no burning embers remain or smoke or gas emit therefrom. These time restrictions shall not apply to open fires for cooking, heating, recreation or ceremonies. (e) Distance Restrictions Open burning shall be at least 20 feet from any structure, except as follows: i) Barbeque grills and other outdoor cooking appliances may be used within 20 feet of a structure except that these are not permitted in apartment buildings on decks above the first floor. This provision shall take effect on July 1, 1993. 8 9-8-92 I ii) Landscape waste fires shall be no closer than 1/4 mile from any structure. DIVISION II. Sec. 8.201. PENALTY. Any person, corporation or other legal entity who violates or resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be charged with a municipal infraction punishable by a civil penalty of thirty dollars ($30.00) for the initial offense, one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the second offense and two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each repeat offense. Any person, corporation or other legal entity who violates this ordinances after having previously having judgment entered for violation the same ordinance provisions at the same location or at a different location shall be charged with a repeat offense. Seeking a civil penalty as authorized in this section does not preclude the City from seeking alternative relief, including an order for abatement or injunctive relief." Section Two. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames is hereby further amended by repealing Subsection 10.8(3)(c) as it now exists, and re-enacting a new subsection as follows: "(c) By open burning in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 8 of the Ames Municipal Code." Section Three. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of such conflict, if any. Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as required by law. Adopted this 24th day of September 1992. Jill Rippergert Actl6kCity Clerk Larry R. urtis, Mayo 021 9 9-8-92