HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Adopting 1997 Uniform Fire Code, referencing local revisions ORDINANCE NO. 3 4 91
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
AMES,IOWA, BY REPEALING SECTIONS 8.101, 8.102, 8.103, 8.104, 8.105,
8.107, 8.108, 8.109, 8.110, 8.111, AND 8.112, AND RE-ADOPTING SAID
SECTIONS FOR THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING THE 1997 EDITION OF THE
UNIFORM FIRE CODE BY REFERENCE SUBJECT TO LOCAL REVISIONS;
REPEALING ANY AND ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES
IN CONFLICT TO THE EXTENT OF SUCH CONFLICT; PROVIDING A
PENALTY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ENACTED,by the City Council for the City of Ames, Iowa, that:
Section One. The Municipal Code of the City of Ames, Iowa shall be and the same is hereby amended by
repealing Sections 8.101, 8.102, 8.103, 8.104, 8.105, 8.107, 8.108, 8.109, 8.110, 8.111, and 8.112, and re-adopting
those sections to state as follows:
"Sec. 8.101. UNIFORM FIRE CODE ADOPTED.
The 1997 Edition of the Uniform Fire Code (UFC) as published by 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218, Sec. 1, 3-23-93)
Sec. 8.102. PERMITS.
Delete Section 105 of the Uniform Fire Code relating to permits.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
Sec. 8.103. INCINERATORS AND OPEN BURNING.
Delete Sections 1102 through 1102.3.8 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218, Sec. 2, 3-23-93)
Sec. 8.104. DEFINITIONS.
Adding to Sec. 207-F of the Uniform Fire Code, a definitions as follows:
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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
Sec. 8.105. FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS.
Delete Sec. 902, 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.
1
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. 10.501(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 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 12'.
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) S ace. 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.
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:
2
i) hi 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 20', 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%.
0) Sims. Approved signs,red painted curbs,red striped surfaces, or other notices shall
be provided and maintained as required by the fine 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218, Sec. 3, 3-23-93)
Sec. 8.107. OIL BURNERS.
Delete Article 61 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218, Sec. 5, 3-23-93)
Sec. 8.108. UNIFORM FIRE CODE APPENDICES ADOPTED AND NFPA ADOPTED
AS A GUIDE.
Appendix Divisions III A, IV, V and VI A& E to the aforesaid Uniform Fire Code, 1991
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 protec-
tive than required by the code in effect at the time the building was constructed.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218, Sec. 6, 3-23-93)
Sec. 8.109. BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS HAS JURISDICTION.
The provisions of Section 103.1.4 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 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.
3
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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
Sec. 8.110. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIMITS OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH STORAGE OF
FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN OUTSIDE ABOVE
GROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED.
Section 7902.2.2.2.1, 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. 7902.2.2.2.1, 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
Sec. 8.111. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIMITS OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH STORAGE OF
FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN BURIED OR
UNDERGROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED.
Section 7902, UFC is amended by adding the following subsection 7902.7:
7902.7. Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection 7902.1 - 7902.6, the installation of
underground flammable or combustible liquid storage tanks is prohibited in the following zoning dis-
tricts: A-1, R1-10, RI-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.
Any installation shall be in compliance with state and local codes. This
section shall not apply to underground heating oil installations.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
Sec. 8.112. ESTABLISHMENTS OF LIMITS IN WHICH STORAGE OF LIQUEFIED
PETROLEUM GASES IS TO BE RESTRICTED.
Section 8204, UFC is amended by adding the following:
The limits in which storage of liquefied 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)"
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction punishable as
set out in Section 1.9 and 8.201 of the Municipal Code.
Section Three. All ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of
such conflict, if any.
4
Section Four. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage and publication as
required by law.
Passed this 14th day of July 1998
—,jz-�('( uo
�Ob;
Jill Ripperger, City lerk Yed Tedesco, Mayor
0496
5