HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Adopting the 2003 International Fire Code ORDINANCE NO. 3789
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
AMES,IOWA,BY REPEALING CHAPTER 8 OF THE AMES MUNICIPAL
CODE AS IT NOW EXISTS AND ENACTING A NEW CHAPTER 8 FOR
THE PURPOSE OF ADOPTING THE 2003 EDITION OF THE
INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE(IFC)WITH LOCAL MODIFICATIONS;
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 Chapter 8 and enacting a new Chapter 8 as follows:
"DIVISION I
Sec.8.101. INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ADOPTED.
The 2003 Edition of the International Fire Code(IFC)as published by the International Code
Council, including Appendix Chapters B, Fire Flow, D, Fire Apparatus Access Road, and E,
Hazardous Categories,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; Ord.No. 3491,Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
DIVISION II
AMENDMENTS,DELETIONS,ADDITIONS
Sec.8.201. PERMITS.
Delete Section 105 of the International Fire Code relating to permits.
(Ord. No. 3196,Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3491,Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
See.8.202. AUTHORIZATION.
Sec. 307.2 of the IFC is amended by deleting paragraph 307.2 and rewording Sec.307.2.1
to read as follows: Authorization from the Fire Chief or his designee shall be required for any
landscape waste burning. This authorization shall be in writing and shall have all required information
regarding the burning;and
Adopt Sec.307.2.2 of the IFC as stated.
Sec.8.203. OPEN FLAME COOKING DEVICES.
Section 308.3.1 IFC shall be amended to read as follows:Charcoal burners and other open-
flame cooking devices shall not be operated or located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of
combustible construction.
EXCEPTIONS:1)one and two family dwelling;2)where buildings,balconies and decks are protected
by an automatic sprinkler system.
Sec.8.204. LIQUEFIED-PETROLEUM,GAS-FUELED COOKING DEVICES.
Section 308.3.1.1 of the IFC is amended to read as follows:LP gas burners having an LP gas
container with greater than 1 pound LP gas capacity shall not be located or operated on combustible
balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction.
EXCEPTIONS: 1) one and two family dwelling; 2) where buildings, balconies and decks are
protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
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Sec.8.205. FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS.
Amend the following sections of the IFC by adding the following language:
503.2.1. Dimensions. To allow temporary usage of 12 foot width per the discretion of the
Fire Inspector.
503.2.3. Surface. To allow temporary usage of 8" of gravel per the discretion of the Fire
Inspector.
503.2.4. Radius. 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 50'.
Delete Sec.503.4 of the IFC and add the following:
503.4. 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; Ord. No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
Sec.8.206. FIRE COMMAND CENTER
The requirements of IFC Section 509 shall be at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
Sec.8.207. OIL BURNERS.
Amend 603.4 of the IFC as follows:Remove"Exception to 1 and 2 family dwellings"
Sec.8.208. EXTENSION CORD POWER SUPPLY.
Section 605.5.1 of the IFC is amended to read as follows:Extension cords shall be plugged
directly into an approved receptacle and serve only one portable appliance.
Sec.8.209. SUPERVISING AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER VALVES.
Section 903.4 of the IFC shall be amended to accept the locking of valves in the open
position as an approved manner of supervision.
Sec.8.210. FIRE ALARM NOTIFICATION
The following shall be added to IFC Section 903.4.2: An approved audible sprinkler flow
alarm to alert the occupants shall be provided in the interior of the building in a normally occupied
location. For a structure with a monitored fire alarm system the Ames Fire Department shall receive
notification from the Ames Police Dispatcher within 2 minutes of the building fire alarm activation.
Any time greater than 2 minutes shall constitute a failure and the system shall be evaluated for the
failure. Another test shall be performed in not less than 24 hours.
Sec.8.211. STANDPIPE SYSTEMS AND HOSE CABINETS.
The IFC Section 905 shall be at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
Sec.8.212. REQUIRED SMOKE DETECTOR INSTALLATIONS.
Section 907.10.1 of the IFC is amended to state that single or multiple-station smoke alarms
shall be installed throughout all interior corridors in Group R-1,R-2,R-4 and I-1 Occupancies.
Sec.8.213. TEMPORARY HEATING EQUIPMENT.
Delete Sec.3803.2.1.2 and Section 1403 of the IFC and insert the following:LP cylinders,
for the purposes of temporary heating, shall not be allowed to be used or stored in buildings or
structures under construction.
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See.8.214. ESTABLISHMENT OF LIMITS OF DISTRICTS IN WHICH STORAGE OF
FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN BURIED OR
UNDERGROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED.
Section 7902,IFC 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,RL,RM,RH,RLP,UCRM,F-S,F-VR, S-HM 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. This
section shall not apply to underground heating oil installations.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord.No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
Sec.8.215. 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,IFC is amended by adding the following:
The limits in which the storage of flammable or combustible liquids is restricted are hereby
established as follows:RL,RM,RH,RLP,UCRM,F-S,F-VR,S-HM 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 IFC Sec. 7902.2.2.2.1, including but not
limited to topographical conditions,nature of occupancy,proximity to buildings,capacity ofproposed
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; Ord.No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
See.8.216. ESTABLISHMENTS OF LIMITS IN WHICH STORAGE OF LIQUEFIED
PETROLEUM GASES IS TO BE RESTRICTED.
Section 8204,IFC is amended by adding the following:
The limits in which storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted,are hereby established
as follows:RL,RM,RH,RLP,UCRM,F-S,F-VR, S-HM 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; Ord. No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
DIVISION III
OPEN BURNING
Sec.8.301. 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.
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(2) Allowable Kinds of Open Burning on Private or Public Property
(a) Open burning of leaves is prohibited at all times.
(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 Chiefs designee is required prior to
burning.
(c) Open Fires for cooking,heating,recreation and ceremonies are permitted.
Approved containers,such as chimineas shall be permitted for recreational fires provided that they are
15 feet or more from a structure,including decks and porches.
(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 Chiefs designee.
(e) Open burning of prairies, pastures, fields, yards and road ditches 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.
(Ord.No. 3482, Sec. 1, 4-28-98)
(g) As a means of disposing of the debris from damage to trees caused by a
storm event,trees and tree limbs and tree branches and the leaves adhering to such branches may be
burned at such site as shall be approved by the City Manager,or City Manager's designee,under the
direction of the Fire Chief,during such times as shall be declared a storm damage disposal emergency
period by the Director of Public Works. The site authorized and designated for such burning shall not
be located in a residential area.
(Ord. No. 3498,Sec. 1, 9-8-98)
(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 fire chief s designee shall investigate and have the discretion to
have the fire extinguished.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92)
DIVISION IV
BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS
Sec.8.401. BUILDING CODE BOARD OF APPEALS HAS JURISDICTION.
The provisions of Section 108.1 of the IFC notwithstanding,the Ames Building Code Board
of Appeals as established and constituted under the ordinances of the City of Ames shall have juris-
diction 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. 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.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord.No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)
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DIVISION V
PENALTY
See.8.501. PENALTIES FOR OFFENSES PERTAINING TO THE FIRE CODE.
A violation of any provision of Chapter 8, Fire Code, shall be a municipal infraction
punishable by a penalty of$500 for a person's first violation thereof,and a penalty of$750 for each
repeat violation.
(Ord. No. 3196, Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord.No. 3497, Sec. 5, 8-25-98)
(Ord. No. 3196,Sec. 1, 8-24-92; Ord. No. 3218,Sec. 2, 3-23-93; Ord. No. 3491, Sec. 1, 7-14-98)"
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal infraction punishable
as set out in this Chapter.
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.
Passed this 27th day of July 004 .
J� `U�-
Diane R.Voss,City Clerk Ted Tedesco,Mayor
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