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ORDINANCE NO. 3883
AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL CODE OF THE CITY OF
AMES,IOWA,BY REVISING SECTION 8.401 AND ENACTING A NEW
SECTION 8.217 THEREOF,FOR THE PURPOSE OF REQUIRING FIRE
SPRINKLER RETROFITTING OF CERTAIN BUILDINGS; 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
revising Section 8.401 and enacting a new Section 8.217 as follows:
"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
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.
The Ames Building Code Board of Appeals is authorized to grant two year extensions for the
implementation period for sprinkler systems as defined in Section 8.217.
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)
"Sec.8.217. EXISTING BUILDINGS TO HAVE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS.
(1) The following terms as used in this article shall have the meaning respectively
ascribed to them in this section.
Automatic Sprinkler System. An automatic sprinkler system within the meaning of this
section shall consist of piping designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards,that
includes a suitable water supply, and which is activated by heat or the products of combustion, to
discharge water over the fire area.
Fire Chief means the Fire Chief of the Ames Fire Department or said Fire Chief s
designee.
High-Rise buildings shall mean buildings having occupied floors located more than 75 feet
above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Impaired evacuation capability occupant,for the purposes of this article,shall mean an
occupant that cannot reliably evacuate a building in a timely manner because of that occupant's
physical and/or mental limitations or disabilities.
(2) Retrofit Requirements. The following existing buildings shall be retrofitted
with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 403.2 of the 2003 International
Building Code and Section 903 of the 2003 International Fire Code.
(a) Existing high-rise buildings having occupied floors located more than 75
feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
(b) Institutions.Buildings housing more than 16 persons on a twenty-
four hour basis to be cared for or provided a supervised environment because of their physical or
mental condition,including hospitals,nursing homes,and assisted living facilities.
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(c) Mobility Impaired. Buildings with 16 or more dwelling units of
which eight are occupied by one or more persons who have an impaired evacuation capability. The
Fire Chief,or his/her designee,shall have the authority to determine whether a person is an occupant
with an impaired evacuation capability as aforesaid, and to conduct a timed evacuation drill to
determine the extent to which an apartment building may contain occupants with such impaired
evacuation capabilities.
(d) Dormitories. A building in which sleeping accommodations are
provided for more than 16 persons,who are not related by marriage or consanguinity,in one room or
a series of closely associated rooms,with or without meals,including fraternity and sorority houses,
barracks,and dormitories.
(3) Each and every existing building that comes within the scope of this section
shall be retrofitted as aforesaid not later than October 1,2011.
(4) Should a facility be unable to meet the prescribed date of October 1,2011,
the owners can request up to two extensions. Requests for extension will be heard by the Building
Board of Appeals.
(a) A first request for extension must be brought to the Building
Board of Appeals prior to October 1,2010. If granted an extension for three years,the
implementation period would end on October 1,2014.
(b) Should a facility be unable to meet the extended compliance date
of October 1,2014, a second request for extension must be brought to the Building Board of
Appeals prior to October 1,2013. If granted an extension for two years,the implementation
period would end on October 1,2016.
(5) In order to grant an extension,the Board must find all of the following five
criteria have been met:
(a) The owners have made a compelling case that they cannot be
Code compliant by the prescribed ordinance date.
(b) The owner's request for extension is based upon financial need.
(c) The owners have made substantial and unsuccessful efforts to
acquire necessary funds.
(d) Complete and thorough cost estimates,construction plans,and
Code compliant sprinkler system designs have been developed.
(e) The owners have a viable plan for compliance if an extension is
granted."
Section Two. Violation of the provisions of this ordinance shall constitute a municipal
infraction punishable by a penalty of$500 for a first violation and$750 for each and every repeat violation.
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 9th day of May 2006
Diane R. Voss, City Clerk Ann H. Campbell,Mayor
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