Chapter 15.36A
FIRE CODE
Sections:
15.36A.011 Adoption.
15.36A.021 Repealed.
15.36A.031 Fire service features.
15.36A.041 Sections 903 and 2305 amended – Housekeeping and maintenance.
15.36A.051 Repealed.
15.36A.061 Repealed.
15.36A.071 Violation – Penalty.
15.36A.081 Definitions.
15.36A.091 Fire alarm and detection systems.
15.36A.011 Adoption.
The International Fire Code, 2009 Edition, as published by the International Code Council, as amended in Chapter 51-54 WAC, effective July 1, 2010, together with amendments, additions, and deletions adopted in this chapter, including Appendix B, “Fire Flow Requirements for Buildings,” Appendix C, “Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution,” Appendix D, “Fire Apparatus Access Roads,” and Appendix E, “Hazard Categories.” Chapter 15.38A ACC and this chapter shall be controlling within the jurisdiction of the city. The manufacture, storage, handling, sale, and use of fireworks shall be governed by Chapter 70.77 RCW and by Chapter 212-17 WAC and Chapter 8.24 ACC, Fireworks, consistent with Chapter 212-17 WAC. (Ord. 6310 § 13, 2010; Ord. 6104 § 11, 2007; Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.021 Section 108 amended – Appeals.
Repealed by Ord. 6310. (Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.031 Fire service features.
Chapter 5 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Fire Service Features,” is adopted with the following amendments:
A. Fire Apparatus Access Roads – Marking. Section 503 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Fire Apparatus Access Roads,” is amended by adding the following subsection:
Sec. 503.3 Marking. Fire apparatus access roads shall be marked whenever necessary to maintain the unobstructed minimum required width of roadways. Subject to the fire code official’s prior written approval, marked fire apparatus access roads, or “fire lanes” as defined in section 502.1 of the code, may be established or relocated at the time of plan review, pre-construction site inspection, and/or post construction site inspection as well as any time during the life of the occupancy. Only those fire apparatus access roads established by the fire code official can utilize yellow marking paint and the term “fire lane.” Fire lanes shall be marked as directed by the fire code official in accordance with ACC 10.36.175.
B. Fire Apparatus Access Roads – Marking. Section 503 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Fire Apparatus Access Roads,” is amended by adding the following subsection:
Sec. 503.3.1 Alternate materials and methods. The fire code official may modify, on a case-by-case basis, any of the marking provisions in this subsection 503.3 where practical difficulties exist. Modification requests shall be submitted in writing to the fire code official setting forth a suggested alternative.
C. Fire Protection Water Supplies – Where Required. Section 507 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Fire Protection Water Supplies,” is amended by substituting subsection 507.5.1 with the following:
Sec. 507.5.1 Where required. All buildings or structures shall be located so that there is at least 1 hydrant within 150 feet, and no portion of the building or structure is more than 300 feet from a hydrant, as measured by an approved route.
D. Clear Space Around Hydrants. Section 507 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Clear Space Around Hydrants,” is amended by substituting subsection 507.5.5 with the following:
Sec. 507.5.5 Clear space around hydrants. A 5-foot clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of fire hydrants except as otherwise required or approved.
(Ord. 6310 § 14, 2010; Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.041 Sections 903 and 2305 amended – Housekeeping and maintenance.
A. Automatic Sprinkler Systems – Speculative Use Warehouses. Section 903 of the International Fire Code, entitled “Automatic Sprinkler Systems,” is amended by adding the following new subsections 903.2.9.3 and 903.7:
Sec. 903.2.9.3. Speculative use warehouses. Where the occupant, tenant, or use of the building or storage commodity has not been determined or it is otherwise a speculative use warehouse or building, the automatic sprinkler system shall be designed and installed in accordance with the following:
1. The design area shall be not less than 2,000 square feet.
2. The density shall be not less than that for class IV non-encapsulated commodities on wood pallets, with no solid, slatted, or wire mesh shelving, and with aisles that are 8 feet or more in width and up to 20 feet in height.
3. Sprinkler piping that is 4 inches and larger in width shall be used and the structural engineer of record shall provide written verification approving of the point and dead loads.
Sec. 903.7. Automatic sprinkler riser rooms. All automatic sprinkler system risers shall be located in a dedicated room with an exterior door, lighting and heat. This requirement shall include any NFPA 13, 13R and 13D systems which serve more than one (1) dwelling unit or unit of occupancies.
EXCEPTION: 13D single family dwellings or Townhomes defined within the IRC.
B. International Fire Code Section 2305 is amended to read as follows:
2305.6.1 – Signage.
Facilities designed in accordance with this section shall include the appropriate signage (as shown below) and shall be properly posted.
Example of approved signage required for use of Section 2305.6.1, as amended:
1. This sign must be posted prior to building being fixtured and occupied.
2. Mount signs at 50'0" O.C. on all walls starting 25'0" from any exterior corner; also on two sides of each column.
3. Signage required on end of racks, if installed.
4. In accordance with the International Fire Code as amended.
(Ord. 6310 § 15, 2010; Ord. 6104 § 12, 2007; Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.051 Chapter 14 amended – Fire safety during construction and demolition.
Repealed by Ord. 6104. (Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.061 Appendix B – Fire flow requirements for buildings.
Repealed by Ord. 6310. (Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.071 Violation – Penalty.
Any person who violates any of the provisions of the fire code or appendices adopted in Chapter 15.38A ACC and/or this chapter or fails to comply therewith, or who violates or fails to comply with any order made thereunder, or who builds in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who fails to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the fire chief or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed therein, is severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a jail term not to exceed 90 days and/or a fine not to exceed $1,000. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each 10 days that prohibited conditions are maintained constitutes a separate offense. (Ord. 5874 § 10, 2004.)
15.36A.081 Definitions.
“Addressable” means the capability of a fire alarm system and associated devices that have discrete identification so that system devices can have their status individually identified within the fire alarm system.
“Common use” means interior or exterior circulation paths, rooms, spaces or elements that are not available for public use and are made available for the shared use or two or more people.
“Employee work area” means all or any portion of a space used only by employees and only for work purposes. Corridors, toilet rooms, kitchenettes, conference rooms and break rooms are not employee work areas.
“Public use areas” means interior or exterior rooms or spaces that are made available to the general public. (Ord. 6104 § 13, 2007.)
15.36A.091 Fire alarm and detection systems.
A. International Fire Code Chapter 9 is amended to read as follows:
907.1.3 Equipment. Equipment systems and their components shall be listed and approved for the purposes for which they were installed. All new systems shall be addressable. Each device shall have its own address and annunciate individual device addresses at a UL Central Station.
907.1.4 Fire Detection Systems. In addition to any requirement of 907.2 or 907.3, all occupancies exceeding 5,000 square feet gross floor area shall be required to provide an approved automatic fire detection system. Fire walls as defined in 15.38A.011(A) shall not be considered to separate a building to enable deletion of the required fire detection system.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Group “U” Occupancies.
2. Occupancies protected throughout by an approved monitored automatic sprinkler system may delete heat and smoke detectors from the system.
3. One and Two Family residences.
907.6.2.3 Visible Alarms. Visible alarm notification shall be provided in accordance with Sections 907.6.2.3.1 through 907.6.2.3.4.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Visible alarm notification shall not be required in non-public accessible storage areas in S1 and S2 occupancies or other approved areas.
907.6.2.3.1 Public and Common Areas. Visible and audible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in public and common areas as defined in Section 15.36A.081.
907.6.2.3.2 Employee Work Areas. Visible and audible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in employee work areas as defined in Section 15.36A.081.
B. For purposes of this chapter, a “fire wall,” “fire barrier,” or “horizontal assembly” shall not be considered to separate a building so as to avoid the required automatic fire alarm and detection system. A building shall have a minimum distance of five feet from any point of the building to any point of another building and from the property line in order to be considered a separate building. (Ord. 6310 § 16, 2010; Ord. 6104 § 14, 2007.)