Chapter 3.16
FIRE CODE

Sections:

3.16.010    Adoption of International Fire Code.

3.16.020    Amendments to the International Fire Code.

3.16.010 Adoption of International Fire Code.

The 2018 International Fire Code, published by the International Code Council, Inc. (ICC), including those standards of the National Fire Protection Association specifically referenced in the International Fire Code, shall be and hereby is adopted, with amendments as set forth in Chapter 51-54A WAC as the same exists now or may hereafter be amended. The following appendices are specifically adopted:

(1) Appendix B, Fire Flow for Buildings;

(2) Appendix C, Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution;

(3) Appendix D, Fire Apparatus Access Roads;

(4) Appendix E, Hazard Categories;

(5) Appendix F, Hazard Ranking;

(6) Appendix H, Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS) Instructions; and

(7) Appendix I, Fire Protection Systems – Noncompliant Conditions. (Ord. 2021-02 § 1; Ord. 2016-20 § 1; Ord. 2013-19 § 1; Ord. 2010-18 § 1; Ord. 2007-30 § 5; Ord. 2005-23 § 1; Ord. 2004-25 § 7)

3.16.020 Amendments to the International Fire Code.

(1) Amend Section 101.1, Title.

These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Wenatchee, hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2) Section 103, Department of Fire Prevention, is hereby deleted in its entirety.

(3) Delete Section 105.6.32, Open Burning.

(4) Amend Section 109, Board of Appeals.

Any person directly affected by a decision of the code official or a notice or order issued under this code, shall thereafter, upon submittal of a written appeal filed with the City Clerk within 21 days of decision, notice or order, be afforded a hearing. Any appeal under this section shall be heard by the hearing examiner of the city in accordance with WCC 13.11.030 for review of such decision. Appeals shall be subject to an administrative appeal fee in accordance with WCC 1.99.010.

(5) Amend Section 110.4, Violation penalties.

(1) Code Violation. Any violation of any of the provisions of this code constitutes a code violation as provided for in WCC Title 16, for which a monetary penalty may be imposed as provided therein.

(2) Criminal Penalty. In addition to or as an alternative to any other penalty provided in this code or by law, any person who violates any provisions of this code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(6) Amend Section 112.4, Failure to comply.

Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

(7) Amend Section 307.1.1, Prohibited Open Burning.

Open burning shall be prohibited at all times in accordance with WAC 173-425.

(8) Amend Section 307.3, Extinguishment Authority.

When any fire creates or adds to a hazardous situation or creates a nuisance, the fire code official or the Fire Chief of Chelan County Fire District #1 or his/her designee is authorized to order the extinguishment of the fire.

(9) Delete Section 307.4.1, Bonfires.

(10) Amend Section 307.4.2, Recreational Fires.

Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 15 feet of a structure, combustible material, fence or property line. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within 15 feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition. See also Chapter 173-425 WAC.

(11) Amend Section 307.5, Attendance.

Recreational fires, and use of portable outdoor fireplaces shall be constantly attended until the fire is extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher complying with Section 906 with a minimum 4-A rating or other approved on-site fire-extinguishing equipment, such as dirt, sand, water barrel, garden hose or water truck, shall be available for immediate utilization.

(12) Section 503, entitled “Fire Apparatus Access Roads,” is hereby adopted in its entirety with the following amendment: amend Section 503.2.7, Grade.

The grade of the fire apparatus road shall be within the limits established by the City Engineer based on the fire department’s apparatus.

(13) Amend Section 505.1, Address Identification.

New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. For one and two-family dwellings and townhouses, each character shall be not less than 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of ½ inch. For all other buildings, the height of any numeral or letter shall be 1/10 of the distance from the street to the building measured in feet, expressed in inches, with minimum height of 6 inches and stroke width of 3/4 inch. The minimum stroke width for signs larger than 6 inches shall be 1/6th of the height of the numbers.

(14) Amend Section 901.4.1, Required Fire Protection Systems.

Fire protection systems required by this code or the International Building Code shall be installed, repaired, operated, tested and maintained in accordance with this code by certified and licensed personnel. A fire protection system for which a design option, exception or reduction to the provisions of this code or the International Building Code has been granted shall be considered to be a required system.

(15) Amend Section 901.6.1, Standards.

Fire protection systems shall be inspected, tested, and maintained in accordance with the referenced standards listed in Table 901.6.1 and shall be reported utilizing the automated reporting system currently in use by the City within 14 days of service.

(16) Amend the geographic limits referred to in the following sections: Section 5704.2.9.6.1 and Section 5706.2.4.4, Locations where above-ground tanks are prohibited.

Storage of Class I and II liquids in above-ground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited from all areas except in the industrial zoning districts from south city limits to north city limits east of Wenatchee Avenue.

Exceptions:

(1) There shall not be prohibited above ground storage tanks of 300 gallon capacity or less located on private property for heating and cooking fuel purposes for single family residence.

(2) Protected aboveground tanks, as defined and specified in Section 5704.2.9.7, for the storage of Class I and Class II liquids of 2500 gallon aggregate capacity or less shall not be prohibited for accessory use in industrial and commercial zones or institutional uses within the city when approved by the Fire Code Official.

(17) Amend Section 6104.2, Location of LP-Gas Containers.

Maximum capacity within established limits.

For the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 2,000 gallons (7570L) in all areas except in the industrial zoning districts from south city limits to north city limits east of Wenatchee Avenue.

(18) Amend Appendix Section D103.2.

The grade of the fire apparatus road shall be within the limits established by the City Engineer based on the fire department’s apparatus.

(Ord. 2021-02 § 1; Ord. 2016-20 § 1; Ord. 2013-19 § 1; Ord. 2010-18 § 1; Ord. 2005-23 § 2; Ord. 2004-25 § 8)