Chapter 17.36
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS
Sections:
17.36.010 Required for certain uses.
17.36.025 Definition of floor area.
17.36.030 Automatic sprinkler system – Required in new structures when hazardous conditions exist.
17.36.040 Sprinkler alarm system requirements.
17.36.045 Sprinkler alarm system false alarm.
17.36.050 Conflicts with International Building Code.
17.36.060 Existing structures.
17.36.070 Issuance of automatic fire-extinguishing system permit.
17.36.075 Maintenance requirements.
17.36.090 Violation – Penalty.
17.36.010 Required for certain uses.
Every structure hereafter erected or constructed within the city and designated by the International Building Code, currently adopted edition, for the following uses:
(1) Group A – Assembly;
(2) Group E – Educational;
(3) Group I – Institutional;
(4) Group H – High Hazard;
(5) Group B – Business;
(6) Group R – Residential, Group R-1, R-2, and R-4;
(7) Group F – Factory;
(8) Group M – Mercantile;
(9) Group S – Storage;
(10) Group LC – License Care;
shall be equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system when required by this chapter and where required in the fire code. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2744 § 2, 2003; Ord. 1948 § 1, 1982).
17.36.020 Automatic sprinkler system – Installation required in structures of certain height or size.
A fully automatic sprinkler system designed, installed, and tested per NFPA No. 13 or 13R (residential occupancies), currently adopted edition, shall be installed in buildings in excess of 10,000 square feet gross floor area, or 40 or more feet in height, or four or more stories in height with the exception of a building that has three or less dwelling units. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2259 § 1, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 2, 1982).
17.36.025 Definition of floor area.
For the purpose of this chapter, “floor area” means the area included within the surrounding exterior walls of a building or portion thereof, exclusive of vent shafts, courts and grid irons. The floor area of a building, or portion thereof, not provided with surrounding exterior walls shall be the usable area under the horizontal projection of the roof or floor above. Covered roof includes connecting roofs between structures. A fire wall does not constitute a separation between two structures. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2744 § 3, 2003; Ord. 2259 § 2, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 3, 1982).
17.36.030 Automatic sprinkler system – Required in new structures when hazardous conditions exist.
A fully automatic sprinkler system shall be required by the fire code official of the fire department for new structures of less than 10,000 square feet gross floor area when, in his judgment, any of the following conditions exist:
(1) Hazardous operations or hazardous contents;
(2) Critical exposure problems;
(3) Limited access to the structure or property;
(4) Other factors which may contribute to an extreme fire hazard;
(5) Required fire flow or hydrant spacing per the International Fire Code is not available. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2259 § 3, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 4, 1982).
17.36.040 Sprinkler alarm system requirements.
All new sprinkler systems in the city shall have an approved supervised alarm system that terminates at an off-premises, approved, monitored agency. This alarm shall be activated by an approved water flow switching device, and supervision on all control valves. All alarm systems shall terminate in equipment accepted by the fire code official or designee as a result of investigation and experience and by reason or test, listing, or approval for specific use by Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Factory Mutual Research Corporation, or other nationally recognized testing agencies. All water flow switching devices shall have a time delay activation switch installed thereon. When required by the fire code official, all sprinkler alarm systems shall inter-tie to any fire alarm system installed in the same building or complex. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2259 § 4, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 5, 1982).
17.36.045 Sprinkler alarm system false alarm.
Fees for response to false alarms will be charged in accordance with City of Puyallup Council Resolution No. 837. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2259 § 5, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 6, 1982).
17.36.050 Conflicts with International Building Code.
Where the provisions of this chapter conflict with the currently adopted International Building Code, the more stringent provisions shall apply; this is to say, the provisions offering the greatest fire and life safety protection shall apply. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1948 § 7, 1982).
17.36.060 Existing structures.
(1) Existing, fully sprinklered structures, when enlarged, shall retain the feature of being fully sprinklered, including the added portion.
(2) If, by enlarging an existing structure, the resulting total structure falls within the coverage of PMC 17.36.020, the entire structure shall be fully sprinklered. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1948 § 8, 1982).
17.36.070 Issuance of automatic fire-extinguishing system permit.
No automatic fire extinguishing system permit shall be issued until plans required under this chapter have been submitted and approved in accordance with the provisions contained in this chapter. No structure shall be occupied prior to the installation and approval by the fire code official of required sprinkler systems as set forth in this chapter. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1948 § 9, 1982).
17.36.075 Maintenance requirements.
As per the fire code, Section 901.6.1, all sprinkler systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with NFPA 25. A written record shall be maintained and be made available to the inspection authority. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1948 § 10, 1982).
17.36.080 Exemptions.
When in the opinion of the fire code official and the building official, or their designees, a proposed building or a remodeled building, which otherwise would have to be sprinklered, is entirely of “fire resistive construction” defined as “Type I” or “Type II” in the International Building Code, current adopted edition, and the threat to life safety from the building and/or its contents to persons who might occupy the building or be in its immediate vicinity is low, or permanent installations within the building are of a type subject to great damage by the application of water, the fire code official and building official may allow the substitution of smoke detectors and a fire alarm system approved by them in lieu of any sprinkler system that otherwise might be required under the provisions of this chapter. Any such fire alarm system shall have an approved supervised alarm system that terminates at an off-premises, approved, monitored agency. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 2259 § 6, 1991; Ord. 1948 § 11, 1982).
17.36.090 Violation – Penalty.
(1) Penalty for Violations. See Chapters 1.02 (Civil Infractions) and 1.03 (Civil Violations and Voluntary Correction Process) PMC.
(2) Conflicts. The penalties provided in this section are intended to be in addition to, and not to supersede, any penalties provided in any of the codes adopted in PMC 17.04.030. In the event of a conflict between the penalty provisions of this section and the penalty provisions in any of the codes, this section shall control.
(3) Additional Remedies. See Chapters 1.02 (Civil Infractions) and 1.03 (Civil Violations and Voluntary Correction Process) PMC. (Ord. 2801 § 7, 2004; Ord. 1948 § 12, 1982).