Chapter 8.24
ALARM CODE
Sections:
Article I. General Provisions
8.24.030 Prohibited equipment.
8.24.040 False alarm service charges.
Article II. Theft Detection and Holdup Alarm Systems
8.24.050 Discontinuance of system use for cause.
8.24.060 Temporary discontinuance of emergency response action.
Article III. Fire Alarm Systems
8.24.090 Fire alarm center monitoring.
8.24.100 Installation approval.
8.24.110 Alarms defined by type.
8.24.130 Occupancy requirements.
8.24.140 Fire alarm systems requiring automatic detection devices.
8.24.150 Occupancy which blocks exit of another unit.
8.24.160 Discontinuance of system use for cause.
8.24.170 Temporary discontinuance of emergency response action.
Article I. General Provisions
8.24.010 Indemnity agreement.
Any person, firm or corporation desiring to install or have installed within the city any alarm designated to trigger visual or audible signal(s) of any type at the Yelm police department or at any other location owned by the city, or attended or monitored either full-time or part-time by any agent or employee of the city shall first sign an indemnity agreement with the city. Such indemnity agreement shall save and hold the city, its agents and employees harmless from any liability involving the failure of such alarm circuit or equipment and from any delayed response or failure to respond to such alarm by reason of the unavailability of city personnel to monitor such alarm, and from the expense of defending any such claim. (Ord. 354 Art. 1, § 2, 1989).
8.24.020 Definitions.
Throughout this chapter the following definitions will apply:
1. “False alarm” means the activation of a burglary, robbery, fire or medical emergency alarm at a time when no burglary, robbery, fire, intrusion or medical emergency exists or is being committed or attempted on the premises; provided, however, that the intentional transmission of any such alarm by a person with a reasonable good faith belief that such an emergency exists or may exist shall not constitute a false alarm for purposes of this chapter; and provided further, that the unintended activation of any such alarm by reason of extreme or unusual temperatures, weather conditions, power outages longer than 24 hours or other extraordinary causes beyond the control of the alarm customer and the alarm company shall not be considered a false alarm for purposes of this chapter.
2. “Alarm service” means service requiring the following:
a. The manual operation of a fire alarm signal or station; or
b. The transmission of an alarm indicating the operation of protective equipment or systems; or
c. The transmission of an automatic fire alarm system; or
d. The transmission or actuation of any other emergency fire alarm system; or
e. The transmission by any natural or artificial person of any telephonic report of a police, fire or medical emergency; or
f. Any combination of these.
3. “Alarm types” (functional descriptions in subsection 2 of this section) are as follows:
a. Type A – General alarm (noncoded);
b. Type A/E – General alarm (noncoded) with automatic detection;
c. Type B – General alarm (zone noncoded);
d. Type B/E – General alarm (zone noncoded) with automatic detection;
e. Type C – General alarm (zone coded);
f. Type C/E – General alarm (zone coded) with automatic detection;
g. Type D – Dual-coded alarm;
h. Type D/E – Dual-coded alarm with automatic detection.
4. “Annunciator” means a unit monitoring or serving two or more identified areas or locations in which each indicator or lamp indicates the circuit, condition or location monitored.
5. “Approved” means accepted by the city council or building department, upon advice of the fire or police departments, as appropriate to the type of alarm, and as a result of investigation and experience and by reason of test, listing or approval for specific use by a nationally recognized testing agency, such as Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Factory Mutual Research Corporation, etc. (by way of example and not limitation); provided, that for digital alarm communicator systems for fire detection, “approved” also means that the system is accepted by the fire chief and is consistent with the criteria set forth by digital alarms in NFPA 71, 1982; provided, that for any digital alarm systems now or hereafter required to be installed by any section of this chapter or by any ordinance or code of the city, “approved” shall, in addition, mean that the system is tested and listed for its intended use by a national testing laboratory.
6. “Coded signal” means an alarm signal which consists of not less than three complete repetitions of the number transmitted.
7. “Combination alarm” means a device combining burglary and fire alarms, burglary and holdup alarms, or burglary and trouble alarms, or any combination of these, without any differentiation as between the same.
8. “Day-care center” means an agency which provides care for any number of children outside the abode of the licensee or for 13 or more children in the abode of the licensee for periods of less than 24 hours per day.
9. “Day treatment center” means an agency which provides care, supervision and appropriate therapeutic and/or educational services during part of the 24-hour day for a group of persons under the age of 18 years.
10. “Digital alarm communicator systems” means a system in which signals are transmitted from a digital alarm communicator transmitter which is connected to an approved fire alarm system located at protected premises through the public-switched telephone network to a digital alarm communicator receiver located at a fire alarm center.
11. “Dwelling unit” means one or more habitable rooms which are occupied, or which are intended or designed to be occupied, by one family, and which include the facilities for living, sleeping, cooking and eating.
12. “Education building” means a building or structure or any portion thereof, for classes or instruction by a recognized, licensed and accredited public or private educational institution, such as a school, university, college or academy. It also includes part-day nursery schools, kindergartens and other schools whose purpose is primarily educational.
13. “Family day-care center” means a day-care center for the care of 12 or fewer children in a facility in the family abode of the person or persons under whose direct care and supervision the child is placed, for periods of less than 24 hours per day.
14. “Fire alarm center” means receiving agencies approved by Thurston County fire protection district No. 2 in compliance with NFPA standards or Factory Mutual/Underwriters’ Laboratory approval alarm centers.
15. “Fire alarm system” means electrically operated circuits, instruments and devices, designed to transmit alarms, supervisory signals and/or trouble signals, for the protection of life or property against damage or loss by fire or smoke.
16. “Fire divisions” means those divisions established by area separation walls as defined in Chapter 5 of the Uniform Building Code.
17. “Institutional building” means a building, or structure, or portion thereof, used by persons harbored or detained to receive medical, charitable or other care or treatment, or used to detain persons involuntarily.
18. “Local fire alarm system” means a local system used exclusively to sound a fire alarm at the protected premises as the result of the manual or automatic operation of protection equipment or signalling systems or devices.
19. “Maintenance” means repair service, including periodic inspections and tests as required to keep the protective signalling system and its component parts in an operative condition at all times.
20. “Mercantile building” means a building or structure, or any portion thereof, used for displaying, selling or buying of goods, wares or merchandise.
21. “Multifamily residence” means a building or structure or any portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units, including a tenement or apartment house or flat.
22. “Owner” means any person, agent, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property, and a right to control the same. For purposes of this chapter, a landlord, a tenant or both may be considered an owner.
23. “Product of combustion detection” means a fire or smoke detection system utilizing any of the following:
a. Photoelectric cell;
b. Refractory;
c. Ionization.
24. “Public assembly building” means a building or structure or portion thereof used for the gathering together of 50 or more persons for purposes including but not limited to deliberation, education, instruction, worship, entertainment, amusement or awaiting transportation, or of 50 or more persons in drinking and dining establishments.
25. “Residential building” means a building or structure, or any portion thereof, used by persons for sleeping accommodations (such as hotels, motels, apartment houses, dormitories, lodging houses or rooming houses, and multiple-family residences, by way of example and not of limitation) where such persons are not harbored or detained to receive medical or other such care or treatment, and are not otherwise involuntarily detained.
26. “Smoke/product of combustion” means smoke or heat.
27. “Trouble signal” means a signal indicating malfunction of any nature, such as a circuit break or ground, occurring in any device or wiring associated with a protective signaling system. (Ord. 354 Art. 1, § 3, 1989).
8.24.030 Prohibited equipment.
No alarm is permitted which is designed to alert any emergency service financed or supported fully or partially by funds of the city, where such alert be by the unattended dialing, directly or indirectly, of any public telephone number of any such emergency service or utilized by such emergency service. (Ord. 354 Art. 1, § 4, 1989).
8.24.040 False alarm service charges.
A. Minimum service charges for false alarms shall be assessed as follows:
1. For the first two alarms within any calendar month, no charge will be assessed.
2. For the third false alarm within any calendar month, a charge of $25.00 will be assessed.
3. For the fourth false alarm within any calendar month, a charge of $50.00 will be assessed.
4. For the fifth false alarm and every false alarm thereafter within a calendar month, a charge of $100.00 per false alarm over four will be assessed.
5. Notwithstanding any other provisions contained in this chapter, any false alarm involving a patrol response from the police department will be considered a billable alarm.
B. The false alarm service charges referred to in subsection A of this section shall be civil in nature and will be billed directly by the city to the alarm company having the alarm account of the customer involved in the false alarm, if any, otherwise to the owner(s). Notice of the billing shall also be sent to the alarm customer. The alarm company will be responsible for collecting and submitting to the city complete payment of any such service charges within 45 days from the date of billing thereof. If the alarm company is unable to collect the charge, the alarm company shall terminate the alarm service of the customer.
C. There is created within the city an alarm board consisting of the police chief, or his or her designee, the fire chief of Thurston County fire protection district No. 2, or his or her designee, a representative of the alarm industry, and two members of the public at large. The public members of the board shall be appointed by the mayor with confirmation by the city council.
D. The alarm board shall serve to review and make recommendations to the police chief on theft detection and holdup alarm matters, and to the fire chief on fire and medical emergency alarms, including giving recommendations on any extenuating circumstances that each should consider in assessing a penalty for any billable false alarms.
E. Any alarm customer may, within 10 days of receiving notice of a charge assessment for one or more false alarms, appeal the assessment to the alarm board if he or she believes the charges to be improperly assessed or excessive.
F. Notwithstanding the specific penalties provided for in subsection A of this section, where the cost of actually responding to any false alarm for which a service charge is due exceeds the specified penalty, the actual cost of such false alarm response may be itemized and submitted for payment in the manner above set forth, and shall be payable in lieu of the minimum penalty otherwise applicable. (Ord. 354 Art. 1, § 5, 1989).
Article II. Theft Detection and Holdup Alarm Systems
8.24.050 Discontinuance of system use for cause.
The police chief or building official may at any time order the discontinuance of use of any theft or intrusion or holdup alarm system within the city due to repeated failure of equipment or circuitry, multiple false alarms, or failure to comply with all the provisions of this article. Such notice of discontinuance shall be made in writing to both the agencies supplying the alarm, if any, and to the owner and occupant(s) affected, at least 48 hours prior to the disconnection of the alarm circuit. (Ord. 354 Art. 2, § 1, 1989).
8.24.060 Temporary discontinuance of emergency response action.
In the event of temporary failure of theft, intrusion or holdup alarm equipment or circuitry, equipment malfunction or multiple false alarms, the police chief may order all emergency response actions discontinued or delayed until corroboration of such indicated emergency be forthcoming, until repaired by alarm agency personnel or other certified individuals and certified in writing to the police chief. (Ord. 354 Art. 2, § 2, 1989).
Article III. Fire Alarm Systems
8.24.070 General regulation.
A. Design. All fire alarm plans submitted for approval shall bear the designer’s valid Washington State Low Voltage Specialty Electrical Contractor’s License number or shall be stamped by a registered fire protection or electrical engineer, who assumes responsibility for the design thereof thereby.
B. Plans. All fire alarm system plans shall be submitted to the city building official, and the police and fire departments for review and shall be approved prior to a permit being issued. Three copies of detailed plans showing the location of all alarm equipment and detailed specifications on each type of device in the system shall be included with such submission.
1. Alterations and/or additions to existing systems must comply with the requirements of this article.
2. A maintenance testing agreement, signed by the building owner, shall accompany all fire alarm system plan submittals, to be effective on date of final acceptance of installation and kept in full force and effect thereafter and while such equipment remains in use; provided, that such maintenance may be by the owner/occupant’s own commitment satisfactory to the building official, if such owner/occupant be certified therefor.
3. Plan Check Fee. A fee equal to 65 percent of the permit fee shall be paid to the city at the time of submittal of the plans, to defray costs of reviewing such plans. Each resubmission shall be accompanied by a new plan check fee.
4. Permit Fee. No person or agency shall install, alter, replace or perform major repair of a fire alarm system within the city without first obtaining a permit to be issued by the city. Upon a determination by the chief of the fire department or his or her designee that the fire alarm system for which a permit is requested complies with all applicable codes and ordinances and is approved, and the appropriate fee as described below is received, the permit shall be issued; provided, however, that no permit shall be required for single station detectors. The following fee schedule shall apply for issuance of permits described below:
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Type A |
$ |
10.00 |
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Type A/E |
22.00 |
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Type B |
14.00 |
|
|
Type B/E |
30.00 |
|
|
Type C |
16.00 |
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|
Type C/E |
34.00 |
|
|
Type D |
24.00 |
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|
Type D/E |
50.00 |
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|
Alterations/additions |
||
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to existing |
$10.00 minimum, + $1.00 per component added or relocated |
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Unclassified types |
Fee to be set by building official according to inspections required, not to exceed $100.00 fee without council approval |
5. The building official, or the chief of the fire department, or either’s designee may, in writing, suspend or revoke any permit issued pursuant to this section whenever the chief finds that the permit was issued on the basis of error, deception or fraud on the part of the applicant, or upon discovery of a violation of the applicable codes or ordinances of the city, or any of them, including but not limited to the provisions of this article. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 1, 1989).
8.24.080 Standards.
A. All fire alarm systems shall be installed in accordance with the ordinances of the city, and portions of the National Fire Protection Standards which have been adopted by city ordinance.
B. All fire alarm system wiring and components shall be electrically supervised.
C. Fire alarm systems shall be designed to remain completely operational on self-contained battery power supply for a minimum period of 24 hours.
D. Fire alarm systems required under this code including existing required fire alarm systems, shall have a maintenance agreement in effect with a fire alarm company and/or qualified individual unless the owner/occupant be certified and undertake and certify such maintenance to the city. Such agreement must provide for periodic inspection and testing as prescribed by local and national standards as from time to time adopted by the city council. Repair service shall be available within 24 hours of notification of trouble or malfunction.
E. An annunciator shall be required on all fire alarm systems when a building or complex consists of three or more separate buildings, floors or fire divisions. The annunciator shall be installed so as to be clearly visible and identifiable to personnel responding to an alarm. A map of the premises to be protected, identifying zones, shall be provided at each required annunciator. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 2, 1989).
8.24.090 Fire alarm center monitoring.
A. Where provisions of this chapter require extension of a fire alarm system, it shall be by one of the following methods:
1. Approved auxiliary connection to a municipal fire alarm system;
2. Direct supervised wire connection to an approved fire alarm center;
3. Approved digital alarm communication systems.
B. All structures or buildings which are 7,500 square feet or more in total floor area and constructed after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, or which are provided with fixed fire protection systems, shall have such system connected to an approved fire alarm center as set forth in this section.
1. For the purpose of this subsection, portions of buildings separated by an area separation wall as defined in the Uniform Building Code may be considered as separate buildings. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 3, 1989).
8.24.100 Installation approval.
A. Upon final inspection of all fire alarm systems, the installer shall provide the inspector evidence that the installer holds the required valid Washington State Low Voltage Specialty Electrical Contractor’s License.
B. An operational performance test of the entire fire alarm system will be required prior to final approval of said system. Such test shall be coordinated by the building official, the fire chief or the designee of either, and will require a copy of the as-built plans of the system, the presence of a representative of the fire alarm installer, and an owner’s representative during the test. Where sprinkler systems are installed, a representative of the installing firm must also be present. If, on the basis of said inspection and test, the building official, chief, or either’s designee determines that the fire alarm system does not comply with the applicable codes or ordinances of the city, or if it does not conform to the plans as submitted with the application, any permit previously issued may be revoked or suspended until the nonconformities or violations be rectified. The building official shall not issue a certificate of occupancy until written acceptance of the alarm system is on file.
C. When the system fails to meet final acceptance and requires re-testing, each re-testing shall be performed at a minimum fee of $25.00 or, alternatively, for a fee based on the actual costs per hour incurred, which fee shall be payable at the time of scheduling each subsequent test. If fees are not paid as aforementioned, final approval of the system will be withheld. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 4, 1989).
8.24.110 Alarms defined by type.
A. Type A – General Alarm (Noncoded). Activation of any initiating device sounds a continuous alarm on all indicating devices until manually reset.
B. Type B – General Alarm (Zone Noncoded). Activation of any required initiating device sounds a continuous alarm on all indicating devices, until manually reset, and indicates on an annunciator panel the zone initiated.
C. Type C – General Alarm (Zone Coded – Annunciated). Activation of any initiating device sounds a coded alarm announcing the area of fire to all occupants and indicates the zone initiated on an annunciator panel.
D. Type D – Dual-Coded Alarm. Activation of any initiating device sounds a zone coded alarm on chimes or other auditory device to alert staff and personnel and shall indicate the zone location of the originating device on the annunciator panel.
1. Upon first operation of any manual or automatic detecting device, a signal shall be automatically transmitted to an approved fire alarm center.
2. Manual pull stations must be equipped so that a key can be inserted and a general evacuation alarm sounded at any time. General evacuation alarms shall be continuously ringing bells or blowing horns.
3. An adjustable time delay device may be incorporated in the system to activate the general evacuation alarm within a maximum of five minutes after the first actuation of any signal sending station or detection device.
E. Type E – Automatic Fire Detection Devices. Automatic fire detection devices shall consist of fixed temperature, fixed temperature/rate of rise, or smoke/products of combustion approved types.
F. No alarm shall be permitted other than the above types, except with approval of the city building official and police department. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 5, 1989).
8.24.120 Existing buildings.
No existing buildings shall be made to conform to the provisions of this article except where structural deficiencies affecting life safety are involved, and in the opinion of the building official, fire chief or designee of either, the continued use of such building in its present condition and without a fire alarm system would be hazardous to the safety of the occupants, or as may otherwise be provided in the Uniform Building Code or amendments thereto. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 6, 1989).
8.24.130 Occupancy requirements.
Fire alarm systems shall be provided in all occupancies as specified in this section. Manual stations may be deleted or the required number thereof lessened at the discretion of the fire chief or his or her representative.
The requirement for automatic fire detector devices may be waived when the building is fully protected by an approved automatic fire extinguishing system equipped with a water flow alarm connected to the building fire alarm system.
A. Type A or Type A/E systems are required in:
1. Educational occupancies used for the gathering of groups or six or more persons for the purpose of instruction, such as kindergartens, schools, universities, colleges and academies other than campus type, except day-care centers, day treatment centers and family day-care centers. Educational occupancies with less than six occupants shall be provided with single station smoke detection;
2. Hotels, motels, dormitories, fraternity or sorority houses, lodging houses and similar occupancies housing six or more unrelated persons;
3. Apartment houses and multiple dwelling units two or more stories in height;
4. Maternity homes accommodating six or more persons;
5. Day-care centers, day treatment centers, and family day-care centers with 12 or less occupants shall be provided with single station smoke detection.
B. Type B or Type B/E systems are required in:
1. Schools, universities, academies, colleges and institutional occupancies which are of campus type;
2. Office buildings or mercantile occupancies three or more stories in height and if the total capacity of the building is 50 or more, but less than 1,000 persons;
3. All occupancies three or more stories in height where an automatic fire detection system is required.
C. Type C or Type C/E systems are required in:
1. General industrial occupancies not provided with automatic sprinklers if the total capacity of the building is 500 or more persons or if 25 or more persons are employed below the street level.
D. Type D or Type D/E systems are required in:
1. Hotels, motels, dormitories, fraternity or sorority houses and similar occupancies of 50 or more persons and two or more stories in height;
2. Group I occupancies as defined in the Building Code, with more than 100 beds. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 7, 1989).
8.24.140 Fire alarm systems requiring automatic detection devices.
Fire alarm systems requiring automatic detection devices are as follows:
A. Group I occupancies as defined in the building code;
B. Group R-1 occupancies, as defined in the building code, two or more stories in height. In such occupancies:
1. Interior stairways and interior corridors shall be provided with approved products of combustion detectors of a type reacting to conditions other than heat;
2. All other areas, including the interior of apartment units, shall be provided with either fixed temperature or fixed temperature/rate of rise detectors;
C. All Group R-1 occupancies three or more stories in height, basements included, unless each unit exits directly to the exterior of the building, shall have their fire alarm system connected to the fire alarm dispatch center in a manner provided by the fire chief and building official.
1. The fire chief or building official may require the fire alarm system to be connected to the dispatch center whenever the alarm system is being used in an existing building to compensate for a structural deficiency;
D. In all buildings where the total floor area is 7,500 square feet or greater;
E. All Group E or B occupancies used for educational/day-care purposes as defined in the building code. In such applications:
1. Stairways and corridors shall be equipped with approved products of combustion detectors of a type reacting to conditions other than heat;
2. All other areas shall be provided with fixed temperature or fixed temperature/rate of rise detectors. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 8, 1989).
8.24.150 Occupancy which blocks exit of another unit.
In addition to all fire alarm requirements set forth in this article, the following shall apply: any occupancy below or adjacent to a dwelling unit that in the event of fire would block all exiting of that unit shall be provided with either fixed temperature or fixed temperature/rate of rise detectors on spacing as specified by the fire chief or building official. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 9, 1989).
8.24.160 Discontinuance of system use for cause.
The fire chief may at any time order the discontinuance of use of a fire alarm system within the city due to repeated failure of equipment or circuitry, multiple false alarms or failures to comply with all the provisions of this article. Such notice of discontinuance shall be made in writing to both the agencies supplying the alarm, if any, and to the owner and occupant(s) affected, at least 48 hours prior to the disconnection of the alarm circuit. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 10, 1989).
8.24.170 Temporary discontinuance of emergency response action.
In the event of temporary failure of fire alarm equipment or circuitry, equipment malfunction or multiple false alarms, the fire chief may order all emergency response actions discontinued or delayed until corroboration of the emergency be forthcoming, until repairs can be made by alarm agency personnel, or other certified individual and certified in writing to the fire chief. (Ord. 354 Art. 3, § 11, 1989).
8.24.180 Violation – Penalty.
Any person or agency violating any provision of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $500.00 and/or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days. Each day such violation persists shall constitute a separate offense. (Ord. 354 Art. 1, § 6, 1989).