[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Schuylkill 11-1-2000 by Ord. No. 00-04; amended in its entirety 3-2-2005 by Ord. No.
2005-01. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 140.
As set out herein, a fully operational automatic fire-suppression
system that meets the requirements of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction
Code as adopted by Schuylkill Township on July 7, 2004, is hereby
required:
A.
All new construction of a structure or dwelling as defined in § 370-7 of Chapter 370, Zoning, as amended, shall be equipped with a fully operational automatic fire-suppression system throughout. Exceptions for residential structures only: A residential structure shall not be required to be equipped with a fire-suppression system where:
B.
All new addition(s) or structural alteration(s) as defined in § 370-7 of Chapter 370, Zoning, as amended, representing 1,000 square feet or more of gross floor area as defined in the International Building Code (IBC) shall be equipped with a fully operational fire-suppression system throughout the existing structure and any new addition(s). Additions or alterations to an existing sprinklered structure shall be sprinklered no matter the square footage of the addition or alteration.
C.
Fire-suppression system shall be required throughout basements of
newly constructed buildings.
D.
All fire-suppression systems required by ordinance shall be maintained
in good working condition at all times. If a fire-suppression system
is shut down for repairs or for any other reason is rendered nonoperational,
the Schuylkill Township Fire Marshal (Fire Marshal) shall be notified
immediately. The Fire Marshal may require that an approved fire watch
be maintained until the system is back in service. An approved fire
watch shall be defined as an alert person being present on site at
all times a fire-suppression system is not functioning.
E.
All fire-suppression systems shall be installed in accordance with
all relevant standards, including National Fire Protection Association
NFPA 13, 13D and 13R, and Chapter 9 of the IBC, and any other applicable
codes.
F.
All fire-suppression systems shall have centrally monitored alarm
systems. Water flow alarms consisting of water flow switches and outside
alarm bells shall be installed on all sprinkler systems. Outside alarms
shall be labeled as to their purpose.
Before any fire-suppression system is installed or altered,
detailed plans showing the proposed system or system alterations prepared
by a professional engineer or a National Institute for Certifying
of Engineering and Technologies NICET Level 3 or Level 4 Technician
shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Fire Marshal
and the Schuylkill Township Code Enforcement Officer. Nothing contained
herein shall be construed to favor the installation of one specific
type of fire-suppression system over another.
A.
The required plans shall provide a complete and documented report
as to the compliance of the proposed designs or alterations with all
relevant codes and standards as well as the required features and
measures of fire protection.
B.
The Fire Marshal reserves the right to require additional, supplemental
design information related to any plan submitted for review. The cost
of obtaining and providing such information to be provided shall be
the responsibility of the applicant or building owner.
C.
The Fire Marshal reserves the right to require that any additional,
supplemental design information related to any plan submitted for
review shall be prepared by and shall bear the seal of a registered
professional engineer specializing in fire protection.
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to require the installation
of sprinkler equipment in:
A.
Safe deposit or other vaults.
B.
Rooms or buildings used for the sale, manufacturer or storage of
aluminum powder, calcium carbide, calcium phosphate, metallic sodium,
potassium quicklime, magnesium powder, sodium peroxide or like substances
to which the application of water will cause or increase fire or health
hazards.
C.
Any other location where the installation of such equipment may,
in the opinion of the Fire Marshal, increase the hazard to life or
property or for any other justified reason, or be impractical due
to existing conditions.
Where fire-suppression systems are required by ordinance, the
building owner shall annually certify in writing to the Fire Marshal
that the fire-suppression system has been tested and maintained in
accordance with applicable testing and maintenance procedures, including,
where appropriate, the National Fire Protection Association Standard
No. 25 "Testing and Maintenance of Water Based Fire Protection Systems."
Additionally, certification is required in writing to the Fire Marshal
whenever any work on the fire-suppression systems is performed that
the person servicing, testing or maintaining any fire-suppression
system has adequate knowledge of the operation of the fire-suppression
system and qualifies as one of the following:
A.
A licensed professional engineer or fire protection specialist who
has designed and/or supervised installation of fire-suppression systems,
or who can demonstrate knowledge of the requirements for installation
and testing of fire-suppression systems to the satisfaction of the
Fire Marshal;
B.
An established fire-suppression system installation contractor; or
C.
A contractor licensed and certified to conduct fire-suppression system
testing.
The requirements set herein shall remain in effect should updated
versions of the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as adopted
by Schuylkill Township on July 7, 2004, be adopted by Schuylkill Township.
Should the National Fire Protection Association Standards be revised
and/or updated, the requirements set herein shall remain in effect.
However, should the Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code as adopted
by Schuylkill Township on July 7, 2004, or the NFPA Standards allow
for standards to exceed the measures set herein, those upgraded standards
shall prevail over the aforesaid requirements.
This chapter shall take full force and effect immediately after
the date of final passage and approval, except they shall not apply
to new residential building permits subsequently issued for those
active subdivision and land developments already partially completed
as named in this section, but only if the respective developer for
each named subdivision and land development shall offer to each buyer
in writing the option to have a fire-suppression system installed
at a price not to exceed $3 per square foot of living floor space.
The buyer's written acceptance or rejection of the option shall
accompany the building permit application as a condition for issuance
of a new residential building permit.
