Fire detection, alarm and extinguishing systems, mechanical
smoke exhaust systems, and smoke and heat vents shall be maintained
in an operative condition at all times and shall be replaced or repaired
when defective.
704.1.1 Installation.
Fire protection systems shall be maintained in accordance with
the original installation standards for that system. Required systems
shall be extended, altered, or augmented as necessary to maintain
and continue protection where the building is altered or enlarged.
Alterations to fire protection systems shall be done in accordance
with applicable standards. Failure to maintain a fire protection system
in an operable condition at all times and complete the required inspections
is a violation of this code and subject to the provisions of Sections
106 and the person(s) are exempt from the notification requirements
of Section 107.
704.1.2 Required fire protection systems.
Fire protection systems required by this code and the International Building Code shall be installed, repaired,
operated, tested, and maintained in accordance with this code. 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.
Fire protection systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained
in accordance with their applicable NFPA standard.
SYSTEM
|
STANDARD
|
---|
Portable fire extinguishers
|
NFPA 10
|
Carbon dioxide fire-extinguishing system
|
NFPA 12
|
Halon 1301 fire-extinguishing systems
|
NFPA 12A
|
Dry-chemical extinguishing systems
|
NFPA 17
|
Wet-chemical extinguishing systems
|
NFPA 17A
|
Water-based fire protection systems
|
NFPA 25
|
Fire alarm systems
|
NFPA 72
|
Smoke and heat vents
|
NFPA 204
|
Water-mist systems
|
NFPA 750
|
Clean-agent extinguishing systems
|
NFPA 2001
|
704.2.1 Records.
Records shall be maintained of all system inspections, tests
and maintenance required by the referenced standards.
Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the
fire marshal and the building code official shall
be notified immediately and, where required by the code official, either the building shall be evacuated, or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants left
unprotected by the shutdown until the fire protection system has been
restored to service.
Any person removing, tampering, or interfering with the effectiveness
of a smoke detector, emergency lighting, exit signs, fire extinguisher,
sprinkler system, suppression system, alarm system, or anyone obstructing
a fire exit or propping open a fire door or compromising any other
life safety aspects of the structure, shall be in violation of this
code and subject to the provisions of Sections 106 and the person(s)
are exempt from the notification requirements of Section 107.
704.4.1 Termination of monitoring service.
For fire alarm systems required to be monitored, notice shall
be made to both the fire marshal and the building code official whenever alarm monitoring services are terminated. Notice shall
be in writing by the provider of the monitoring service being terminated.
704.4.2 Fire alarm monitoring.
Existing fire alarm systems shall be maintained per the currently
adopted Fire Alarm Ordinance. Fire alarm systems that do not transmit
to a central station are to be identified with permanent signage with
language approved by the Code Official and in locations as specified by the Code Official that contain as a minimum the following language: "Local Alarm
System - In the event of an emergency call 9-1-1 immediately"
All fire protection equipment signage shall be installed per
the currently adopted Fire Protection Systems Administrative Order.
Existing signage for fire protection equipment is to be maintained
and legible. Such signs shall be subject to the approval of the fire
marshal or building code official.
Existing, non-supervised lock boxes do not need to have tamper
switches connected to an existing alarm system. Lock boxes with supervised
tamper switches that do not reliably transmit supervisory signals
to their central station because of damage or tamper switch failure,
may have their tamper switches disabled at the property owner's request. Regardless of lock box supervision, updated keys, fobs,
access cards, etc. shall be maintained within the lock box(es).
Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed
in existing Group I-1 and R occupancies in accordance with Sections
704.7.1 through 704.7.3.
704.7.1 Where required.
Existing Group 1-1 and R occupancies shall be provided with
single-station smoke alarms in accordance with Sections 704.7.1.1
through 704.7.1.4. Interconnection and power sources shall be in accordance
with Sections 704.7.2 and 704.7.3.
Exceptions:
|
1.
|
Where the code that was in effect at the time of construction
required smoke alarms and smoke alarms complying with those requirements
are already provided.
|
2.
|
Where smoke alarms have been installed in occupancies and dwellings
that were not required to have them at the time of construction, additional
smoke alarms shall not be required provided that the existing smoke
alarms comply with requirements that were in effect at the time of
installation.
|
3.
|
Where smoke detectors connected to a fire alarm system have
been installed as a substitute for smoke alarms.
|
704.7.1.1 Group R-1, One and Two-Family Dwellings and Townhouses.
Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed
in all the following locations in Group R-1:
2. In
every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area
to the door leading from the sleeping unit.
3. In
each story within the sleeping unit, including basements. For sleeping units with split
levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels,
a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent
lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story
below the upper level.
704.7.1.2 Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and I-1.
Single-or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and
maintained in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1 regardless of occupant
load at all of the following locations:
1. On
the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the
immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
2. In
each room used for sleeping purposes.
3. In
each story within a dwelling unit, including basements but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable
attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent
levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for
the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than
one full story below the upper level.
704.7.1.3 Installation near cooking appliances.
Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations:
1. Ionization
smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 20 feet horizontally
from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
2. Ionization
smoke alarms with an alarm-silencing switch shall not be installed
less than 10 feet horizontally from a permanently installed cooking
appliance.
3. Photoelectric
smoke alarms shall not be installed less than 6 feet horizontally
from a permanently installed cooking appliance.
704.7.1.4 Installation near bathrooms.
Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet horizontally
from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains
a bathtub or shower.
704.7.2 Interconnection.
Where more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed
within an individual dwelling or sleeping unit, the
smoke alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation
of one alarm will activate all the alarms in the individual unit.
Physical interconnection of smoke alarms shall not be required where
listed wireless alarms are installed and all alarms sound upon activation
of one alarm. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.
Exceptions:
|
1.
|
Interconnection is not required in buildings that are not undergoing alterations, repairs or construction of any kind.
|
2.
|
Smoke alarms in existing areas are not required to be interconnected
where alterations or repairs do not result in the
removal of interior wall or ceiling finishes exposing the structure,
unless there is an attic, crawl space or basement available that could provide access for interconnection without
the removal of interior finishes.
|
704.7.3 Power source.
Single-station smoke alarms shall receive their primary power
from the building wiring provided that such wiring is served from
a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Smoke
alarms with integral strobes that are not equipped with battery backup
shall be connected to an emergency electrical system. Smoke alarms
shall emit a signal when the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent
and without a disconnecting switch other than as require d for over-current
protection.
Exceptions:
|
1.
|
Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in
existing buildings where no construction is taking place.
|
2.
|
Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in
buildings that are not served from a commercial power source.
|
3.
|
Smoke alarms are permitted to be solely battery operated in
existing areas of buildings undergoing alterations or repairs that do not result in the removal of interior walls or
ceiling finishes exposing the structure, unless there is an attic,
crawl space or basement available that could provide
access for building wiring without the removal of interior finishes.
|
704.7.4
Smoke detection system.
Smoke detectors listed in accordance with UL 268 and provided
as part of the building's fire alarm system shall be an acceptable
alternative to single- and multiple-station smoke alarms and shall
comply with the following:
1. The
fire alarm system shall comply with all applicable requirements in
Section 907 of the International Fire Code.
2. Activation
of a smoke detector in a dwelling or sleeping unit shall initiate alarm notification in the dwelling or sleeping unit in accordance with Section 907.5.2
of the International Fire Code.
3. Activation
of a smoke detector in a dwelling or sleeping
unit shall not activate alarm notification appliances outside
of the dwelling or sleeping unit, provided that a supervisory signal is generated and monitored in
accordance with Section 907.6.5 of the International Fire
Code.
Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be tested and
maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Smoke
alarms that do not function shall be replaced. Smoke alarms installed
in one- and two-family dwellings shall be replaced not more than 10
years from the date of manufacture marked on the unit or shall be
replaced if the date of manufacture cannot be determined.
The property owner shall maintain all smoke
detectors located in owner-occupied dwelling units. For rental units, it is the responsibility of the property owner or responsible local agent to provide
functioning smoke detectors at the beginning of each lease period.
Tenants shall always maintain smoke detectors in a functional condition
after starting occupancy. Removal of the battery
or power source from a smoke detector, making a detector inoperable,
or tampering with the detector in any way, is a violation of this
code and subjects that person to the violation penalties.
Portable fire extinguishers shall be installed in new and existing
construction as required by the currently adopted building and/or
fire code.
704.11.1 Fire extinguishers in rental units.
Rental units of Building Use Group R-2, R-3, R-4 and One and Two Family Dwelling & Townhouses shall have at least one 2.5-pound type ABC (1:A:10-B:C) portable
fire extinguisher placed in the kitchen area of each dwelling
unit. In Building Use Group R-1 and R-2 Rooming
Houses, a 5-pound type ABC fire extinguisher with a minimum 2A rating
shall be provided in corridors. Those provided in other areas shall
be in accordance with the International Fire Code.
Exception: Disposable fire extinguishers that are
UL listed and met the requirements of NFPA 10 shall be approved for use as listed, but in no way more than 6 years from the date
of manufacture. Disposable fire extinguishers are exempted from the
requirements to be inspected annually by a 3rd party trained individual.
It is the responsibility of the property owner to
schedule inspections of fire extinguishers annually. The individual
inspecting the extinguisher shall permanently affix the date that
the inspection occurred and the initials of the inspection to the
tagged extinguisher.
|
704.11.2 Fire extinguisher maintenance.
All fire extinguishers shall be inspected and maintained annually
in accordance with NFPA 10, the Standard for Portable Extinguishers.
Inspections of fire extinguishers must be conducted by a certified
extinguisher technician.