Township of Horsham, PA Chapter 109 Fire Prevention

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of Horsham Township 4-13-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-02.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 109, Fire Prevention, adopted 3-13-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-03.

§ 109-1 Adoption of standards by reference.

That a certain document, three copies of which are on file in the office of the Manager of Horsham Township, being marked and designated as the International Fire Code, 2018 edition (and all successor editions), including all appendix chapters, as published by the International Code Council, be and is hereby adopted as the Fire Prevention Code of Horsham Township, in the state of Pennsylvania, regulating and governing the safeguarding of life and property from fire and explosion hazards arising from storage, handling, and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the occupancy of building and premises as herein provided; providing for the issuance of permits and collection of fees therefor; and each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said fire code on file in the office of Horsham Township are hereby referred to, adopted, and made part hereof, as is fully set out in this ordinance, with the additions, insertions, deletions and changes, if any, prescribed in § 109-2 of this chapter.

§ 109-2 Modification to standards.

That the following sections of the International Fire Code, 2018 are hereby revised:

A. Section 101.1 Title. Amended to read: "These regulations shall be known as the Fire Prevention Code of Horsham Township, hereinafter referred to as this code."

B. Section 105.6.16 Flammable and combustible liquids. Amend to add the following:

105.6.16.12. To install, alter, permanently remove, abandon in place or otherwise dispose of a flammable or combustible liquid tank.

C. Section 107 Inspections. Amend to add the following:

107.5 Fire and Life Safety Inspection Program.

107.5.1 Inspections. Fire and life safety Inspections shall be conducted for all properties/facilities in Horsham Township and shall be based on the fire, health, and safety code requirements established within the current version of the International Fire Code.

Exception: Properties erected under the provisions of the International Residential Code are exempt from Section 107.5.

107.5.2 Frequency. The frequency of inspections shall be determined by the Fire Code Official and shall be based on the fire risk regarding the use, occupancy, and level of maintenance of life safety systems for the property/facility.

107.5.3 Process. Upon completion of the first inspection, an inspection report, invoice, and applicable permits shall be sent to the owner/occupant via regular mail and/or email for each occupiable space including common areas.

107.5.4 Reinspection: If during the first inspection any violations of this code are found, a reinspection shall take place following the expiration of the time limit identified in the report for the requirements to be corrected. If violations are found at the conclusion of the third reinspection, the owner/occupant shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Section 110.4 of this code at the discretion of the Fire Code Official.

107.5.5 Fees. An invoice shall be issued at the completion of the first inspection and shall be payable within 30 days of the date thereof. Two additional notices shall be sent out at 60 days and 90 days if payment is not received. If payment is not received within 120 days of the date of the first invoice, the owner/occupant shall be subject to the penalty provisions of Section 110.4 of this code.

D. Section 110.4 Violation Penalties. Insert: "summary offense," "$1,000" and "30 days."

E. Section 112.4 Failure to comply. Insert: "$250" and "$1,000."

F. Section 202 General Definitions - Fire Code Official. Amend to read as follows: Where the term "Fire Code Official" is used in the fire code, it shall be held to mean the "Fire Marshal" of Horsham Township or his/her duly authorized representative.

G. Section 307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces. Amend to add the following:

307.1.2 Prohibition of burning for disposal purposes. In accordance with the Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling, and Waste Reduction Act of July 28, 1988, P.L. 528, No. 101, ("Pennsylvania Act 101") as amended by Act 140 of 2006 and Horsham Township Ordinance No. 2010-2, amending Chapter 185 of the Horsham Township Code, it shall be unlawful for any person to openly burn any material, including the following, at any time within the boundaries of the municipality: household trash, books, magazines, newspapers, cardboard and/or any items that are required to be recycled in the municipality under Pennsylvania Act 101, including yard waste, leaves and scrap lumber or any vegetation, plywood, drywall, plastic products, insulation materials, upholstered furniture, solid waste and/or construction waste as defined by the Pennsylvania Solid Waste Management Act and 25 Pa. Code § 271.1, garbage, dead animals, human and animal excrement, human and animal hair, rubber products, including tires, hydrocarbon products or flammable liquids, asphalt or tar shingles or roofing materials, bedding, foam rubber, nylon, rayon, cotton, wool, polyester or other synthetic material, insulation from copper or other wiring.

H. Section 501.3 Construction documents. Amend to replace the words "fire department" with "Fire Code Official."

I. Section 507.5.3 Private fire service mains and water tanks. Amend to add the following:

4. Any private fire hydrant not owned by Horsham Water and Sewer Authority shall be painted bright red over the entire surface of the hydrant.

J. Section 907.6.6.1 Automatic telephone-dialing devices. Amend to replace the words "fire chief" with "Fire Code Official."

K. Section 1103.5.3 Group 1-2, Condition 2. Insert: "The requirement for the installation of the sprinkler system shall be effective upon adoption of this ordinance."

L. Section 5704.2.9.6.1 Locations where aboveground tanks are prohibited. Amend to read:

5704.2.9.6.1 Locations where aboveground tanks are prohibited. Storage of Class I and II liquids in aboveground tanks outside of buildings is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of districts in which such storage is prohibited in accordance with the Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance.

M. Section 5706.2.4.4 Locations where aboveground tanks are prohibited. Amend to read:

Section 5706.2.4.4 Locations where aboveground tanks are prohibited. The storage of Class I and II liquids in aboveground tanks is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of districts in which such storage is prohibited in accordance with the Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance.

Section 5706.6.2.1 Parking near residential, educational and institutional occupancies and other high-risk areas. Amend to replace the words "fire chief" with the words "Fire Code Official."

N. Section 5806.2 Limitations. Amend to read:

Section 5806.2 Limitations. Storage of flammable cryogenic fluids in stationary containers outside of buildings is prohibited within the limits established by law as the limits of districts in which such storage is prohibited in accordance with the Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance.

O. Section 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. Amend to read:

Section 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquified petroleum gas 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 (7,570 L) in accordance with the Horsham Township Zoning Ordinance.