[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township
of North Versailles as indicated in article histories. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 2-16-1981 by Ord. No. 789 (Ch. 7, Part 3, of the
1987 Code of Ordinances)]
Smoke detectors and alarms shall be installed in all hotels,
motels, apartments and all dwellings within the Township of North
Versailles. It is declared to be the intent of this article to provide
an effective means of detecting fires and warning occupants of that
circumstance. Standards of conduct and standards of care for all property
owners, occupants, rental agents are hereby imposed so as to maintain
safe conditions and to utilize available devices in keeping with the
art of the trade of smoke and fire detectors and alarms. To this end
and in keeping with the standards of this article, the Township Building
Inspector is authorized to exercise his discretion in specifying the
number and placement of said devices, after due consultation with
the Township Engineer and Fire Marshal.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A device which automatically detects the presence of heat,
smoke or other products of combustion, and which activates a fire
alarm signal. Detectors shall be installed in compliance with the
following standards: Underwriters' Laboratories Standard No.
168 for photoelectric type detectors, Underwriters' Laboratories
Standard No. 167 for Ionization Type Detectors, and NFPA No. 72E,
1974, NFPA 101, 1976, by Life Safety Code, BOCA Safety Code, and as
the same shall be amended from time to time.
A.
At least one smoke detector shall be installed to protect each sleeping
area of the above classes of buildings. A "sleeping area" is defined
as the area or areas of the family living unit in which the bedrooms
(or sleeping rooms) are located. Where bedrooms or rooms ordinarily
used for sleeping are separated by other use areas (such as kitchens
or living rooms, but not bathrooms or closets), they shall be considered
as separate sleeping areas for the purpose of this article.
B.
At least one smoke detector shall be installed at the head (top)
of each stairway leading up to an occupied area in such a manner as
to assure that rising smoke is not obstructed in reaching the detector
and the detector intercepts rising smoke before it reaches the sleeping
area.
C.
One smoke detector shall be installed in each gameroom or basement.
In hotels and motels, detectors must be installed so as to provide
adequate and complete protection to carry out the purposes and intent
of this article. The determination of the number and placement of
smoke detectors is hereby vested in the Building Inspector, who is
directed to consult with the Township Engineer and the Township Fire
Marshal.
This article shall apply to all hotels, motels, apartments,
public buildings, commercial buildings, and residential buildings
hereinafter erected, remodeled, transferred, devised, granted, conveyed,
assigned, reconstructed or upon which any work or construction is
done for which at any time hereafter an occupancy permit is needed
pursuant to any ordinance of North Versailles Township.
In all the above classifications, prior to the time any building
permit may be issued, there must be a provision made for the installation
of smoke alarms and smoke detectors in accordance with this article.
Prior to the issuance of any occupancy permit, there must first be
compliance with the terms of this article, and the Building Inspector
shall verify that in fact smoke alarms and detectors have been installed
and are operable in accordance with this article. For each inspection
pursuant to this article, a fee shall be charged in the amount of
$10. Said fee may be adjusted by simple resolution hereinafter.
There is hereby imposed a continuing duty on all owners, occupant
and rental agents to maintain all smoke detectors and alarms in operable
condition.
[Amended 11-16-1987 by Ord. No. 857; 8-15-1988 by Ord. No. 867]
It shall be deemed that this article shall be mandatory, and
shall provide for civil and criminal penalties. Civil remedies shall
include the institution of suit in equity against any owner, occupant
or rental agent of any property to compel the installation of smoke
alarms and detectors in accordance with this article. If any owner,
occupant, rental agent or any person or entity having any interest
in any building covered by this article shall fail or refuse to provide
and install operable smoke alarms and detectors in accordance with
this article, he shall be deemed to be guilty of an offense, and shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than
$1,000 and/or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every
day that a violation of this article continues shall constitute a
separate offense.
