[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of
Washington 8-6-2015 by Ord. No.
1869. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.Â
ACCIDENTAL FALSE ALARMS
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
ALARM TECHNICIAN
CENTRAL RECEIVING STATION
CITY OF WASHINGTON FIRE COMMUNICATION DEVICE
DIRECT ALARM DEVICE
FALSE ALARM
FIRE CONTROL PANEL
INDIRECT ALARM DEVICE
INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM
NONRESIDENTIAL STRUCTURE
PERMIT HOLDER
PERSON
TELEPHONE DIALER ALARM DEVICE
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
Any false alarm which is not an intentional false alarm as
defined herein or when an intrusion, crime, fire or other emergency
has not actually occurred.
A communication to the Police or Fire Department indicating
that a crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate
action by the Police Department has occurred or is occurring.
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an
alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means directly to the Fire
Department, to a person who is instructed to notify the Police or
Fire Department of the alarm, or to activate a bell or sounding device
to be heard outside a building which is intended to alert the police
or others to the existence of a crime, fire, or other emergency situation
warranting police action.
An employee or appointed technician who is qualified to install
and test any and all portions of the City of Washington fire communication
device, or any other firesafety or life safety devices or apparatus.
[Added 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
The alarm or control panel or other device installed in the
City headquarters for fire calls or alarms for the purpose of giving
visual or audio response to direct alarm devices.
A device provided by the City of Washington Fire Department
designed to communicate through telephone or data wires or wirelessly
with the City of Washington Fire Department for the purpose of notification
of a fire.
[Added 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
An alarm device, other than a telephone dialer alarm device,
designed to transmit an alarm directly to the Fire Department.
An alarm to which to the Police or Fire Department responds
resulting from the activation of an alarm device when a crime, fire
or other emergency warranting immediate action by the Police or Fire
Department has not in fact occurred.
A centralized control panel communicating with any and all
alarm devices in a prescribed building or area. The fire control panel
will signal the City of Washington fire communication device.
[Added 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
An alarm device designed to transmit an alarm to a person
who is instructed to notify the Police or Fire Department of the alarm.
A false alarm resulting from the intentional activation of
an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where that individual
has no reasonable basis to believe that a crime, fire or other emergency
warranting immediate action by the Police Department has occurred
or is occurring.
Any and all structures used for any purpose, unless designed
and built to house a single family.
[Added 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
A person to whom the Fire Department has issued an alarm
device permit.
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
An alarm device designed to automatically transmit a recorded
message over or through telephone lines or other means directly to
the Police or Fire Department or to a person or entity who is instructed
to notify the Police or Fire Department of the alarm.
B.Â
In this chapter, the singular shall include the plural, the plural
shall include the singular, and the masculine shall include the feminine
and the neuter.
A.Â
It shall be unlawful for any property owner, lessee of property,
or any person or entity otherwise assuming occupation of any nonresidential
building, premises or structure of any kind within the City to fail
to apply for and install, if so required by the Fire Department, a
City of Washington fire communication device.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
B.Â
In order to apply for an alarm device permit, a person must submit
an application to the Fire Department setting forth all information
and documentation reasonably required by the City which shall include
but shall not be limited to the following:
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
(1)Â
His home address and business address and telephone number of each.
(2)Â
The location at which the alarm device will be installed.
(3)Â
The names, addresses and phone numbers of at least two individuals
who have keys to the premises at which the alarm device is located,
and are authorized to enter the premises at any time, but who do not
reside at the premises at which City of Washington fire communication
device is to be located.
(4)Â
Required construction information.
(5)Â
A general written description of the device other than schematics.
(6)Â
If the device is to be leased or rented from or is to be serviced
pursuant to a service agreement by a person other than the person
making application for an alarm device permit, the name, address and
telephone number of that person must be stated in the application
for an alarm device permit shall submit a signed statement in the
following form:[1]
"I (We), the undersigned applicant(s) for an alarm device permit,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree with the City that neither
I (we) nor anyone claiming by, through or under me (us), shall make
any claim against the City, its officials or agents, for any damages
caused to the premises at which the alarm device, which is the subject
of this application, is or will be located, if such damage is caused
by a forced entry to said premises by employees of the City in order
to answer an alarm from said alarm device at a time when said premises
are or appear to be unattended or when in the discretion of said employees
the circumstances appear to warrant a forced entry."
[1]
Editor's Note: So in original.
C.Â
A person applying for an alarm permit for a nonresidential building
shall submit the required application and upon review, provide the
fee for the City of Washington fire communication device. The fee
for this device, or any other fees identified in this chapter, shall
be listed on the City of Washington Fee Schedule, and may be modified
or adopted hereafter pursuant to a resolution of the Mayor and Council
of the City of Washington.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
D.Â
The Washington City Fire Department shall, within 30 days from receipt
of an application and appropriate fee for a City of Washington fire
communication device, send a written notification if the device is
required or deemed not to be necessary.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892[3]]
[3]
Editor's Note: Original Subsections 5 and 6, which immediately
followed this subsection, were repealed 4-6-2017 by Ord. No. 1892.
E.Â
If a device is found to be damaged, nonfunctioning or faulty, the
occupancy permit can be revoked.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
F.Â
An alarm device permit may be revoked for any lawful reason, including
but not limited to the following reasons:
(1)Â
Failure of an alarm device to conform to the operational standards set forth in § 90-3 of this chapter.
(2)Â
Failure of a permit holder with a City of Washington fire communication
device to pay the Fire Department for the maintenance fees as prescribed
by the City of Washington Fee Schedule.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
(3)Â
The occurrence of more than 12 false alarms from an alarm device
during any calendar year.
(4)Â
The occurrence of an intentional false alarm caused by the permit
holder or by an individual over the age of 15 who resides on the premises
where the alarm device is located.
G.Â
If an alarm device is designed to transmit a recorded message directly
to the City Central Receiving Station or Fire Department, the duration
of such recorded message shall not exceed 60 seconds. The contents
of the recorded message shall be intelligible and in a format approved
by the City, Police and Fire Departments.
H.Â
A tenant's supplied fire control panel need not contain a delay
service which causes a delay to occur between the time the alarm device
receives a triggering stimulus and the time the fire control panel
transmits a signal to the City of Washington fire communication device.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892[6]]
[6]
Editor's Note: Original Subsection 13, which immediately
followed this subsection, was repealed 4-6-2017 by Ord. No. 1892.
I.Â
All alarm devices shall be designed, installed and maintained so
that it interfaces with the central receiving station maintained by
the City, to include the Fire Department. Notwithstanding any other
term or provision set forth in this chapter, any and all alarm systems
or devices of any kind installed in or upon any premises described
herein, from and after the effective date of this chapter, shall link
to the City of Washington fire communication device provided by the
City of Washington Fire Department.[7]
[7]
Editor's Note: Original Subsection 15, which immediately
followed this subsection, was repealed 4-6-2017 by Ord. No. 1892.
J.Â
All alarm devices and systems of any kind as identified or referenced
in this chapter shall meet the standards and specifications set forth
herein as well as the applicable standards of Underwriters' Laboratories
and/or the National Fire Protection Association, and/or other recognized
industry standards, and shall be permitted under this chapter if in
conformity thereto. Any alarm device or system which does not meet
any or all of the above standards or for which there is no recognized
industry standard shall require the applicant for a permit to submit
evidence of the reliability or suitability of the alarm device, which
may be approved or denied by the City. Any permit issued for such
an alarm device or system which does not conform to the recognized
standard may be conditionally subject to satisfactory performance
of said alarm device or system after installation. The applicant for
a permit may be required to submit evidence of the reliability and
suitability of the alarm device.
K.Â
The sensory mechanism used in connection with an alarm device must
be adjusted to suppress false indication of fire or intrusions, so
that the alarm device will not be activated by impulses due to transient
pressure change in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises
such as the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noise
adjacent to the premises, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarm
situations.
A.Â
Connection fee.
(1)Â
In addition to the terms set forth in this chapter, no individual,
person, occupant, entity, homeowner, resident, business organization,
nonprofit organization or charitable institution, as hereinafter defined
shall pay the annual alarm monitor fee as listed on the City of Washington
Fee Schedule, payable on or before March 1 of each succeeding calendar
year.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
(2)Â
There is no refund of fees or any portion of any fees for any reason.
(3)Â
Any person, entity, homeowner, resident, business organization, nonprofit
organization or charitable institution which fails to pay said annual
rental fee by April 1 of each calendar year will be assessed an additional
amount as specified by the City of Washington Fee Schedule, charged
each month in which the payment is late or delinquent.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
B.Â
BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
CHARITABLE INSTITUTION
HOMEOWNER
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
Any proprietorship, partnership, corporation or any other
form of business organization whatsoever doing business in the City
of Washington.
Organizations incorporated or otherwise whose purpose or
purposes include the advancement of education, the advancement of
religion, the promotion of health, governmental or municipal purpose
and any other purpose which is beneficial to the community.
Any person, corporation, partnership, proprietorship or any
other form of business organization which owns a building in the City
of Washington, designed or used exclusively as living quarters for
one or more families.
Any nonprofit corporation, nonprofit association or otherwise,
which is in existence for a purpose or purposes not involving pecuniary
profit, incidental or otherwise, to its member.
C.Â
Connection procedure.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
(1)Â
Before any individual, entity, business organization, nonprofit organization
or charitable institution shall submit an alarm permit application
and upon review associated fee to the City of Washington Fire Department.
If drawings and/or schematics are requested, they shall be provided
by the applicant to the City of Washington Alarm Technician.
(2)Â
All devices, wires, connectors and other such apparatus installed
upon the premises in order to connect to said fire alarm system with
the City alarm system shall be color coded in red and shall be clearly
designated as a fire alarm wire and/or other device. In addition,
all devices, wires, connectors and other such apparatus shall be approved
by the City Alarm Technician and the City Fire Chief. Furthermore,
all individuals and entities to whom this chapter applies shall comply
with all operation standards and requirements as set forth in this
chapter.[1]
D.Â
Penalties. Any person, firm, entity or corporation who shall violate
any provision of this section shall, upon conviction or a determination
of liability thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than
$100 and not more than $1,000 and/or to imprisonment not to exceed
90 days, in addition to any other remedies available to the City.
Every day that a violation of this section continues shall constitute
a separate offense.[2]
[2]
Editor's Note: Original Section 4, False alarms, Section
5, Installation and monitoring fees for direct alarm systems, and
Section 6, Change in location of Police or Fire Department, which
immediately followed this subsection, were repealed 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892.
No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first
obtaining permission from the Fire Department. Where the equipment
is keyed through an intermediary, no such permission is necessary
unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed to the central receiving
station.
The issuance of any permit shall not constitute acceptance by
the City of any liability to maintain any equipment, to answer alarms,
nor otherwise render the City liable to any person for any loss or
damage relating to the alarm system or procedure.
[Amended 4-6-2017 by Ord.
No. 1892]
The administration and enforcement of this chapter is the function
of the City of Washington and shall include the following:
A.Â
Authority to refuse or revoke an occupancy permit because of a misrepresentation
or false statement contained in any application, failure to correct
any deficiencies in equipment or operation of an alarm device after
receipt of due notice from the City, or not meeting other conditions
and specifications of this chapter.
B.Â
Authority, at reasonable times and upon written notice, to enter
upon any premises within the City to inspect the installation and
operation of any alarm device by a City employee or appointed representative.
Whenever, under the provisions of this chapter, the Fire Department
is empowered to make a decision with respect to the installation,
operation or monitoring or maintenance of any alarm device, or with
respect to the denial or revocation of any permit relating thereto,
any applicant for a permit or permit holder aggrieved by such decision
may, within 10 days following the decision, file written appeal therefrom
with the City Council of the City of Washington, whereupon the City
Council shall promptly conduct a hearing within 30 days of the appeal
petition and affirm, modify or reverse the decision appealed from.
The decision of the City Council shall be final.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate a provision
of this chapter shall, upon conviction or a determination of liability
thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine not less than $100 and not more
than $1,000 and in default of payment, to imprisonment for a term
not to exceed 30 days.