[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Coolbaugh Ord. No.
8-20-2002B (Ch. 7, Part 3, of the 1999 Code of Ordinances).
Amendments noted where applicable.]
The provisions of this chapter shall govern the minimum conditions
and standards for firesafety relating to structures including firesafety
facilities and equipment to be provided.
This chapter shall be construed to secure its expressed intent,
which is to ensure public health, safety and welfare insofar as they
are affected by the continued occupancy and maintenance of structures
and premises. Existing structures and premises that do not comply
with these provisions shall be altered or repaired to provide a minimum
level of health and safety as required herein.
The owner of a premises shall provide and maintain such firesafety
facilities and equipment in compliance with these requirements. A
person shall not occupy any premises that do not comply with the requirements
of this chapter.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and terms
shall, for the purposes of this chapter, have the meanings indicated
in this chapter.
A.
Interchangeability. Words used in the present tense include the future;
words in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter; the
singular number includes the plural and the plural, the singular.
B.
Terms defined in other codes. Where terms are not defined in this
chapter such terms shall have meanings ascribed to them in other code
publications of the International Code Council.
C.
Terms not defined. Where terms are not defined through the methods
authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinarily accepted
meanings such as the context implies.
A.
Change of occupancy. At any change of dwelling occupancy incident
to the sale, lease or sublease of said dwelling units, it shall be
the duty of the grantor (seller, lessor or sublessor) to provide and
install, in the proper working condition, smoke alarms as required
by this chapter, section or other applicable laws.
B.
Smoke alarms. Existing residential occupancies not already provided
with single-station smoke alarms shall be provided with approved single-station
smoke alarms.
C.
Installation. Approved single-station smoke alarms shall be installed
in existing dwelling units, congregate residences, hotel and lodging
house guest rooms. Installation shall be in accordance with the National
Fire Prevention Association's National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA72).
D.
Location requirements. The minimum standard as stated in the NFPA:
There should be a smoke alarm on every level of the house, including
the basement and outside every bedroom. The alarm shall be clearly
audible in all bedrooms.
E.
Power source. In residential occupancies, single-station smoke alarms
shall be battery operated or shall receive their primary power from
the building wiring provided that such wiring is served from a commercial
source. When power is provided by the building wiring, the wiring
shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those
required for over-current protection.
All fire protection systems shall be inspected, tested and maintained
in accordance with the requirements of the latest edition of the National
Fire Protection Association. Such testing is to be conducted by a
certified fire inspector, certified electrical inspector or a designated
Township employee; documentation shall be submitted on forms approved
by the Township. The building owner will forward such documentation
to the Township upon any change of occupancy.
A.
Requirements. All newly constructed residential structures shall
have installed smoke alarms in accordance with the International Residential
Code (as noted) and the National Fire Protection Association's
National Fire Alarm Code (NFPA72) and is subject to the modifications,
amendments or additional requirements of such codes.
B.
Permit application and approval. Upon the submittal of a permit application
for new home construction or habitable additions to existing homes,
the plans submittal shall include detailed plans indicating adherence
to the requirements as set forth in this section.
C.
Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms. Single- and multiple-station
smoke alarms shall be installed in the following locations:
(1)
In each sleeping room.
(2)
Outside of each separate sleeping area in immediate vicinity of the
bedrooms.
(3)
On each additional story of the dwelling, including basements and
cellars 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.
D.
When more than one smoke alarm is required to be installed within
an individual dwelling unit, the alarm devices shall be interconnected
in such a manner that the actuation of one alarm will activate all
of the alarms in the individual units. The alarm shall be clearly
audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening
doors closed.
E.
All smoke alarms shall be listed and installed in accordance with
the provisions of this chapter and the household fire warning equipment
provision of NFPA72.
F.
Alterations, repairs and additions. When interior alterations, repairs
or additions requiring a permit occur, or when one or more sleeping
rooms are added or created in existing dwellings, the individual dwelling
units shall be provided with smoke alarms located as required for
a new dwelling; the smoke alarms shall be interconnected and hardwired.
(1)
Exceptions.
(a)
Smoke alarms in existing areas shall not be required to be interconnected
and hardwired where the alteration 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 which
would provide access for hardwiring and interconnection without the
removal of exterior finishes.
(b)
Repairs to the exterior surfaces of dwellings are exempt from
the requirements of this section.
G.
Power source. In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall
receive their primary power for the building wiring when such wiring
is served from a commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted,
shall receive power from a battery. Wiring shall be permanent and
without a disconnecting switch other than those required for over-current
protection. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery-operated
when installed in buildings without commercial power or in buildings
that undergo alterations, repairs or additions regulated by § R317.1.1
of the International Resident Code 2000 and its amendments.
The Zoning Officer or a designated Township employee shall inspect
any structure, building or improvement and verify its compliance with
this section prior to the issuance of the use and occupancy certificate.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this chapter, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this chapter continues
or each section of this chapter which shall be found to have been
violated shall constitute a separate offense.
