City of St. Charles, MO Fire Prevention

Cross Reference: As to sale of fireworks, § 215.1100.

State Law Reference: Authority of City with purchasing firefighting equipment, organization of fire companies, § 77.190, RSMo.; authority of City with fire prevention where buildings are concerned, § 77.500, RSMo.

[1]

Cross Reference: As to building code adopted, §§ 500.040 et seq.; as to electrical code adopted, §§ 500.190 et seq.; as to plumbing code adopted, §§ 500.240 et seq.; as to property maintenance code, §§ 500.110 et seq.

[R.O. 2011 § 205.070; R.O. 2009 § 95.02; CC 1981 § 11-03; Ord. No. 88-113, 6-23-1988; Ord. No. 89-77, 5-4-1989; Ord. No. 91-176, 9-6-1991; Ord. No. 91-208, 10-16-1991; Ord. No. 95-151, 6-7-1995; Ord. No. 97-150, 5-8-1997; Ord. No. 97-332, 9-18-1997; Ord. No. 98-45, 1-22-1998; Ord. No. 00-144, 6-9-2000; Ord. No. 02-287, 12-13-2002; Ord. No. 05-214, 7-27-2005; Ord. No. 05-303, 11-22-2005; Ord. No. 09-114, 6-18-2009; Ord. No. 10-153 § 2, 7-21-2010; Ord. No. 15-103 § 2, 5-19-2015; Ord. No. 18-021, 2-6-2018; Ord. No. 19-181, 9-3-2019; Ord. No. 22-125, 9-20-2022]

The code adopted by Section 205.060 is hereby amended in the following respects:

Section 101.1, Title, is amended to read as follows:

Section 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as "the Fire Code of the City of St. Charles, Missouri," hereinafter referred to as "this code."

Section 103.1, Creation of agency, is amended to read as follows:

Section 103.1 Fire Prevention Bureau. The Fire Prevention Bureau is hereby created and the official in charge thereof shall be known as "the Fire Code Official." The function of the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be the implementation, administration and enforcement of the provisions of this code.

Section 103.2, Appointment, is amended to read as follows:

Section 103.2, Appointment. The Fire Code Official shall be the Fire Chief of the City of St. Charles, Missouri, or his designee.

Section 105.1.2, Types of Permits, is amended to read as follows:

Section 105.1.2 Types of Permits. There shall be four types of permits as follows:

Operational Permit. An operational permit allows the applicant to conduct an operation or a business for which a permit is required by Section 105.5 for either:

1.1 A prescribed period.

1.2 Until renewed or revoked.

Construction Permit. A fire prevention construction permit shall be required to install or modify systems and equipment for which a permit is required by Section 105.6. Also, a fire prevention permit shall be required in all new construction or in the case of any alterations which require a building permit.

Exceptions: R-3 and R-4 use groups.

Site Plan Permit. A fire prevention site plan permit shall be required prior to the issuance of a construction permit on any new construction or alterations.

Certificate Of Occupancy. A certificate of occupancy, indicating completion of the work for which a permit was issued, change of occupancy classification, change of ownership or change of occupancy shall be obtained prior to occupancy of a structure.

Section 105.5.15, Exhibits and trade shows, is amended to read as follows:

Section 105.5.15 Exhibits and trade shows. An operational permit is required to hold an assembly event with the capacity for over three hundred (300) occupants (exempting religious assemblies).

Section 105.6, Required construction permits, is amended to read as follows:

Section 105.6 Required construction permits. The Fire Code Official is authorized to issue construction permits for work as set forth in Sections 105.6.1 through 105.6.25.

Section 105.6.25, Gate systems, is added, which shall read as follows:

Section 105.6.25 Gate systems. Gate systems and security gates, electric or manual, which are located at a primary point of ingress or egress require a construction permit.

Section 106.1.1, Construction documents, is added, which shall read as follows:

Section 106.1.1 Construction documents. Provide a PDF digital format file of all construction documents submitted for permit approval.

Section 107.2, Schedule of permit fees, is amended to read as follows:

Section 107.2 Schedule of permit fees. Where a permit is required, a fee for each permit shall be paid as required, in accordance with the schedule as follows:

Operational permit fees: Operational permit fees are established at fifty dollars ($50).

Exception: For the sale, storage or display of fireworks the operational permit fee shall be two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00). An annual operational permit fee of two hundred and fifty dollars ($250.00) is required for plant extraction systems.

Fire prevention construction permit fee: Fire prevention construction permit fees shall be based on the proposed construction valuation. The construction valuation shall be based upon the greater of the following: the estimated construction valuation as listed on the building permit application; or the most recent published Square Foot Construction Costs Table as published by the International Code Council. Once the building valuation or estimated cost of construction is determined, the fire construction permit fee is three dollars ($3.00) per one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) of construction cost or construction valuation. The minimum fee shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Plan review fees: A plan review fee shall be charged for each permit in addition to the permit fee. The plan review fee is fifty dollars ($50.00).

The fee for each plan review shall be the actual cost borne by the City in the event that a private firm is employed to review a plan. Failure to obtain the fire construction permit will not allow a refund of plan review fees.

Site plan review fee: A site plan review fee shall be charged for each commercial site improvement. The site plan review fee is one hundred dollars ($100.00).

Automatic fire-extinguishing systems: The automatic fire-extinguishing system permit fee is established at one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first fifty (50) sprinkler heads and three dollars ($3.00) per each additional sprinkler head with a maximum charge of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

Fire pump: The fire pump permit fee is established at one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00).

Kitchen hood automatic fire-extinguishing systems: The kitchen hood automatic fire-extinguishing system permit fee is established at one hundred dollars ($100.00) per system.

Paint booth fire-extinguishing systems: The paint booth fire-extinguishing system permit fee is established at one hundred dollars per system ($100.00).

Fire alarm and detection systems: The fire alarm and detection system permit fee is established at one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the first fifty (50) alarm devices and three dollars ($3.00) per each additional alarm device with a maximum charge of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00).

10.

Certificate of occupancy: The permit fee for a certificate of occupancy is established at fifty dollars ($50.00).

11.

Gate system: The permit fee for a gate system is established at fifty dollars ($50.00) unless included in a site improvement plan submittal.

10.

Section 107.7, Additional cost for services, is added which shall read as follows:

Section 107.7 Additional cost for services. Any person requesting or required by this Chapter to have services provided, including plan review, inspection, fire watches and other services of the Fire Code Official which require an extraordinary commitment of Fire Department resources shall be required to reimburse the City for such cost associated with said services. This includes plan review of more than two (2) revisions of plans for the same permit and more than two (2) re-inspections of the same inspection type on the same permit.

Section 107.7.1 A fire watch will be paid at a rate of fifty dollars ($50.00) per hour per individual personnel required. The number of personnel required will be determined by the Fire Code Official.

Section 107.7.2 All other additional cost for services will be paid at a rate of fifty dollars ($50.00) or actual cost borne by the City, whichever is greater.

11.

Section 112.3.5, Exceeding maximum occupant load, is added to read as follows:

Section 112.3.5 Exceeding maximum occupant load. A violation of Section 1004, or successor Section, establishing the occupant load is exempt from the requirements of Section 109.3 or successor Section. Exceeding the maximum occupant load requires no written notice as a prerequisite to prosecution of an ordinance violation.

12.

Section 112.4, Violation penalties, is hereby deleted.

13.

Section 307.1.2, Prohibited open burning, is added to read as follows:

Section 307.1.2 Prohibited open burning. Open burning shall be prohibited.

Exceptions:

Open burning of yard waste from sites is allowed, provided it originates and is burned on the same premises and is conducted in accordance with Sections 307.2 through 307.5. Materials such as tires and used oil may not be used to start fires or be burned in fires. Yard waste includes trees, tree leaves, brush or other vegetation.

Bonfires and recreational fires conducted and approved in accordance with Sections 307.2 through 307.5.

14.

Section 307.4.1, Bonfires, is amended to read as follows:

Section 307.4.1 Bonfires. A bonfire shall be limited in size to five (5) feet in diameter and five (5) feet in height. A bonfire shall not be conducted within fifty (50) feet of a structure or combustible material unless the fire is contained in a barbecue pit. Conditions that could cause a fire to spread within fifty (50) feet of a structure shall be eliminated prior to ignition.

15.

Section 319.2, Permit required, is amended to read as follows:

Section 319.2 Permit required. Any mobile food preparation vehicle shall require an operational permit from the Fire Code Official for each deployment or location prior to placing the vehicle in its proposed set-up location.

Exceptions:

A permit is not required from the Fire Code Official if the vehicle has a current annual fire safety inspection sticker and certification from the City of St Louis displayed on the vehicle, although the Fire Code Official shall have the authority to conduct an inspection on any food preparation vehicle set-up for operation within their jurisdiction to ensure compliance with this code.

Mobile food preparation vehicles operating under and in compliance with a permit obtained under Section 319.2.1.

Section 319.2.1 Event permit required. An event permit is required from the Fire Code Official for any location where three (3) or more mobile food preparation vehicles will be set-up or in operation at any one (1) time on the same property or at the same venue. The event permit may be issued annually for recurring situations with approval of the Fire Code Official.

Section 319.2.2 Separation between vehicles. There shall be a minimum of ten (10) feet of clear space between any vehicles as measured from the furthest extent of the vehicle or anything tethered to the vehicle except for a connection to a public utility (water, power, etc.).

Section 319.2.3 Separation from structures. There shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet from any mobile food preparation vehicle and any structure measured from the furthest extent of the vehicle or anything tethered to the vehicle (except for a connection to a public utility) to the outermost edge of the building roof overhang projected in a vertical plane directly down to the ground surface.

319.2.4 Failure to obtain a permit. The Fire Code Official shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the occupancy permit of any commercial occupancy that hosts or otherwise allows an un-permitted mobile food preparation vehicle to operate on its property in violation of Section 319.2.

16.

Section 503.2.3, Surface, is amended to read as follows:

Section 503.2.3 Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be designed and maintained to support the imposed loads of fire apparatus and shall be surfaced with asphalt or concrete so as to provide all-weather driving capabilities. The surface shall be kept clear of all mud, debris, or other obstructions.

17.

Section 503.4, Obstruction of fire apparatus access roads. is amended to read as follows:

Section 503.4 Obstructions of fire apparatus access roads. Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including parking of vehicles, fences, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal horses, or any other type of obstruction in or on any street, road, or access unless approved by the Fire Code Official.

18.

Section 503.4.1, Traffic calming devices, is amended to read as follows:

Section 503.4.1 Traffic calming devices. Speed bumps shall be prohibited. Traffic calming devices shall be prohibited unless approved by the Fire Code Official prior to installation.

19.

Section 505.1, Address identification, is amended to read as follows:

Section 505.1 Address identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall not be less than six (6) inches in height with a minimum stroke width of one (1) inch. Where required by the Fire Code Official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used when approved by the Fire Code Official. Address identification shall be maintained.

20.

Section 506.1, Where required, is amended to read as follows:

Section 506.1 Where required. Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or fire-fighting purposes, the Fire Code Official is authorized to require a key box to be installed in an approved location. The key box shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL 1037, and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the Fire Code Official. All buildings equipped with a fire sprinkler system and/or a fire alarm system shall be required to have a key box. In the case of large structures, multiple key boxes may be required at the discretion of the Fire Code Official.

21.

Sections 507.1.1 through 507.1.3 are added, which shall read as follows:

Section 507.1.1. Public and private fire hydrants shall be located and installed as directed by the Fire Code Official.

Section 507.1.2. All final plats submitted to the City for any residential, commercial or industrial subdivision shall designate thereon the location and size of all proposed fire hydrants and the size of the water main to which such fire hydrants shall be attached.

Section 507.1.3. Buildings or structures with an automatic sprinkler and/or standpipe Siamese connection must have one (1) hydrant within one hundred fifty (150) feet of same.

22.

Section 507.5.1, Where required, is amended to read as follows:

Section 507.5.1 Where required. Where a portion of a facility or building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction of the City of Saint Charles is more than three hundred (300) feet from a hydrant on a fire apparatus access road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building, on-site fire hydrants and mains shall be provided where required by the Fire Code Official. Hydrants shall not be spaced more than three hundred (300) feet apart.

23.

Sections 507.5.7 through 507.5.14 are added, which shall read as follows:

Section 507.5.7 Minimum size of water mains serving fire hydrants. All water mains serving fire hydrants shall be at least eight (8) inches in diameter.

Section 507.5.8 Tampering with fire hydrant. It shall be unlawful for any person to use or operate a fire hydrant for any purpose other than the suppression of a fire. This provision shall not apply to employees of the City, Firefighters or employees of the public utility supplying water to the fire hydrant while in the performance of their duties as Firefighters or employees.

Section 507.5.9 Fire hydrant standards. All fire hydrants installed in the City of Saint Charles from and after the effective date of this Chapter shall each have not less than two (2) two and one-half (2.5) inch outlets and one (1) four and a half (4.5) inch outlet, a five and one fourth (5.25) inch valve, a six (6) inch barrel and shall be of the break-away design, frost-free with chain, left hand open design and have National Standard threads.

Section 507.5.10 Fire hydrant location and installation. Fire hydrants shall be placed in accordance with the following specifications:

Hydrants should be placed outside of the collapse zone of a structure and approximately fifty (50) feet from the building protected. When it is impossible to place them at this distance, they may be put nearer where approved by the Fire Code Official, provided they are set in locations where the chance of injury by falling walls is minimal and from which Fire Department personnel are not likely to be driven away by smoke or heat.

All fire hydrants should be located on or adjacent [within twenty (20) feet] to all weather streets, roads, driveways or parking areas. In parking or traffic area, fire hydrants should be located on islands or otherwise protected from the traffic and available to the fire apparatus at all times.

In setting hydrants, due regard shall be given to final grade-line. The center of a hose nozzle outlet shall not be less than fourteen (14) inches above grade and the outlets must face the street.

There shall be a hydrant with one hundred fifty (150) feet of the Fire Department connection of all buildings with sprinkler systems.

Section 507.5.11 Inspection and repair of hydrants. The utility company and/or City shall make or cause to be made, not less than annually, an inspection for proper operation of each fire hydrant within the boundaries of said City. The City shall notify, in writing, each water utility, person, business or corporation responsible for the maintenance of any hydrants, of the location and nature of defect of any inoperative or deficient hydrants within seven (7) days after receiving written notice shall be in violation of this Chapter. Each water utility, person, business or corporation responsible for the operation and maintenance of a fire hydrant shall immediately notify the City whenever a fire hydrant is placed in or out of service.

Section 507.5.12 Classification of fire hydrants. All fire hydrants installed after the effective date of this Chapter shall be classified as follows:

Class AA - Flow of 1,500 gallons per minute or greater.

Class A - Flow capacity of 1,000 gallons to 1,500 gallons per minute.

Class B - Flow capacity of 500 gallons to 1,000 gallons per minute.

Class C - Flow capacity of less than 500 gallons per minute.

Capacity shall be rated by flow measurement tests of individual hydrants at a period of ordinary demand. Rating shall be based on twenty (20) psi residual pressure when initial pressures are over forty (40) psi. When initial pressures are less than forty (40) psi, residual pressure shall be at least half (1/2) of the initial.

Section 507.5.13 Public hydrants. All barrels of public hydrants shall be painted yellow. Bonnets of public hydrants shall be painted as follows:

Class AA bonnet: light blue.

Class A bonnet: green.

Class B bonnet: orange.

Class C bonnet: red.

Section 507.5.14 Private (yard) hydrants. Barrels of private hydrants shall be painted red in order to be distinguished from public hydrants. Bonnets of private hydrants shall be painted the same as public hydrants, per rated class as described in Section 507.5.13. Where a private hydrant is supplied from a fire pump, the caps and bonnet shall be painted black.

24.

Section 901.6.3, Records, is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 901.6.3 Records. Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the referenced standards shall be maintained. Records shall be submitted to the Fire Prevention Bureau, through a method approved by the Fire Code Official, within fifteen (15) calendar days of completion, in PDF format or as otherwise directed by the Fire Code Official.

25.

Section 903.3.8.5.1, Calculations, is amended to read as follows:

Section 903.3.8.5.1 Calculations. Hydraulic calculations in accordance with NFPA 13 shall be provided to demonstrate the available water flow and pressure are adequate to supply all sprinklers installed in any single fire area with discharge densities corresponding to the hazard classification. Sprinkler system demand calculations shall include a ten percent (10%) reserve at system design demand, however residual pressure shall be a minimum of twenty (20) psi. The Fire Code Official may require a higher residual pressure if special circumstances warrant.

26.

Section 903.4.1 is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 903.4.1 Monitoring. Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved supervising station.

Exception: Backflow prevention device test valves located in limited area sprinkler system supply piping shall be locked in the open position. In occupancies required to be equipped with a fire alarm system, the backflow preventer valves shall be electrically supervised by a tamper switch installed in accordance with NFPA 72 and separately annunciated.

27.

Section 903.4.2 is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 903.4.2 Alarms. An approved combination audible/visible notification device, approved for exterior use, shall be located on the exterior of the building in an approved location, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler waterflow alarm device shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system.

28.

Section 907.2.9.1 exception three (3) is deleted in its entirety.

29.

Section 907.6.3, Initiating device information, is amended to read as follows:

Section 907.6.3 Initiating Device Information. The fire alarm system shall identify the specific initiating device address, location, device type, floor level where applicable and status, including indication of normal, alarm, trouble and supervisory status, as appropriate.

Exceptions:

Fire alarm systems in single-story buildings less than 22,500 square feet in area.

Special initiating devices that do not support individual device identification.

Fire alarm systems or devices that are replacing existing equipment as approved by the Fire Code Official.

30.

Section 907.6.6.1, Transmission of alarm signals, is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 907.6.6.1 Transmission of alarm signals. Transmission of alarm signals to a supervising station shall be in accordance with NFPA 72. Alarm signals transmitted to a supervising station shall be by addressable device and must transmit device address, location, device type, and floor level where applicable, except where exempted by Section 907.6.3. No fire alarm panel or arrangement of existing fire alarm panels shall cause or allow a single point of detection, when activated, to result in the transmission of multiple alarms.

31.

Section 907.6.7, Location of fire alarm control panels and annunciators, is added to read as follows:

Section 907.6.7 Location of fire alarm control panels and annunciators. When the fire alarm control panel will not be installed at the main entrance, a remote annunciator panel shall be provided inside the building at the main entrance.

32.

Section 907.6.8, Multiple buildings on the same property, is added to read as follows:

Section 907.6.8 Multiple buildings on the same property. Each individual building equipped with a fire alarm system shall have a separate addressable fire alarm control panel. The panels shall be permitted to be interconnected so that only one panel communicates with the supervising station. The signals sent to the supervising station must clearly identify the specific building in alarm. Silence and reset capabilities shall only be permitted at the panel of the building where the signal originated.

33.

Sections 907.11 through 907.11.6 are added, which shall read as follows:

Section 907.11 False Fire Alarms.

Section 907.11.1 Definition.

Section 907.11.1 A false alarm is defined as any activation of an alarm system intentionally or by inadvertence, negligence, or unintentional act to which the fire department responds, including activation caused by the malfunction of the alarm system, except that the following shall not be considered false alarm:

Exceptions:

When the Fire Official determines that an alarm has been caused by the malfunction of the indicators at St. Charles County Dispatch and Alarm Center.

When the Fire Official determines that an alarm has been caused by damage, testing, or repairs of telephone equipment or lines by the telephone company, provided that such incidents are promptly reported to the telephone company.

When an alarm is intentionally caused by an occupant or resident acting under a reasonable belief that a need exists to call the fire department; and/or

When an alarm is followed by a call to St. Charles County Dispatch and Alarm Center canceling the alarm by giving proper information prior to the arrival of the District's apparatus at the source of the alarm.

Section 907.11.2 Every person, corporation, firm, or other entity owning or occupying any premises within the boundaries of the City of St. Charles, in or on which premises is installed an automatic fire alarm, fire detection or sprinkler system, shall maintain such system in such an operating condition that the alarm system shall not transmit to St. Charles County Dispatch and Alarm any false alarms.

Section 907.11.3 It shall be unlawful for any owner or occupant to reduce the effectiveness of the protection so required or so installed; except this shall not prohibit the owner or occupant from temporarily reducing or discontinuing the protection where necessary to make tests, repairs, alterations, or additions. The Fire Code Official shall be notified before tests, repairs, alterations, or additions are performed that may affect a fire alarm systems and of its completion and the Fire Code Official shall be advised of the extent of any such work, and the need for additional requirements to be met. Whenever an alarm system is to be shut off for repairs, it shall be the owner's or occupant's responsibility to determine if the technician performing such repairs has notified the Fire Code Official of the pending shut-off prior to such action. When an alarm has central station monitoring/supervision, the company providing this service shall also be notified of said action. Failure to notify the Fire Code Official or the central station monitoring/supervising company of a system shut-off, and if the shut-off results in an unnecessary alarm being transmitted to the fire department, will subject the owner or occupant to a fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each alarm received.

Section 907.11.4 Should an alarm system transmit any false fire alarm to the fire department, either directly or through a central dispatching service, or should inspection of such system by any officer of the fire department reveal that such a system is in a state of maintenance or disrepair that such system is likely to transmit a false fire alarm, the owner or occupant of the premises shall immediately take such remedial action as necessary, and shall make or cause to be made such adjustments and repairs to the alarm system that the Fire Code Official shall order, in order to abate the condition causing the transmission or likelihood of transmission of false fire alarms.

Section 907.11.5 Any person, firm, corporation or other entity given an order by the Fire Code Official, pursuant to Section 907.8.1 herein, shall comply within twenty-four (24) hours after such order has been given. Any person, firm, corporation or other entity who shall fail to comply within twenty-four (24) hours after such order has been given shall be fined one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each day that such violation shall occur, or continue to occur.

Section 907.11.6 All false alarms to which the fire department responds shall result in the following service charges to the alarm system's owner or occupant:

A warning for the first and second false alarm in any calendar year.

A fifty dollar ($50.00) fee for the third false alarm in any calendar year.

A one hundred dollar ($100.00) fee for the fourth and each subsequent false alarm in any calendar year.

Upon determination by the Fire Code Official that a false alarm has occurred, the fire department shall send a notice to the alarm user, notifying the alarm user of the determination and directing payment within thirty (30) days of any fee that may be due.

The fire department may cancel any notice or service charge upon satisfactory proof by the alarm user that a particular alarm falls within the exceptions enumerated in Section 907.11.1.2.

Willful refusal to pay any such service charge within thirty (30) days of notice shall constitute a violation, but in prosecution of any violation, the fire department shall prove, in addition to the willful refusal to pay, that the service charge was properly imposed.

34.

Section 912.1, Installation, is amended to read as follows:

Section 912.1 Installation. Fire department connections shall be installed in accordance with the NFPA standard applicable to the system design and shall comply with Sections 912.2 through 912.7. The minimum size fire department connection outlet shall be two and one-half (2.5) inches.

35.

Section 912.4.1, Locking fire department connection caps, is amended to read as follows:

Section 912.4.1 Locking fire department connection caps. Locking caps are required on new fire department connection installations for water-based fire protection systems. The Fire Code Official is authorized to require locking caps on existing fire department connections where caps are missing, broken, and require clean out due to debris, nests, or other obstructions. The type of locking cap must be approved by the Fire Code Official.

36.

Section 912.5 is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 912.5 Signs. The fire department connection shall be identified with a metal sign that reads "FDC" in red reflective lettering on white background. The FDC lettering needs to be a minimum of six (6) inches high with a minimum stroke width of one (1) inch. The sign shall be a minimum of twelve (12) inches x eighteen (18) inches. Any fire department connection that services only a standpipe shall indicate "Standpipe Only" in lettering two (2) inches high on the lower half of the sign. Any fire department connection serving a limited portion of a building shall indicate the areas covered in lettering two (2) inches high on the lower half of the sign. Wall mounted FDC signs shall be mounted ten (10) feet above grade directly above the fire department connection unless otherwise approved by the Fire Code Official. Remote fire department connection signs shall be double-sided and mounted on a heavy-duty sign post, approved by the Fire Official, at a minimum height of five (5) feet above grade. Additional signage may be required at the discretion of the Fire Official.

37.

Section 3311.1 is amended, which shall read as follows:

Section 3311.1 Required access. Approved vehicle access for firefighting shall be provided to all construction or demolition sites. Vehicle access shall be a minimum of twenty (20) feet wide and be provided to within one hundred and fifty (150) feet of the building. Vehicle access shall be provided by either temporary or permanent roads capable of supporting vehicle loading of a fire apparatus weighing up to eighty thousand (80,000) pounds. These roads shall be surfaced with asphalt or concrete to provide all-weather driving capabilities. The surface shall be kept clear of all mud, debris, or other obstructions. Vehicle access shall be maintained until permanent fire apparatus access roads are installed per Section 503.2.3 and Appendix D, Section D102.1.

38.

Exemptions from building permit fees:

All government entities, comprehensive colleges and universities (not including single-purpose institutions), schools offering basic education to any grade (K through 12), and places of worship shall be exempt from permit fees. This exemption from payment of fees does not provide an exemption from the plan review fee or the obligation to obtain permits and inspections, and if the City must contract for the expedited services, then the exempt entity shall pay the costs for the expedited contractual services.

39.

Nothing in this Chapter or in the Fire Code hereby adopted shall be construed to affect any suit or proceeding pending in any court, or any rights acquired, or liability incurred, or any cause or causes amended by Sections 205.060 and 205.070. No just or legal right or remedy of any character shall be lost, impaired, or affected by Section 205.060 or 205.070.

40.

Appendix D, Section D102.1, Access and loading, is amended to read as follows:

Section D102.1 Access and loading. Facilities, buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of an approved fire apparatus access road with an asphalt or concrete driving surface capable of supporting the imposed load of fire apparatus weighing up to eighty thousand (80,000) pounds.

41.

Appendix D, Section D103.3, Turning radius, is amended to read as follows:

Section D103.3 Turning radius. The outside curb-to-curb turning radius of all fire apparatus access roads which require a turn, curves and/or cul-de-sac turn around areas shall be a minimum of forty-seven (47) feet.

42.

Appendix D, Section D103.5, Fire apparatus road gates, is amended to read as follows:

Section D103.5 Fire apparatus road gates. Gates securing the fire apparatus access roads shall comply with all of the following criteria:

Gates shall be erected a minimum of fifty (50) feet from the edge of the cross street from which access to the gate is obtained, unless approved by the Fire Code Official.

Where a single gate is provided, the gate width shall not be less than twenty (20) feet.

Gates shall be of the horizontal swing, horizontal slide, vertical lift or vertical pivot type.

Construction of gates shall be of materials that allow manual operation by one (1) person.

Gate components shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and replaced or repaired when defective. Gates which are out of service due to damage, malfunction, or while undergoing repairs must be kept in the fully open position until such time as the gate has been repaired, and is fully operational.

Electric gates shall be equipped with a power failure override that allows the gate to be opened by fire department personnel manually when power is absent. Emergency opening devices shall be approved by the Fire Code Official.

Methods of locking shall be submitted for approval by the Fire Code Official prior to installation.

Electric gate openers, where provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325.

Gates intended for automatic operation shall be designed, constructed and installed to comply with the requirements of ASTM F2200.

43.

Appendix D, Section D107.1, One- or two-family residential developments is amended to read as follows:

Developments of one- or two-family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds one hundred (100) shall be provided with two (2) separate and approved fire apparatus access roads, and shall meet the requirements of Section D107.2.

Exceptions:

Where there are more than 100 dwelling units on a single public or private fire apparatus access road and all dwelling units are equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.1.2 or 903.1.3 of the International Fire Code, access from two directions shall not be required.

The number of dwelling units on a single fire apparatus access road shall not be increased unless fire apparatus access roads will connect with future developments, as determined by the Fire Code Official.

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Cross Reference: As to building regulations, Ch. 500; as to electrical code, §§ 500.190 et seq.; as to excavation, grading and stormwater control, Ch. 510; as to flood damage prevention control, Ch. 410; as to fair housing, Ch. 240; as to plumbing code, §§ 500.240 et seq.; as to solid waste management, Ch. 245; as to subdivision regulations, Ch. 405; as to zoning code, Ch. 400.