The International Fire Code, 2018 Edition, including all appendixes except A, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., one (1) copy of which was on file in the office of the City Clerk for a period of ninety (90) days prior to the adoption of this Chapter and available for public use, inspection and examination, and a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated by this reference as if fully set forth herein, is hereby adopted as the Fire Code of the City of University City, Missouri, subject to the amendments, additions, insertions, deletions and changes set out in Section 205.020 of this Chapter.
[Ord. No. 6930 §1, 10-28-2013; Ord. No. 7140, 1-25-2021; Ord. No. 7340, 10-23-2023]
A.
NFPA Standards. All now current or future NFPA Standards shall be
referenced and utilized with the exception of NFPA 101, and incorporated
herein, by the Fire Marshal, in the interpretation of Sections of
the IFC and other codes in order to properly enforce this Section.
B.
The following numbered Sections and Subsections of the International
Fire Code, 2018 Edition, as published by the International Code Council,
Inc., are hereby amended by additions, insertions, deletions and changes
so that such Sections and Subsections shall read as follows:
1.
(CHAPTER 1 SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION) — (SECTION
101 GENERAL).
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as
the Fire Code of the City of University City, Missouri, hereinafter
referred to as "this code."
2.
(SECTION 103 DEPARTMENT OF FIRE PREVENTION).
103.1 General. The Bureau of Fire Prevention is
established within the jurisdiction under the direction of the Code
Official. The function of the bureau shall be the implementation,
administration and enforcement of the provisions of this code.
103.2 Appointment. Enforcement Official. It shall
be the duty and the responsibility of the Chief Executive Officer,
designated as the Fire Chief, to enforce the provisions of this code.
The Fire Chief shall be the Code Official.
103.2.1 Bureau organization. The Bureau of Fire
Prevention shall operate under the direct supervision of the Fire
Marshal. The Fire Marshal shall be a uniformed member and chief officer
of the Fire Department and operate under the direct supervision of
the Fire Chief.
The Fire Marshal shall be appointed on the basis of his/her
administrative abilities and qualifications to understand, interpret
and enforce the technical provisions of this code. All uniformed members
of the Fire Department shall be considered members of the Bureau of
Fire Prevention. The Fire Marshal may assign or appoint technical
assistants, inspectors or other employees that may be necessary for
the effective and efficient operation of the Bureau of Fire Prevention.
All appointments to the bureau shall be made in conformance with the
provisions of the Municipal Code.
103.3 Bureau members code enforcement duties and authority. The Fire Marshal, and all properly assigned or appointed members
of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have the duty to assist the
Fire Chief in the administration and enforcement of the provisions
of this code. As agents of the Fire Chief, all properly assigned or
appointed members of the Bureau of Fire Prevention shall have the
authority to exercise all the powers of the Code Official as detailed
within this code.
3.
(SECTION 104 GENERAL AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES).
104.6 Official records. The Fire Code Official
shall keep official records as required by Sections 104.6.1 through
104.6.4. Such official records shall be retained for the period required
for retention of public records.
104.11.4 Compliance with orders. A person shall
not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any lawful order or direction
of the Fire Official or interfere with the compliance attempts of
another individual.
4.
(SECTION 105 PERMITS).
105.1.2 Types of permits
There shall be two (2) types of permits as follows:
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1.
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Operational permit. An operational permit allows the applicant
to conduct an operation or a business for which a permit is required
by Section 105.6 for either:
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1.1.
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A prescribed period as determined by the Fire Code Official
for operations that only occur once or are not ongoing.
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1.2.
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For ongoing operations, the operational permit shall be issued
for a period not exceeding a year or until revoked.
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2.
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Construction permit. A construction permit allows the applicant
to install or modify systems and equipment for which a permit is required
by Section 105.7. Construction permits will be administered by the
applicable Building Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Fuel
Gas Code, Electrical Code, Plumbing Code, Existing Building Code,
Energy Conservation Code, or Swimming Pool and Spa Code.
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105.6.51 Premises identification. An operational
permit is required. The plan shall be submitted and reviewed annually
by August 1 of each year. Premises identification permits shall be
issued at no charge.
105.6.90 Places of education. An operational permit
is required to operate or occupy an educational occupancy.
105.6.91 Places of high residency or transient residency. An operational permit is required to operate or occupy any "R-1"
occupancy building, "R-2" occupancy building with more than eight
(8) dwelling units, and "R-4" occupancy buildings.
105.6.92 Places of institutional care. An operational
permit is required to operate or occupy an institutional occupancy.
105.7.26 Premises identification. A construction
permit is required to install premises identification in accordance
with Section 408. Premises identification plans shall be submitted
for review and approval before a permit will be issued. Premises identification
permits shall be issued at no charge.
5.
(SECTION 106 FEES).
106.2 Schedule of permit fees. A fee for each permit
shall be paid as required, in accordance with the following schedule:
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1.
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Construction permit fees shall be paid as set forth in the Building
Code, Residential Code, Mechanical Code, Fuel Gas Code, Electrical
Code, Plumbing Code or Energy Conservation Code, and the fee shall
include the cost of ensuring compliance with this code.
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2.
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Operational permit applications shall include an application
fee of thirty-five dollars ($35.00).
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3.
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Trips to the property where an inspection could not be performed
because the work was not ready, the area of inspection could not be
accessed, or similar situation, shall be billed at thirty-five dollars
($35.00) per missed inspection.
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4.
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Additional inspections in excess of the first inspection and
one (1) re-inspection shall be billed at thirty-five dollars ($35.00)
per inspection.
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6.
(SECTION 109 BOARD OF APPEALS).
109.1 General. University City Building Code Section 113 shall be applicable for all appeals involving this code.
109.2 Limitations on authority. Delete in its entirety.
109.3 Qualifications. Delete in its entirety.
7.
(SECTION 110 VIOLATIONS).
110.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter or repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the Fire Code Official, or of a permit or certificate issued under the provision of this code, shall be guilty of an ordinance violation, punishable as provided in Section 100.190 of the University City Municipal Code. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
8.
(SECTION 112 STOP WORK ORDER).
112.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be guilty of an ordinance violation, punishable as provided in Section 100.190 of the University City Municipal Code.
9.
(SECTION 114 UNSAFE CONDITIONS).
114.1 General. Whenever the Code Official shall
find in any structure or upon any premises dangerous or hazardous
conditions or materials as follows, the Code Official shall order
such hazardous conditions or materials to be removed or remedied in
accordance with the provisions of this code:
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1.
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Hazardous conditions liable to cause or contribute to the spread
of fire in or on said premises or structure or endanger the occupants
thereof;
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2.
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Conditions that interfere with the efficiency or operation of
any fire protection equipment or system;
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3.
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Obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors
or windows, that are liable to interfere with the egress of occupants
or the operation of the Fire Department in case of fire;
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4.
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Accumulations of dust or waste material in air-conditioning
or ventilating systems or grease in kitchen or other exhaust ducts;
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5.
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Accumulations of grease on kitchen cooking equipment, or oil,
grease or dirt upon, under or around any mechanical equipment;
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6.
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Accumulations of rubbish, waste, paper, boxes, shavings or excessive
storage of any combustible material;
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7.
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Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly utilized
or installed electrical wiring, equipment or appliances;
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8.
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Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly installed
equipment for handling or using combustible, explosive or otherwise
hazardous materials;
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9.
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Dangerous or unlawful amounts of combustible, explosive or otherwise
hazardous materials;
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10.
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All equipment, materials, processes or operations that are in
violation of the provisions or intent of this code; and
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11.
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Vehicles or equipment that impairs or obstructs Fire Department
access to an occupied structure hindering or delaying Fire Department
operations in case of an emergency.
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10.
(SECTION 404 FIRE SAFETY, EVACUATION AND LOCKDOWN PLANS).
404.5 Premises identification. Premises identification
shall be in accordance with Section 408.
11.
(SECTION 408 PREMISES IDENTIFICATION).
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408.1 Where required. New and existing buildings
of Educational Group E shall be identified in accordance with Sections
408.2 through 408.5.
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Exception: Previously approved signage shall be
permitted until July 31, 2024.
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408.2 Zone identification. Zones shall be identified
in accordance with Sections 408.2.1 through 408.2.4.
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408.2.1 Zone designation. All occupiable structures
on the premises shall be divided into sections or designated a specific
zone agreeable to the Fire Code Official.
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408.2.2 Zone color assignment. The zones shall
be assigned a primary or secondary color. Other colors may be used/added
if approved by the Fire Code Official. (Recommended, not required,
assign the zone with the main entrance RED and proceed clockwise with
ORANGE, YELLOW, GREEN, BLUE, PURPLE)
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408.2.3 Zone level consistency. Zone color assignment
shall be consistent on all grades of multilevel structures.
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408.3 Corridors identification. Corridors inside
of a zone shall be identified by the color assigned per Section 408.2.
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408.3.1 Striping. A solid color representative
of the designated zone shall be applied on the walls on both sides
of the corridor.
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408.3.2 Striping size and location. The stripe
shall be no less than four (4) inches AFF and no more than thirty-six
(36) inches AFF and a minimum of four (4) inches (102 mm) in width.
The stripe shall be continuous in length of the corridor and terminate
at the exit or the transition to a different zone. (In corridors with
lockers, displays, or other fixed obstructions an alternative location
may be used as approved.)
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408.3.3 Directional identification. Colored arrows
representative of the zone shall be provided at intersecting corridors.
The arrow shall be a minimum of one (1) inch in width and eight (8)
inches in length. The arrows shall be affixed to the corridor wall
at least four (4) inches AFF and no more than thirty-six (36) inches
AFF. Other heights may be used as approved.
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408.4 Room and area identification. All occupiable
rooms and areas within a zone shall be identified in accordance with
Sections 408.4.1 through 408.4.5, with numbers or labels in accordance
with Section 408.2.
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408.4.1 Room and area designation. Rooms and areas
shall be identified by their current known number or known descriptive
name (i.e., Gym, Library).
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408.4.2 Room and area color assignment. Rooms and
areas shall be assigned the color of the zone they occupy.
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408.4.3 Doors. Doors shall be identified with signage
conforming to Sections 408.4.3.1 through 408.4.3.2. Doors shall be
labeled in Arabic numbers and alphabetical letters. Numbers shall
not be spelled out. Where required, doors shall have signage both
inside and out.
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408.4.3.1 Egress/room side of door. A sign with
the room number in the assigned zone color shall be affixed over the
door and shall be readily visible from inside the room. The numbers
shall be in white on a background of the zone color. Each character
shall be not less than four (4) inches (102 mm) high with a minimum
stroke width of one-half (1/2) inch (13 mm).
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408.4.3.2 Ingress/corridor side of door. Room numbers
shall be placed above the door and shall be readable from all angles
from the hallway or area to which they open. The numbers shall be
in white on a background of the zone color. Each character shall be
not less than four (4) inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke
width of one-half (1/2) inch (13 mm).
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408.4.4 Windows. Signs with the room number in
the designated zone color shall be affixed to the interior surface
of the left most facing window and shall be visible from the exterior
of the building.
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408.4.4.1 Placement. Room numbers shall be placed
on the left-most window when viewed from outside the building.
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408.4.4.2 Number size/color. The numbers shall
be in white on a background of the zone color. Each character shall
be not less than six (6) inches (152 mm) high with a minimum stroke
width of one-half (1/2) inch (13 mm), and visible from ground level.
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408.5 Exterior door identification. All doors on
the exterior of a building that provide access into the building shall
be identified in accordance with Sections 408.5.1 through 408.5.6.
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408.5.1 Number designation. All exterior doors
shall be numbered in a sequential order starting with the main entrance
(office door/public entrance). The main entrance shall always be #1.
Subsequent doors shall be numbered in sequential order in a clockwise
manner.
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408.5.2 Number color. The color of the number shall
represent the zone color per Section 408.3. Door numbers shall contrast
with their background.
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408.5.3 Number size. Door numbers shall be Arabic
numbers and alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out.
Each character shall be not less than six (6) inches (152 mm) high
with a minimum stroke width of one-half (1/2) inch (13 mm).
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408.5.4 Number placement. Door numbers shall be
placed at the top center of the door. Exception: Roll-up doors the
numbers shall be located between one-half (1/2) and three-fourths
(3/4) of the height of the door adjacent to the door opening.
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408.5.5 Exterior access to corridors. Doors that
provide access directly to a corridor shall be marked with the door
number on a retro-reflective block in the corridor zone color per
Section 408.3.
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408.5.6 Exterior access to rooms. Doors that provide
access directly into a room shall be marked with the room number or
descriptive name per Section 408.4.1 directly below the exterior door
identification number.
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While not required, facilities are highly encouraged
to place large maps showing the rooms/hallway identifiers near the
main entrance for use by emergency response personnel.
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12.
(SECTION 506 KEY BOXES).
506.3 Location of Knox Key Box. The key box shall
be located between four (4) and six (6) feet above finished grade
but can be located at other heights at the discretion of the Fire
Marshal and his/her designee. A Knox key box shall be required on
all commercial buildings that have fire alarm systems and/or sprinkler
systems.
13.
(SECTION 510 EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COVERAGE).
510.4 Radio Signal Strength. The building shall
be considered to have acceptable emergency responder radio coverage
when signal strength measurements in ninety-five percent (95%) of
all areas on each floor of the building meet the signal strength requirements
in Sections 510.4.1.1 and 510.4.1.2, or method approved by the Fire
Code Official. Emergency responder radio coverage systems shall be
isolated to the public safety spectrum only and shall be approved
by the local or regional emergency communication authority.
14.
(SECTION 606 — ELEVATOR OPERATION, MAINTENANCE AND
FIRE SERVICE KEYS).
606.8.5 Elevator Car to Accommodate Ambulance Stretcher. All new elevators, unless approved by the Fire Marshal, shall be
designed to accommodate an ambulance stretcher. The doors to the elevator
shall open so that the entire stretcher can be rolled into the elevator
car in the full, flat position. The elevator car shall be of such
a size and arrangement to accommodate an ambulance stretcher twenty-four
(24) inches by eighty-four (84) inches (610 mm by 2,134 mm) with not
less than five (5) inch (127 mm) radius corners, in the horizontal,
open position and shall be identified by the international symbol
for emergency medical services (star of life). The symbol shall not
be less than three (3) inches (76 mm) high and shall be placed inside
on both sides of the hoist-way door frame.
15.
(CHAPTER 56 EXPLOSIVES AND FIREWORKS) — (SECTION
5601 GENERAL).
5601.1.3 Fireworks. The possession, manufacture,
storage, sale, handling and use of fireworks are prohibited.
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Exceptions:
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1.
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Storage and handling of fireworks as allowed in Section 5604.
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2.
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Manufacture, assembly and testing of fireworks as allowed in
Section 5605.
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3.
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The use of fireworks for fireworks displays as allowed in Section
5608.
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16.
(SECTION 5609 TEMPORARY STORAGE OF CONSUMER FIREWORKS).
5609.1 General. Delete in its entirety.
