[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § I; as amended by Ord. 532,
9/10/2008]
1.
Automatic fire detection devices approved by the Fire Marshal of Lower Southampton Township, designed to give early warning of incipient fires, shall be installed as set forth in § 7-202 in all buildings constructed in Lower Southampton Township from and after the date of adoption of this part and in all multiple-occupant and/or multiple-use preexisting buildings having a total floor area greater than 2,000 square feet within one year after the date of adoption of this part or upon change of occupancy after the date of adoption of this part, whichever comes first.
2.
The installation, maintenance and use of such fire warning systems shall conform to the Uniform Construction Code (Chapter 5, Part 1). Three copies of this part are presently on file and will continue to be on file with the Township Manager in his office in the Township Building, where they will be available for examination. Subsequent editions of this publication may be adopted in substitution thereof or by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
3.
All equipment used in the automatic fire detection devices of this
section shall be approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § II]
1.
Single-family attached and detached dwellings. In all preexisting
single-family attached and detached dwelling units, smoke detectors
shall be installed outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate
vicinity of the bedrooms and on each additional story of a family
living unit, including basements, crawl spaces and unfurnished attics.
In addition, in all new construction smoke detectors shall be wired
directly to the dwelling unit's power supply.
2.
Multifamily attached and detached dwellings. A listed and labeled
smoke detection system, which shall be approved by the Fire Marshal,
shall be installed and maintained to protect each separate sleeping
area in the entire premises of all multifamily attached and detached
dwellings such as apartments, dormitories, nursing and convalescent
homes, homes for the aged, medical and health centers or any other
building where sleeping facilities are provided. All detectors in
the system shall be interlocked and coupled to an alarm with means
for producing an alarm of at least 85 dBA at 10 feet throughout the
premises. If the premises is protected throughout by a sprinkler system
approved by the Fire Marshal, the detection system need not be interlocked,
but each detector shall provide an alarm which is clearly audible
in the sleeping area in which the detector is located over the background
noise level with all intervening doors closed and no less than 85
dBA at 10 feet. Furthermore, said smoke detector system shall include
approved, listed and labeled smoke and heat detectors which shall
be approved by the Fire Marshal and shall be installed and maintained
throughout all hallways, corridors, basements, subbasements, crawl
spaces, trash rooms, storage rooms, locker rooms, stairwells, recreation
rooms, libraries, gymnasiums, kitchens, attics, utility rooms, and
garages of the aforementioned buildings. All detectors in the system
shall be interlocked and coupled to means for producing an alarm of
at least 85 dBA at 10 feet throughout the entire premises.
3.
All other buildings. A listed and labeled smoke and/or heat detection
system shall be approved by the Fire Marshal and shall be installed
and maintained to protect every room of the entire premises in all
places of assembly, including, inter alia, restaurants, bowling lanes,
shopping malls, shopping centers including merchandising marts, indoor
places of amusements including sports arenas or rinks, clubs, lodges
of fraternal organizations, YMCA or similar occupancies, lumberyards
and building supplies, educational or religious institutes, and all
other offices, commercial or industrial premises having a total floor
area greater than 2,000 square feet. All detectors in the system shall
be interlocked and coupled to means for producing an alarm of at least
85 dBA throughout the entire premises, including an outside alarm.
The provisions of this part shall not apply to those structures encompassed
by this part which are protected by a sprinkler system approved by
the Fire Marshal.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § III]
In interpreting and applying the provisions of this part they
shall be held to be the minimum requirements for the regulation of
conditions hazardous to life and property from fire and for the promotion
of the public health, safety and general welfare. Where the provisions
of any duly enacted statute, other ordinance or regulation impose
greater restrictions than this part, the provisions of such statute,
part or regulation shall be controlling.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § IV]
A fee shall be paid in accordance with the permit requirements contained in § 2 of Ord. 346, as amended, "Permits required" (§ 13-402).
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § V]
Nothing in this part is intended to prevent the use of new methods
or devices, provided that sufficient technical data is submitted to
the authority having jurisdiction to demonstrate that the new methods
or device(s) are equivalent in quality, effectiveness, durability
and safety to that prescribed by this standard.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § VI]
As required by the Fire Marshal, completed information regarding
the fire detectors, including specification and floor plans showing
the location of the detectors, shall be submitted for approval prior
to installation of the detectors.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, § VII]
Upon completion of installation, a satisfactory test of the
detector(s) shall be made in the presence of the Fire Marshal or his
representative, and the installing contractor shall furnish a written
statement to the effect that the detector(s) have been installed in
accordance with the manufacturer's specifications.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, VIII]
As required by the Fire Marshal, automatic fire detection systems
shall be connected to an approved central station system, proprietary
system or remote station system.
[Ord. 370, 8/10/1988, IX; as amended by Ord. 532, 9/10/2008]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this part, 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 less than $100 nor 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 part continues or each section of this part which shall be
found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.
