[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Glenwood
City at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art.
II). Amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "City of Glenwood City Alarm
System Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to provide minimum standards
and regulations applicable to fire alarm systems and alarm users.
Both society in general and public safety in particular will be aided
by providing a useful and usable system which properly balances quick
response by fire personnel with minimization of time spent on alarms
which are false.
Within this chapter, the following terms, phrases and words
and their derivations have the meanings given herein:
Any business in which the owners or employees engage in the
activity of altering, installing, leasing, maintaining, repairing,
replacing, selling, or servicing alarm systems.
An assembly of equipment and devices or single device such
as a solid-state unit which plugs directly into a one-hundred-ten-volt
AC line or otherwise receives electrical energy arranged to signal
the presence of a hazard requiring urgent attention and to which the
Fire Department is expected to respond. In this chapter, the term
"alarm system" shall include fire alarm systems which monitor temperature,
humidity or any other condition directly related to the detection
of fire. Excluded from this definition and from the coverage of this
chapter are alarm systems used to alert or signal persons within the
premises in which the alarm system is located of an attempted, unauthorized
intrusion or holdup attempt or fire.
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of an alarm system or of his employees or agents or other
undetermined cause. "False alarm" does not include alarms caused by
tornadoes or other violent climatic conditions.
A person who buys or leases or otherwise obtains an alarm
system and thereafter contracts with or hires an alarm business to
monitor and/or service the alarm system.
The Fire Chief shall promulgate such rules as may be necessary
for the implementation of this chapter. Such rules shall require the
approval of the Common Council and shall be open to inspection by
the public.
A.Â
Generally. Each false alarm requires response of public safety personnel,
involves unnecessary expense to the City, increases the risk of injury
to persons or damage to property and dilutes the overall public safety
protection to the City. Such false alarms constitute a public nuisance
and must be abated.
B.Â
Intentional. No person shall intentionally cause the activation of
a fire alarm device knowing that no fire or other emergency exists.
C.Â
False alarms; administrative charges. Any person, business, corporation
or other entity having a permissible alarm system with alarm device(s)
at one or more locations in accordance with this chapter shall pay
to the City a charge for false alarms responded to by the Fire Department
according to the following schedule for each twelve-month period for
each location connected, separate accounts to be kept for false alarms
for fire or other emergencies:
D.Â
Waiver of fee. If a possessor of the alarm shows to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief that such false alarm was not the result of negligence or improper maintenance, or other good and sufficient cause beyond the reasonable control of the possessor of the alarm, such fee may be waived and the response shall not count as a false alarm in computing the fee established under Subsection C.
The City of Glenwood City shall be under no duty or obligation
to a subscriber or to any other person concerning any provision of
this chapter, including but not limited to any defects in an alarm
system or any delays in transmission or response to any alarm; however,
this in no way shall be construed that it is not the proper function
of fire personnel to respond to alarms.
