City of Weatherford, OK Fire Prevention Code

There is hereby adopted by the Board of Commissioners, for the purpose of prescribing rules and regulations to improve public safety by promoting the control of fire hazards; regulating the installation, use, and maintenance of equipment; regulating the use of structures, premises, and open areas; providing for the abatement of fire hazards; establishing the responsibilities and procedures for code enforcement; and setting forth the standards for compliance and achievement of these objectives.

This code shall be known as the City of Weatherford Fire Prevention Code. The City of Weatherford hereby adopts the 2015 version of the International Fire Code (IFC). This code shall be adopted with additions and or deletions set forth by the Oklahoma Uniform Building Code Commission as the statewide minimum standard code. In addition to the state minimum standard, the City of Weatherford also adopts the following Appendices from the IFC.

APPENDIX B	FIRE FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
APPENDIX C	FIRE HYDRANT LOCATIONS AND DISTRIBUTIONS
APPENDIX D	FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS
APPENDIX F	HAZARD RANKING
APPENDIX G	CRYOGENIC FLUIDS-WEIGHT AND VOLUME EQUIVALENTS
APPENDIX H	HAZARDOUS MATERIALS MANAGEMENT PLAN (HMMP) AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS INVENTORY STATEMENT (HMIS) INSTRUCTIONS
APPENDIX I	FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS-NON COMPLIANT CONDITIONS

The before mentioned codes shall be adopted in their entirety except those portions such as are hereinafter deleted, modified, or amended. The provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the City of Weatherford.

§ 8-2 FIRE DEPARTMENT TO ENFORCE CODE.

The Fire Prevention Code shall be enforced by the Fire Department of the city, under the supervision of the Chief of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief of the Fire Department may detail such members of the Fire Department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary, and such inspectors may be appointed as the Board of Commissioners may authorize.

§ 8-3 DEFINITION.

Whenever the word "municipality" is used in the Fire Prevention Code, it shall be held to mean the City of Weatherford.

§ 8-4 LIMITS WITHIN WHICH STORAGE IN OUTSIDE ABOVEGROUND TANKS IS PROHIBITED.

[Amended 3-31-1999, Ordinance 1999-3 § 1; 12-29-2005, Ordinance 2005-12; 11-30-2006, Ordinance 2006-12; 9-30-2009, Ordinance No. 2009-07; 11-30-2011, Ordinance 2011-08; Ordinance 2014-02, 4-30-2014; 1-31-2020 by Ord. No. 2020-03]

This section refers to the above ground storage of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), flammable, and combustible liquids. These products when stored in above ground tanks shall only be allowed within the Weatherford City Limits when done so in accordance with this section.

No container, tank-truck, or receptacle of any kind or nature containing such products shall be placed, parked, left, or permitted to remain within the city except for purposes of, and only for such time as may be necessary in making deliveries for use within the City.

Residential use of above ground tanks for the storage of LPG shall be limited to portable tanks five gallons or smaller.

Commercial retail sites shall be allowed to store and possess containers of (LPG) for the specific use of resale or exchange, provided that all of the following provisions have been met and approved by the City of Weatherford Fire Marshall.

Each container shall be an approved DOT container not capable of storing more than five gallons of LPG. The aggregate amount of LPG on site shall not exceed 1,440 pounds of LPG at any time, specifically; there shall be no more than 72 filled, five gallon LPG cylinders on site at any given time. Empty cylinders shall be stored in the same manner as full cylinders.

The cylinders shall be protected by an approved noncombustible locker or rack that prevents tampering with valves and pilferage of the cylinder.

Protection against vehicle impact shall be provided where vehicle traffic normally is expected.

Containers awaiting use, exchange, or resale shall not be stored within five feet of any doorway.

Container storage sites shall not be located within 20 feet of any motor fueling operations, flammable or combustible liquid dispensing operations or any associated tank fill or off load operations involving a flammable of combustible liquid.

All containers and cylinders shall be stored in a secure and upright position or in a manner that ensures transmission of the vapor space to the pressure relief valve.

Portable containers shall not be taken into retail locations and a sign stating the same shall be posted at the storage site, which is acceptable to the City of Weatherford Fire Marshal.

The area surrounding the storage site shall be of noncombustible construction and free of any and all ignition sources for a distance of not less than 10 feet.

There shall be no dispensing, refilling, or discharging of any container or cylinder at the retail location. These sites shall be specifically used as exchange sites only.

There shall be granted an exception to the current restrictions on the size and location of LPG containers within the Weatherford city limits, where natural gas service is not currently available. In such instances, upon request having been made to the Weatherford City Inspectors office, and approval granted by the city inspector's office and the Weatherford Fire Marshal's office, above ground LPG containers up to 250 gallons may be permitted at a distance of no closer than 25 feet from a structure or property line.

LPG used in commercial applications such as mobile food vending, construction, roofing, etc. Shall be allowed to poses within Weatherford city limits not more than 100 gallons water capacity of LPG. LPG cylinders shall be transported and secured within the foot print of the vehicle and or trailer in accordance with NFPA 58. Cylinders shall not be mounted on the rear or roof of any vehicle or trailer.

Industrial sites (I-2 zoned property) shall be allowed to store and possess LPG in above ground storage tanks; for industrial, manufacturing, and retail uses, provided that all of the following provisions have been met and approved by the City of Weatherford Fire Marshal.

The storage site shall not be located less that 1,000 feet from the nearest residentially zoned property.

The use and storage of LPG shall be done so in accordance with current NFPA standards and the International Fire Code.

Such other requirements as necessary to ensure public safety as determined by the Weatherford Fire Department.

Industrial sites (I-2 zoned property) shall be allowed to store and possess combustible and flammable liquids in above ground storage tanks. The use and storage of these products shall be done so in accordance with current NFPA standards and the International Fire Code. No storage or use shall take place unless plans have been approved by the City of Weatherford Fire Marshal.

§ 8-5 LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS; DEFINITION.

LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS – As used in this article shall mean and include any material which is composed predominantly of any of the following hydrocarbons or mixtures of the same: Propane, Propylene, Butanes (normal Butane and Isobutane), and Butylenes.

FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS – Shall mean liquids which have flash points below 100° F. (38° C).

COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS – Shall mean materials which have flash points at or above 100° F. (38° C.).

§ 8-6 BULK STORAGE OF EXPLOSIVES.

[Amended 5-31-2012, Ordinance 2011-04]

The bulk storage of explosives and blasting agents within the Weatherford city limits shall be restricted to the Weatherford Business and Technology Park. Storage and handling of explosives shall be in accordance with Chapter 33 of the International Fire Code, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive (ATF) Publication 5400.7, and all applicable National Fire Protection Association Codes.

Users of such explosives and blasting agents shall have current permits issued by the Oklahoma Department of Mines and the ATF. Users shall also have on site a current Notice of Clearance issued by the ATF which list responsible persons or possessors of explosives and blasting agents stored and handled at the location.

§ 8-7 MODIFICATIONS.

The Chief of the Fire Department, with approval of the Board of Commissioners, shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee, or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the Chief of the Fire Department thereon shall be entered upon the records of the department, and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.

§ 8-8 APPEALS.

Whenever the Chief of the Fire Department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a license or permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Chief of the Fire Department to the Board of Commissioners within 30 days from the date of the decision of the Chief.

§ 8-9 NEW MATERIALS, PROCESSES, OR OCCUPANCIES WHICH MAY REQUIRE PERMITS.

The Mayor and the Chief of the Fire Department shall act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits, in addition to those now enumerated in said code. The Chief of the Fire Department shall post such list in a conspicuous place in his office, and distribute copies thereof to interested persons.

§ 8-10 PENALTIES.

Any person, firm, or corporation who shall violate any of the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code hereby adopted or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plan submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the Board of Commissioners or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed therein, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by fine and costs as provided for in Section 9-31 of this Code. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each day that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

§ 8-11 DEPOSITING ASHES.

No person shall be allowed to place ashes in any trash container or paper sack within or outside any building, in any box, or other wooden container or upon any wooden container or floor. The placing of ashes in such places or in such manner shall be an offense. This applies to trash and garbage to be picked up by the City of Weatherford as well.

§ 8-12 STORING COMBUSTIBLES.

It shall be an offense for any person, being the occupant, owner, or lessee of any dwelling house, store house, warehouse or cellar located within the corporate limits of the city, to keep or permit to be kept therein any straw, hay or shavings or other combustible material other than is actually necessary for the operation of his or their business.

§ 8-13 OILY WASTE.

No person shall keep or permit to be kept on the premises, any oily waste or oily rags, unless at all times when not actually in use such oily waste and oily rags be kept in a metal can with self-closing cover and riveted joints, standing on metal legs which raise the bottom of the container at least five inches above the floor.

§ 8-14 BURNING TRASH PROHIBITED WITHIN FIRE LIMITS.

It shall be an offense to burn any trash or rubbish in the fire limits and no permit shall allow same. It shall be an offense to set fire to anything on any pavement or sidewalk.

§ 8-15 OPEN BURNING AND OUTDOOR COOKING WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF WEATHERFORD.

[Amended 3-31-1997 by Ordinance 1997-02; 12-31-2015 by Ordinance 2015-10]

It shall be unlawful and an offense for any person or persons to do or cause to be done any open burning within the corporate limits, of the City of Weatherford, Oklahoma, including but not limited to lawns, grass, trash, lumber, leaves, straw or any other combustible material.

Exceptions:

Burning conducted by the Fire Department for the purpose of training.

Bonfires for community activities (permit required).

Recreational fires shall be permitted at one or two family dwellings only. The following restrictions shall apply:

Fires conducted in portable outdoor fireplaces which are constructed of steel, concrete, clay or other noncombustible material shall be permitted only when used over noncombustible surfaces and located not less than 15 feet from a structure or combustible construction.

Ground or fire pits shall be permitted but restricted in size to not more than three feet in diameter and not more than two feet in height. The fire shall not be less than 25 feet from a structure or combustible construction and conditions which could cause the fire to spread within that 25 feet shall be eliminated prior to ignition.

The Weatherford Fire Department shall have full extinguishment authority. Any fire that creates or adds to a hazardous or objectionable situation or becomes offensive because of smoke emissions, may be extinguished.

Outdoor open flame cooking devices shall not be operated on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of a structure or combustible construction. Such devices shall be operated over noncombustible surfaces.

The owner shall be responsible for outdoor burning and open flame cooking. Such activities shall be attended by the owner at all times.