It is the intent of this chapter to prescribe regulations consistent
with recognized standard practices for the safeguarding to a reasonable
degree of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion
arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances,
materials, and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life and
property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises.
The following codes are hereby adopted by reference and made
a part of the City of Watertown Fire Prevention and Protection Code:
A. Wisconsin Commercial Building Code, Wisconsin Administrative Code
Chapters SPS 361 through 366.
B. Explosives and Fireworks, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter SPS
307.
C. Flammable, Combustible, and Hazardous Liquids Code, Wisconsin Administrative
Code Chapter SPS 310.
D. Gas Systems, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter SPS 340.
E. Fire Prevention Code, Wisconsin Administrative Code Chapter SPS 314.
The provisions of this chapter shall apply equally to new and
existing conditions, except that existing conditions not in strict
compliance with the terms of this chapter shall be permitted to continue
where the exceptions do not constitute a distinct hazard to life or
adjoining property.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to
inspect or cause to be inspected by the Fire Department all buildings
and premises, except the interiors of private dwellings, as often
as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to
be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire or any violations
of the provisions or intent of this chapter and of any other ordinance
affecting the fire hazard, and to ensure compliance in all places
of assembly with all laws, regulations and orders dealing with overcrowding,
use of decorative materials, maintenance of exit ways, and maintenance
of fire alarm and fire-detecting systems and fire-extinguishing systems
and appliances.
The City of Watertown hereby elects to exempt that portion of
§ 101.14(2)(c)1, Wis. Stats., which requires fire inspections
of every public building and place of employment within the fire limits
of the City not less than once every three months. Fire inspections
of all buildings within the fire limits shall be at least once in
12 months. The Fire Chief may require more frequent inspections for
buildings he/she deems as being high risk. Those occupancies deemed
"high risk" may include, but are not limited to, places of assembly
with occupant loads of more than 100; schools; hospitals; day-care
centers; nursing homes; congregate care facilities (with or without
nursing staff); jails or treatment facilities; or occupancies where
the use, storage, mixing and/or handling of hazardous substances would
constitute a process hazard.
Whenever the Fire Chief or officer designated by him shall find
in any building or upon any premises dangerous or hazardous conditions
as follows, he shall order such dangerous conditions or materials
to be removed or remedied in such manner as may be specified in said
order:
A. Dangerous or unlawful amounts of combustible or explosive matter.
B. Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly installed
equipment for handling or using combustible or explosive matter.
C. Dangerous accumulations of rubbish, wastepaper, boxes, shavings,
or other highly flammable materials.
D. Accumulations of dust or waste material in air-conditioning systems
or of grease in kitchen exhaust ducts.
E. Obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors, or
windows, liable to interfere with the operations of the Fire Department
or egress of occupants in case of fire.
F. Any building or other structure which, for want of repairs, lack
of sufficient fire escapes or other fire alarm apparatus or fire-extinguishing
equipment, or by reason of age or dilapidated condition, or from any
other cause, creates a fire hazard or a threat to life and safety.