§ 22-87. International Fire Code adopted.

There is hereby adopted by reference, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion those certain codes known as the Fire Prevention Code (NFPA-101, Life Safety Code), 2012 edition, as recommend by the National Fire Protection Association, and the International Fire Code, 2012 edition, published by the International Code Council, Inc., together with all revisions and additions thereto, save and accept such portions of such codes as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended, or inconsistent with or in conflict with any other provisions of City ordinances, or any statute of the State of Texas, and the same are otherwise hereby adopted and incorporated herein as fully as if set out verbatim herein.

(1)

This article shall provide for the City rules and regulations to improve safety of the public by promoting the control of fire hazards; regulating the installation, use and maintenance of equipment; the use of structures, premises, and open areas; providing for the abatement of fire hazards; and setting forth standards for compliance to achieve these objectives.

(2)

It shall be unlawful for any person to violate this article, to permit or maintain such violation, to refuse to obey any provision thereof, or to fail or refuse to comply with any such provision or regulation except as variation may be allowed where permitted herein, by action of the Chief of the Fire Department in writing. Proof of such unlawful act or failure to act shall be deemed prima facie evidence that such act is that of the owner. Prosecution or lack thereof of either the owner or the occupant shall not be deemed to relieve the other.

(3)

This article shall apply equally to both public and private commercial property. It shall apply to all new structures and their occupancies including buildings, structures, equipment, etc. and, except as otherwise specified, to existing structures and their occupancies including buildings, structures, equipment, etc., which constitute a clear and present hazard to life or to property.

(4)

Establishment and duties of the City Fire Department's Office of Fire Prevention. The Fire Chief/Fire Marshal shall develop procedures for scheduling facility inspection, recordkeeping, and fire code compliance procedures.

(5)

This article and NFPA Fire Prevention Code shall be enforced by the City Fire Department, Office of Fire Prevention which is hereby established and which shall be operated under the supervision of the Chief of the Fire Department/Fire Marshal according to the authority granted by City ordinances.

(6)

The Chief of the Fire Department may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The Chief of the Fire Department shall recommend to the City Manager the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position.

Exceptions to the IFC 2012 edition.

(1)

Replace section 101.1 with the following Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Shavano Park, hereinafter referred to as "this code."

(2)

Replace section 104.8 with the following: The fire marshal shall have authority to modify any of the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code, the National Fire Code and the International Fire 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 codes, provided that the spirit of the codes shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the fire marshal thereon shall be entered upon the records of the department and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.

(3)

Add section 104.8.1, Whenever the fire marshal shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the codes do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the codes have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the fire marshal to the city manage. The applicant may further appeal to the city council within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed.

(4)

Add section 105.3.9, "Operating without a permit." In addition to other remedies provided by law, any person, company, firm, corporation or entity operating in violation of section 105 shall be subject to a double permit fee. All work shall cease until the required permits are obtained and inspections completed. It shall be unlawful for any person to continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform by the fire marshal, in order to remove a violation or unsafe condition.

(5)

Add section 105.7.17, Fire apparatus and personnel access is added:

A permit is required:

a.

To install or modify any access gate across a fire apparatus access road or fire lane.

b.

To modify or encroach on any fire apparatus access road or fire lane.

c.

To modify any personnel access points into buildings or facilities.

(6)

Delete section 108, Board of Appeals, is deleted in its entirety.

(7)

Replace section 109.4, Violation penalties, shall read: 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, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire chief, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than $2,000.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding 30 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. Such fine and imprisonment shall be at the discretion of the city judge. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(8)

Replace section 404.2, Where required, shall read:

a.

An approved fire and safety evacuation plan shall be prepared and maintained for the following occupancies and buildings.

1)

Group A

2)

Group B with an occupant load of 250 or more or more than 50 occupants above or below the level of exit discharge

3)

Group E

4)

Group F

5)

Group I

6)

Group R-1

7)

Group R-2

8)

Group R-3

9)

Group R-4

10)

High-rise buildings

11)

Group M buildings having an occupant load of 250 or more or more than 50 occupants above or below the level of exit discharge.

12)

Covered mall building

13)

Buildings with an atrium and having occupancy of Group A, E, or M.

(9)

Replace section 404.5, Availability, shall read: Fire safety and evacuation plans shall be distributed and made available in the workplace for reference and review by employees, and copies shall be furnished to the fire code official upon request.

(10)

Add section 501.3.1, Construction Documents. As Built Construction Documents. On completion of construction and prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy, the building official may request a copy of finished drawings (as built) to be provided to the City in an electronic format acceptable by the building official.

(11)

Replace section 503.2.1, Dimensions, shall read: Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet, except where a fire hydrant is located on a fire department access road, in which case the minimum road width shall be 26 feet. An unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 14 feet shall be required and maintained at all times. Security gates shall be sized to match the required road width.

(12)

Add section 503.2.5.1, Dead ends. Dead-end fire apparatus access roads located between buildings shall have a 10-foot setback from the edge of the access road to the structures on each side of the road.

(13)

Add section 503.2.9, Divided entrances. Subdivisions or complexes may have a divided entrance and exit. The entrance side shall have a clearance of 20 feet clear width, and the exit side shall have a 20-foot clear width. Gates shall be sized to match the openings.

(14)

Add section 503.3.1, Maintenance of markings. The person in possession of the premises on and into which a fire apparatus access roadway or fire lane is required shall be solely responsible for the maintenance of such roadways or fire lanes and all required signs. No owner, manager, or other person(s) in charge of premises served by a required fire apparatus access roadway or fire lane shall abandon, close, or alter the fire apparatus roadway or any part thereof without permission of the fire chief. The person(s) in possession of the premises shall be responsible for ensuring that fire apparatus roadways are clear at all times.

(15)

Add section 503.4.2, "Parking in fire lane." It shall be unlawful for any vehicle, equipment or device to park or block a fire lane. Any vehicle, equipment or device found parked in or blocking a fire lane, shall be cited by police or the fire department.

(16)

Add section 503.6.1, Gate and entrance design. Gates shall be designed so that the access roadway or turning radius (AASHTO WB50) shall not be obstructed by the operation of the gate. Minimum setback from the public street shall be a distance determined by the city engineer and shall allow the emergency vehicle the ability to safely operate the lock box or panel without the rear of the vehicle protruding into the street. Turning radius from the public street shall be in accordance with 2003 AASHTO WB50.

(17)

Add section 503.6.1.1, Access controls. Access controls shall be exterior to the gate and located for activation by the vehicle operator without leaving the vehicle. The height of the lock box/control panel shall be 66 inches, measured from the finished grade line of the street.

(18)

Add section 503.6.1.2, Gate timing. Gates must fully open within 15 seconds of activation and remain in the open position until closed by operation of the electrical control device.

(19)

Add section 503.6.1.3, Control pedestal. The control pedestal must be identified with a minimum 6-inch by 10-inch reflective sign with red letters on a white background. This sign must be securely fastened to the pedestal and legible from the approaching vehicle.

(20)

Add section 503.6.1.4, Fail safe position, Fire department access gates shall fail safe (open) in the event of a power failure.

(21)

Add section 503.6.2, Secondary access. Secondary "exit only" or "emergency access" gates shall be set up for fire department emergency access. Exit only gates, which are not motorized, shall be installed per the fire department's recommendations. Exit only gates shall have a minimum clearance of 20 feet clear width and be posted with a sign that states "Caution Gate Opens Out." The pavement shall be painted with a 5-inch yellow stripe showing the depth of the gate swing.

(22)

Add section 503.6.2.1, Secondary access gate controls, Where motorized, operation of the gate shall be by preemption device and/or electronic key switch.

(23)

Add section 503.7, Temporary fire department access roads. When required, temporary access roadways shall be a minimum of 16 feet (4,877 mm wide), with a minimum of 4 inches (101.6 mm) thickness of aggregate base course or decomposed granite compacted to a 90% density where natural soil will not meet compaction.

(24)

Replace section 505.1, "Address Identification" shall read: All address numerals shall be in contrasting color with their background; Where a building stands alone, it is required that the address numerals be placed on the building front in an approved location by the Fire Department Official, visible from the nearest primary roadway, and that the minimum height of address numerals be six (6) inches when the building front is less than 150 feet from the nearest primary roadway, and increase two inches in height for every 50 feet more than 150 feet from the nearest primary roadway to a maximum required height of 12 inches. The stroke width shall be minimum one-half (½) inch for numerals up to eight (8) inches in height, and increase in size to one (1) inch in width when the numeral height is required to be more than eight (8) inches. Where in a commercial building complex with multiple tenant spaces that share a main sign visible from the nearest primary roadway, each tenant space shall have their respective suite number on their business front that meets the requirements for standalone buildings as stated in this section, and the commercial building complex sign or sign post shall have address numerals on each side of the sign that faces a primary roadway, or on the post or pillar facing the roadway that holds sign, of at least eight (8) inches in height and a minimum stroke width of one (1) inch for signs less than thirty-five (35) feet in height and ten (10) inches in height with a minimum stroke width of two (2) inch for signs more than thirty-five (35) feet in height. All suites within a commercial building complex that have a rear exit, shall have their respective address numerals affixed to the rear exits, with the same requirements applicable to the business front.

(25)

Add section 511, "Maintenance of records." Owners or managers of buildings or properties that store or use hazardous materials shall maintain chemical documents (MSDS), and building/site data, construction, maintenance and modifications over the entire life of the building. A means shall be developed for offsite storage and maintenance of the documents. In addition, this information shall be made available in suitably designed hard copy or electronic format for use by emergency responders. Such information shall be easily accessible by responders during emergencies.

(26)

Add section 605.12, Electrical service disconnect. Where electrical service disconnect controls are located inside a building, a door providing direct access from the exterior to the room containing such electrical shutoff controls shall be provided, when required by the fire chief.

(27)

Add section 901.4.1.1, Main fire sprinkler valve assembly and riser area. The main fire sprinkler valve assembly and riser area shall be installed inside the building. A door providing direct access from the exterior wall into the room containing fire sprinkler controls shall be provided. The main fire sprinkler valve assembly and riser area shall be installed in accordance with NFPA 13, and shall be equipped with a listed double horizontal or vertical backflow prevention device(s) sized to match riser piping. Clearance around the fire riser and other equipment shall not be less than 36 inches. This room shall be designed and used for fire protection and fire detection equipment only.

(28)

Add section 901.4.1.2, Exterior identification of main fire sprinkler valve assembly and riser area. A weatherproof horn and strobe unit shall be installed on the exterior wall outside of the main fire sprinkler valve assembly and riser area. This horn and strobe shall be installed according to the requirements for a water-flow notification appliance referenced in NFPA 13. It shall be interconnected to actuate concurrently with the water-flow alarm-initiating device of the system, but its placement is in addition to the minimum requirements for water-flow alarm, unless otherwise approved by the fire chief.

(29)

Replace section 912.2, Location. Fire department connection(s) shall be located on the main entrance side of the building, remote from the building, outside of the collapse zone, and within 100 feet of a fire hydrant. Fire department connections shall be so located that the fire apparatus and hose connected to supply the system will not obstruct access to the building for other fire apparatus. The location of the fire department connections shall be approved by the Fire Chief.

(30)

Add section 912.2.1.1, Identification of remote fire department connection(s). A weatherproof, electronic visual indicator (strobe) shall be installed as part of any remote fire department connection. Its type and connection shall be consistent with NFPA 72 for water-flow devices, be interconnected to actuate with other dedicated water-flow devices but shall not take the place of any other required exterior water-flow device unless otherwise approved by the fire chief.

(31)

Add section 912.4.1, Signs. An additional metal sign with dimensions twelve (12) inches wide and ten (10) inches in height shall be posted not more than 72 and not less than 60 inches from the bottom of the sign to grade level and within 6 feet of the fire department connection. This additional sign shall have a white reflective background and have the letters "FDC" in red reflective material and be permanently affixed to a wall or post.

(32)

Add section 1007.3.1, Exit stairways. shall read: In order to be considered a part of an accessible means of egress, an exit stairwell shall have a clear width of 60 inches (1524 mm) minimum between handrails and shall either incorporate an area of refuge within an enlarged floor-level landing or shall be accessed from either an area of refuge complying with section 1007.6 or a horizontal exit. Exit access stairways that connect levels in the same story are not permitted as part of an accessible mean of egress. Exception numbers 2, 3, and 4 are hereby deleted.

(33)

Add to section 1007.4.1, "Elevators." Where an elevator is required to meet the standards of an accessible means of egress, its construction shall be hardened, designed to withstand a maximum credible fire scenario without collapse. The structures fire resistance shall be enhanced to ensure that an uncontrolled fire shall result in a burnout without collapse of the elevator structure. The building's structure shall not depend on the elevator shaft for support. The elevator car shall be of such a size and arrangement to accommodate a 24 inch by 84 inch ambulance stretcher 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 3 inches high and shall be placed inside on both sides of the hoistway doorframe.

(34)

Replace section 1011.2, Where required. Add the following: Where floor proximity exit signs are required in chapter 11 through chapter 42 of NFPA 101 (Life Safety Code), such signs shall be located near the floor level in addition to those signs required for doors or corridors. The signs shall be illuminated and sized in accordance with this code. The bottom of the sign shall be not less than 10 inches (254 mm), but not more than 12 inches (305 mm), above the floor. For exit doors, the sign shall be mounted on the door or adjacent to the door, with the nearest edge of the sign within 4 inches (100 mm) of the doorframe.

(35)

Add Exception 1011.3.1, Illumination. Tritium-powered or photo-luminescent exit signs are not acceptable and are prohibited.

(36)

Add section 2308.3.2, Vehicle impact protection. Vehicle impact protection for CNG gas storage containers, pumps and dispensers shall be provided in accordance with section 2306.4.

(37)

Replace section 3103.5, "Use Period", shall read: Temporary tents, air-supported, air-inflated or tensioned membrane structures and canopies shall not be erected for a period of more than four (4) days within a 12-month period on a single premise.

(38)

Delete Appendix A, Board of Appeals.

(39)

Add section Appendix C, 105.2 "Additional Distribution." A fire hydrant shall be required within 100 feet of a fire department standpipe connection.

(Ord. No. 200-01-99, § B-2, 1-19-1999; Ord. No. 100-04-09, §§ I, II, 3-17-2009; Ord. No. 200-01-12, § I, 7-23-2012; Ord. No. 0-2015-020 , §§ 1, 2, 10-26-2015)