Chapter 14

 

                                       FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION[1]

 

                                                    Art. I.          In General, §§ 14-1—14-15

                                                   Art. II.          Fire Prevention Code, §§ 14-16—14-49

                                                                         Div. 1. Generally, §§ 14-16—14-40

                                                                         Div. 2. Fire Code Amendments, § 14-41—14-49

 

                                                     ARTICLE I.  IN GENERAL

 

Sec. 14-1.  Fire department established.

 

         There is hereby established for the city a fire department.

(Code 1967, § 14-1)

 

            State law reference—Firemen's relief and pension fund, A.R.S. § 9-951 et seq.

 

Secs. 14-2—14-15.  Reserved.

 

                                        ARTICLE II.  FIRE PREVENTION CODE

 

                                                      DIVISION 1. GENERALLY

 

Sec. 14-16.  Adopted; where filed.

 

         That certain document known as the International Fire Code, 2003 Edition, which has been published in book form by the International Code Council, Inc., together with appendix chapters B, C, E, F and G, three (3) copies of which are on file in the office of the city clerk, and this same code is hereby referred to, adopted and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this article. (Permit and Inspection fees set by resolution - see Appendix)

(Code 1967, § 14-4; Ord. No. 87.01, § 1, 2-12-87; Ord. No. 89.62, § 1, 1-11-90; Ord. No. 99.26, 8-19-99; Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

            Charter reference—Adoption by reference, § 2.14.

            State law reference—Adoption by reference, A.R.S. § 9- 801 et seq.

 

Sec. 14-17.  Enforcement; annual report.

 

         (a)     The fire prevention code adopted by this article shall be enforced by the fire department of the city, under the supervision of the chief of the fire department.

        

         (b)     The chief of the fire department may detail such members of the fire department as fire prevention 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 when necessary.

         (c)     A report on fire prevention activities shall be made annually and transmitted to the city manager.

(Code 1967, § 14-7)

 

Secs. 14-18—14-20.  Reserved.

 

            Editor's note—§§ 14-18—14-20, pertaining to storage of explosives and blasting agents, storage of flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks, and new bulk plants for flammable or combustible liquids, and derived from §§ 14-8—14-10 of the city's 1967 code, were repealed by § 2 of Ord. No. 87.01, adopted Feb. 12, 1987.

 

Sec. 14-21.  Modifications.

 

         The chief of the fire department shall be authorized to determine the specific applicability of the fire prevention code adopted by this article when there are practical difficulties in carrying out the strict letter of the code, upon written application that a practical difficulty exists; 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 fire department, and assigned copy shall be furnished the applicant.

(Code 1967, § 14-12)

 

Sec. 14-22.  Appeals.

 

         Whenever the chief of the fire department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the fire prevention code adopted by this article 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 city manager within thirty (30) days from the date of the decision appealed.

(Code 1967, § 14-13)

 

Sec. 14-23.  Determination of need for additional permits.

 

         The city manager, the chief of the fire department and the development services manager 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 the fire prevention code adopted by this article.

(Code 1967, § 14-14; Ord. No. 97.20, 4-10-97; Ord. No. 2001.17, 7-26-01)

 

Sec. 14-24.  Conflicting provisions.

 

         Nothing in the fire prevention code adopted by this article shall be construed to prevent the enforcement of other laws which prescribe more restrictive limitations, nor shall the permissive provisions of the fire prevention code be presumed to waive limitations imposed by other statutes or ordinances of the city or the state.

(Code 1967, § 14-15)

Sec. 14-25.  Violation; penalty.

 

         Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the fire prevention code adopted by this article or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made under such code, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved under such code or any certificate or permit issued under such code, shall severally, for each violation and noncompliance respectively, be punishable as provided in § 1-7.  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 forthwith.  Each day that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

(Code 1967, § 14-16)

 

Secs. 14-26—14-40.  Reserved.

 

                                        DIVISION 2.  FIRE CODE AMENDMENTS

Sec. 14-41.  Legal status.

 

         The provisions of this division are amendments to the International Fire Code as now or hereafter adopted in § 14-16.  All sections, chapters, etc., in this division other than this section shall be considered to be both a part of this code and a part of the International Fire Code.

(Ord. No. 99.26, 8-19-99; Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 105.  Permits.

 

         Section 105.1.1 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         105.1.1.  Permits required.  The fire code official may require permits as provided for in Section 105.  Permit fees, if any, shall be paid prior to issuance of the permit.  Issued permits shall be kept on the premises designated therein at all times and shall be readily available for inspection by the fire code official.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 108.  Board of appeals.

 

         Section 108 is hereby repealed.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 109.  Violations.

 

         Section 109.3 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         109.3.   Violation penalties.  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 code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00) or by
imprisonment not exceeding ninety (90) days or both such fine and imprisonment.  Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 111.  Stop work order.

 

         Section 111.4 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         111.4.  Failure to comply.  Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be subject to the violation penalties specified in Section 109.3.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 202.  General definitions.

        

         FIREFIGHTER BREATHING AIR SYSTEM.  A firefighter breathing air system is a complete, self-contained high pressure breathing air replenishment system consisting of a fire department air connection panel, remote air fill panels and high pressure interconnected piping, permanently installed within a structure which allows fire department personnel to replenish empty self-contained breathing apparatus cylinders at, or within close proximity to, the location of an emergency incident, thus reducing the amount of travel distance, time and support personnel needed at the location. 

 

         OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION, Factory Industrial F-1 Moderate-Hazard Occupancy is hereby amended as follows:

 

         Woodworking (cabinet) (establishments with more than three (3) woodworking appliances.)

 

         OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION, Group I-1 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         Group I-1.  This occupancy shall include buildings, structures or parts thereof housing more than ten (10) persons, on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, who because of age, mental disability or other reasons, live in a residential environment that provides personal care and or supervisory care services. The occupants are capable of responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance from staff. This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

         Residential board and care facilities

         Assisted living centers

         Halfway houses

         Group homes

         Congregate care facilities

         Social rehabilitation facilities

         Alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers

         Convalescent facilities

 

         A facility such as the above with five (5) or fewer persons, excluding staff, shall be classified as Group R-3 and shall comply with the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2 of the Tempe Building Code.  A facility such as the above housing at least six (6) but not more than ten (10) persons, persons, excluding staff, shall be classified as a Group R-4 and may comply with the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2 of the Tempe Building Code where the building is in compliance with Section 419 of the Tempe Building Code.

 

         OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION, Group I-2 is hereby amended as follows:

  

         Group I-2.  This occupancy shall include buildings and structures used for medical, surgical, psychiatric, nursing, custodial, personal, or directed care on a twenty-four (24) hour basis of persons who are not capable of self-preservation by responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance from staff.  This group shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

 

         Hospitals

         Nursing homes (both intermediate-care facilities and skilled nursing facilities)

         Mental hospitals (where patients are not restrained)

         Detoxification facilities

 

         OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION, Residential Group R is hereby amended as follows:

  

         R-1 Residential occupancies where the occupants are primarily transient in nature, including:

 

         Boarding houses

         Hotels

         Motels

 

         R-2 Residential occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two (2) dwelling units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including:

 

         Apartment houses

         Convents

         Dormitories

         Fraternities and sororities

         Monasteries

         Vacation timeshare properties

 

         Fraternity and sorority houses are any building used in whole or in part as a dwelling and occupied by and maintained exclusively or primarily for college, university or professional school students who are affiliated with a social, honorary or professional organization recognized currently or in the past by a college, university or professional school.

 

         R-3 Residential occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature and not classified as R-1, R-2, R-4 or I and where buildings do not contain more than two (2) dwelling units as applicable in Section 101.2 of the Tempe Building Code, or adult and child care facilities that provide accommodation for five or fewer persons, excluding staff, of any age. Adult and child care facilities that are within a single-family home are permitted to comply with the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2 of the Tempe Building Code. 

 


         R-4 Residential occupancies shall include buildings arranged for occupancy as residential care/assisted living facilities including at least six (6) but not more than ten (10) occupants, excluding staff.

 

         Group R-4 occupancies shall meet the requirements for construction as defined for Group R-3 occupancies except as otherwise provided for in this code or shall comply with the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 101.2 of the Tempe Building Code and the provisions of Section 419 of the Tempe Building Code.

 

         PERSONAL CARE SERVICE.  The care of residents who do not require chronic or convalescent medical or nursing care.  Personal care involves assistance with activities of daily living that can be performed by persons without professional skills or professional training and includes the coordination or provision of intermittent nursing services, the administration of medications and treatments, and responsibility for the safety of the residents while inside the building. 

 

         RESIDENTIAL CARE/ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY.  A building or part thereof housing at least six (6) but not more than ten (10) persons, excluding staff, on a twenty-four (24) hour basis, who because of age, mental disability or other reasons, live in a supervised residential environment which provides supervisory and/or personal care services.  The occupants are capable of responding to an emergency situation without physical assistance from staff.  This classification shall include, but not be limited to, the following: residential board and care facilities, assisted living homes, halfway houses, group homes, congregate care facilities, social rehabilitation facilities, alcohol and drug abuse treatment centers and convalescent facilities. 

 

         SUPERVISORY CARE SERVICE.  General supervision, including daily awareness of resident functioning and continuing needs.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06; Ord. No. 2007.70, 10-25-07)

 

Sec. 308.  Open flames.

 

         Section 308.3.1 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         308.3.1.  Open-flame devices.  Charcoal burners and other open-flame devices shall not be operated on balconies/patios or within ten (10) feet (3048 mm) of combustible construction in Group R1 or R2 occupancies.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 


Sec. 405.  Emergency evacuation drills.

 

         Table 405.2 is hereby amended as follows:

 

Table 405.2

Fire And Evacuation Drill

Frequency And Participation

 

GROUP OR

OCCUPANCY

FREQUENCY

PARTICIPATION

 

Group A

Quarterly

Employees

Group E

Monthly a

All occupants

Group I

Quarterly on each shift

Employees

Group R-1

Quarterly on each shift

Employees

Group R-4

Quarterly on each shift

Employees

 

         a.      The frequency shall be allowed to be modified in accordance with Section 408.3.2.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 408.  Use and occupancy-related requirements.

 

         Section 408.5.5 is hereby repealed

 

         Section 408.10.5 is hereby repealed

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 503.  Fire apparatus access roads.

 

         Section 503.1.1 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         503.1.1.  Buildings and facilities.  Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section and shall extend to within one hundred fifty (150) feet (45 720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of  the building as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building or facility.

 

                  EXCEPTION:  The fire code official is authorized to increase the dimension of one hundred fifty (150) feet (45 720 mm) where:

 

                  1.      The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Sections 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3.

 

                  2.      Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed because of location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, and an approved alternative means of fire protection is provided.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 


Sec. 806.  Interior finish and decorative materials.

 

         Section 806.2.6 is amended as follows:

 

         806.2.6.  Fire-retardant coatings.  The required flame spread or smoke-developed classification of surfaces  shall be permitted to be achieved by application of approved fire-retardant coatings, paints or solutions to surfaces having a flame spread rating exceeding that permitted. Such applications shall comply with NFPA 703 and the required fire-retardant properties shall be maintained or renewed in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Fire retardant coatings paints or solutions shall be applied by personnel approved by the  fire code official.

(Ord. No. 2006.02, 2-16-06)

 

Sec. 901.  General.

 

         Section 901.6 is hereby amended as follows:

 

         901.6.   Inspection, testing and maintenance.  Fire detection, alarm, firefighter breathing air and extinguishing systems shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times, and shall be replaced or repaired where defective.  Non-required fire protection systems and equipment shall be inspected, tested and maintained or removed.

(Ord. No. 2007.70, 10-25-07)

 

Sec. 903.  Automatic sprinkler systems.

 

         Section 903.2 is hereby amended as follows: 

 

         903.2.  Where required.  Approved automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided in the locations described in this section.

 

         Section 903.2.1 is hereby amended as follows: 

 

         903.2.1.  New buildings or structures.  All areas of new buildings or structures, and other locations required by this Chapter, shall be provided with an automatic fire sprinkler system complying with Sections 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3 as applicable.

 

                  EXCEPTIONS: Unless the use of the facility otherwise requires automatic fire sprinkler protection, fire sprinkler systems shall not be required for the following:

 

                  1.      R-3 occupancies of five thousand (5,000) square feet or less and other buildings or structures accessory to R-3 occupancies.

 

                  2.      Detached non-combustible carports of five thousand (5,000) square feet or less in roof area.

 

                  3.      Detached non-residential buildings of one thousand (1,000) square feet or less in floor area.

 


                  4.      Detached non-combustible canopies less than five thousand (5,000) square feet in roof area used exclusively for vehicle washing facilities or vehicle fuel dispensing stations.

                  5.      Shade canopies less than five thousand (5,000) square feet; not closer than five (5) feet to any building, property line or other shade canopy; and shading one of the following: vehicles for sale at a dealership, playground equipment, or outdoor eating areas without cooking.

 

                  6.      Shipping containers used for storage purposes and not closer than five (5) feet to any building, property line or other container.

 

                  7.      Exterior roofs, overhangs or canopies of Type I, II or III construction with no combustible storage beneath.

 

                  8.      Exterior covered/enclosed walkways of Type I, II or III construction with enclosing walls that are at least fifty percent (50%) open.

 

         This section is not intended to indicate all instances or circumstances where fire sprinkler systems are required; refer to this chapter and the Tempe Fire Code for other requirements.

 

Section 903.2.1.1 is hereby repealed. 

 

Section 903.2.1.2 is hereby repealed. 

 

Section 903.2.1.3 is hereby repealed. 

 

Section 903.2.1.4 is hereby repealed. 

 

Section 903.2.1.5 is hereby repealed. 

 

Section 903.2.2 is hereby amended as follows: 

 

         903.2.2.  Group H-5 occupancies.  An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings containing Group H-5 occupancies. The design of the sprinkler system shall not be less than that required by this code for the occupancy hazard classifications in accordance with Table 903.2.2. Where the design area of the sprinkler system consists of a corridor protected by one row of sprinklers, the maximum number of sprinklers required to be calculated is thirteen (13).

 

TABLE 903.2.2

GROUP H-5 SPRINKLER DESIGN CRITERIA

 

LOCATION

OCCUPANCY HAZARD

CLASSIFICATION

Fabrication areas

Ordinary Hazard Group 2

Service corridors

Ordinary Hazard Group 2

Storage rooms without dispensing

Ordinary Hazard Group 2