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HomeMy WebLinkAbout172 - 12/04/1984 - AMENDING PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 50 OF THE CITY CODE RELATING TO THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE ORDINANCE NO. 172, 1984 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AMENDING PORTIONS OF CHAPTER 50 OF THE CODE OF "rHE CITY OF FORT COLLINS RELATING TO THE UNIFORM FIRE CODE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS: Section 1. The following sections of Chapter 50 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins are hereby amended as follows: Section 50-2 is amended by adding the following subsection: (35) Appendix VII is added as follows: APPENDIX VII LIFE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS SECTION 101. SCOPE These provisions appply to existing high-rise buildings constructed prior to the adoption of this appendix and which house Group B, Division 2 offices or Group R, Division 1 Occupancies, each having floors used for human occupancy located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. SECTION 102. GENERAL Existing high-rise buildings as specified in Section 101, above, shall be modified to conform with not less than the minimum provisions specified in Table No. 1-A and as enumerated within this appendix. The provisions of this appendix shall not be construed to allow the elimination of fire protection systems or a reduction in the level of fire safety provided in buildings constructed in conformance with previously adopted codes. SECTION 103. COMPLIANCE DATA After adoption of this appendix, the fire marshal shall duly notify the owners whose buildings are subject to the provisions of this appendix. Upon receipt of such notice, the owner shall , subject to the following time limits , take necessary actions to comply with the provisions of this appendix. Plans and specifications for the necessary alterations shall be filed with the fire marshal within 18 months after the date of owner notifica- 1 tion. Work on the required alterations to the building shall commence within 30 months of the date of owner notification and such work shall be completed within five years from the date of owner notification. The fire marshal shall grant necessary extensions of time when it can be shown that the specified time periods are not physically practical or pose an undue hardship. The granting of an extension of time for com- pliance shall be based upon the showing of good cause and subject to the filing of an acceptable systematic progressive plan of correction with the fire marshal . SECTION 104. AUTHORITY OF THE FIRE MARSHAL For the purpose of applying the provisions of this appendix, the fire marshal shall have the authority to consider alternative approaches and grant necessary deviations from this appendix as follows: A. Allow alternate materials or methods of compliance if such alter- nate materials or methods of compliance will provide levels of fire and life safety equal to or greater than those specifically set forth in this appendix. B . Waive specific individual requirements if it can be shown that such requirements are not physically possible or practical and that a practical alternative cannot be provided. SECTION 105. APPEALS BOARD Appeals of the determinations of the fire marshal in applying the pro- visions of this code may be made by an appeal directed to the Board of Appeals as established by Section 2.302 of this code. SECTION 106. SPECIFIC PROVISIONS AND ALTERNATES (a) Specific Provisions . The following provisions shall apply when required by Table No. 1-A. 1. Type of construction. Buildings classified in the Uniform Buil - ding Code as Type II-N, III-N or V-N construction shall be equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with U.B.C. Standard No. 38-1. EXCEPTION: Installation of meters or backflow preventers for the connection to the water works system need not be provided unless required by other regulations of the authority having jurisdiction. 2. Fire department communication system. When it is determined by test that the portable fire department communication equipment is ineffec- tive, a communication system acceptable to the fire department shall be installed within the existing high-rise building to permit emergency communication between fire-suppression personnel . -2- 3. Single-station smoke detectors. Single-station smoke detectors conforming to U.B.C. Standard No. 43-6, Part II, shall be installed within all dwelling units or guest rooms in accordance with the manufacturer' s installation instructions . In dwelling units , the detector shall be mounted on the ceiling or wall at a point centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to each separate sleeping area. When sleeping rooms are located on an upper level , the detector shall be installed at the center of the ceiling directly above the stairway within the unit. In efficiency dwelling units , hotel suites and in hotel guest rooms, detectors shall be located on the ceiling or wall of the main room or hotel sleeping room. When actuated, the detector shall provide an audible alarm in the sleeping area of the dwelling unit, hotel suite or guest room in which it is located . Such detectors may be battery operated. 4. Manual fire alarm system. An approved manual fire alarm system connnected to a central , proprietary or remote station service, or an approved manual fire alarm system which will provide an audible signal at a constantly attended location, shall be provided. Such system shall include a graphic annunciator panel in the main lobby or other location approved by the fire department. 5. Occupant voice notification system. An approved occupant voice notification system shall be provided. Such system shall provide communi - cation from a location acceptable to the fire department and shall permit voice notification to at least all normally occupied areas of the building. The occupant voice notification system may be combined with a fire alarm system, provided the combined system has been approved and listed for such use. The sounding of a fire alarm signal in any given area or floor shall not prohibit voice communication to other areas or floors. Combi - nation systems shall be designed to permit voice transmission to override the fire alarm signal , but the fire alarm shall not terminate in less than 3 minutes . 6. Vertical shaft enclosures. Openings through two or more floors except mezzanine floors, which contain a stairway or elevator, shall be provided with vertical shaft enclosure protection as specified herein. Such floor openings, when not enclosed by existing shaft enclosure con- struction , shall be protected by one-hour fire-resistive-rated shaft enclosure construction. For floor openings which are enclosed by existing shaft enclosure construction having fire-resistive capabilities similar to wood lath and plaster in good condition, 1/2-inch gypsum wallboard or approved 1/4-inch-thick wired glass is acceptable. Wired glass set in a steel frame may be installed in existing shaft enclosure walls but shall be rendered inoperative and be fixed in a closed position. -3- Openings through two or more floors for other than stairways or elevators, such as openings provided for piping, ducts, gas vents , dumbwaiters, and rubbish and linen chutes, shall be provided with vertical shaft enclosure protection as specified for stairways and elevators. EXCEPTIONS: Openings for piping, ducts, gas vents , dumbwaiters and rubbish and linen chutes of copper or ferrous construction are per- mitted without a shaft enclosure, provided the floor openings are effectively fire-stopped at each floor level . 7. Shaft enclosure opening protection. Openings other than those P 9 P . provided for elevator doors in new vertical shaft enclosures constructed of one-hour fire-resistive construction shall be equipped with approved fire assemblies having a fire-protection rating of not less than one hour. Openings other than those provided for elevator doors in existing vertical shaft enclosures shall be equipped with approved 20-minute-rated fire assemblies , 1 3/4-inch solid wood doors or the equivalent thereto . Doors shall be either self-closing or automatic closing and automatic latching. 8. Manual shutoff of HVAC systems. Heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems shall be equipped with manual shutoff controls in- stalled at an approved location when required by the fire department. 9. Automatic elevator recall system. Elevators shall be equipped with an approved automatic recall system as required by Section 1807(h)2 of the Uniform Building Code. 10. Unlocked stairway doors . Exit doors into exit stairway enclosures shall be maintained unlocked from the stairway side on at least every fifth floor level . All unlocked doors shall bear a sign stating ACCESS ONTO FLOOR THIS LEVEL. Stairway doors may be locked, subject to the following conditions: A. Stairway doors which are to be locked from the stairway side shall have the capability of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from an approved location. B. A telephone or other two-way communications system connected to an approved emergency service which operates continuously shall be provided at not less than every fifth floor in each required stairway. 11. Stair shaft ventilation. Stair shaft enclosures which extend to the roof shall be provided with an approved manually openable hatch to the exterior having an area not less than 16 square feet with a minimum dimen- sion of 2 feet. -4- } EXCEPTIONS: 1. Stair shaft enclosures complying with the require- ments for smokeproof enclosures . 2. Stair shaft enclosures pressurized as required for mechanically operated smokeproof enclosures to a minimum of 0.15- and a maximum of 0.50-inch water column. 12. Elevator shaft ventilation. Elevator shaft enclosures which extend to the roof shall be vented to the outside with vents whose area shall be not less than 3 1/2 percent of the area of the elevator shaft , with a minimum of 3 square feet per elevator. EXCEPTION: Where energy conservation or hoistway pressurization requires that the vents be normally closed, automatic venting by actuation of an elevator lobby detector or power failure may be accepted. 13. Posting of elevators . A permanent sign shall be installed in each elevator cab adjacent to the floor status indicator and at each elevator call station on each floor reading IN FIRE EMERGENCY, DO NOT USE ELEVATOR -- USE EXIT STAIRS, or similar verbiage approved by the fire marshal . EXCEPTION: Sign may be omitted at the main entrance-floor level call station. 14. Exits . A. General . Every floor from an existing high-rise building shall have access to two separate means of egress, one of which may be an existing exterior fire escape or an exterior stairway not less than 30 inches in clear width. The stairway may be constructed with an 8-inch maximum rise and 9-inch minimum run, provided the greatest riser height and largest tread run do not exceed the smallest by more than 3/8-inch . The adequacy of fire escapes shall be demonstrated to the satisfacton of the fire marshal . B . Fire escapes . Access to fire escapes may be any one of the following : (i ) Through a room between the corridor and the fire escape if the door to the room is operable from the corridor side without the use of any key, special knowledge or effort. (ii ) By a door to a fire escape operable from the interior without the use of any key, special knowledge or effort. (iii ) By a window operable from the interior. Such window shall have a minimum net clear dimension of 29 inches when open. The sill shall be not more than 30 inches above the floor and landing. -5- C. Protection of exterior openings . When a fire escape is accepted as one of the required means of egress, openings onto the fire escape landing and openings within 10 feet horizontally of the landing shall be protected in a manner acceptable to the fire marshal . 15. Exit corridor construction . Corridors serving as an exit for an occupant load of 30 or more shall have walls and ceilings of not less than one-hour fire-resistive construction as required by the Uniform Building Code. Existing walls may be surfaced with wood lath and plaster in good condition or 1/2-inch gypsum wallboard for corridor walls and ceilings and occupancy separations when approved. 16. Exit corridor openings. Openings in corridor walls and ceilings shall be protected by not less than 1 3/8-inch solid-bonded wood-core doors , approved 1/4-inch-thick wired glass, approved fire dampers con- forming to U.B.C. Standard No. 43-7, or by equivalent protection in lieu of any of these items . Transoms shall be fixed closed and covered with 1/2-inch Type X gypsum wallboard or equivalent material installed on both sides of the opening. 17. Exit corridor door closers. Exit doors into corridors shall be equipped with self-closing devices or shall be automatic closing by actu- ation of a smoke detector. When spring hinges are used as the closing device, not less than two such hinges shall be installed on each door leaf. 18. Exit corridor dead ends . The length of dead end corridors serving an occupant load of more than 30 shall not exceed 20 feet . 19. Interior finish. The interior finish in exit corridors, exit stairways and extensions thereof shall conform to the provisions of Chapter 42 of the Uniform Building Code. 20. Exit stairway illumination. When the building is occupied, exit stairways shall be illuminated with lights having an intensity of not less than 1 footcandle at the floor level . Such lighting shall be equipped with an independent alternate source of power such as a battery pack or on-site generator. 21. Exit corridor illumination. When the building is occupied, exit corridors shall be illuminated with lights having an intensity of not less than 1 footcandle at the floor level . Such lighting shall be equipped with an independent alternate source of power such as a battery pack or on-site generator. 22. Exit stairway exit signs. The location of exit stairways shall be clearly indicated by illuminated exit signs. Such exit signs shall be equipped with an independent alternate source of power such as a battery pack or on-site generator or shall be of an approved self-illuminating type. -6- 23. Exitway exit signs. Illuminated exit signs shall be provided in all exitways and located in such a manner as to clearly indicate the direction of egress. Such exit signs shall be equipped with an independent alternate source of power such as a battery pack or on-site generator or shall be of an approved self-illuminating type. 24. Standpipe systems . Standpipe systems shall be upgraded to deliver 250 gallons per minute per outlet. Each floor shall have a minimum of two outlets in order to provide a minimum flow of 500 gallons per minute. (b ) Sprinkler Alternatives . The requirements of Table No . 1-A may be modified as specified by the following for existing high-rise buildings classified in the Uniform Building Code as Type I, II-F.R. , II One-hour, III One-hour, IV or V One-hour construction when an approved automatic sprinkler system is installed throughout the building in accordance with U.B.C. Standard No. 38-1: Item 4 - Manual fire warning system shall not be required. Item 5 - Occupant voice notification system shall not be required; however, if the building is equipped with a public address system, the public address system shall be available for use as an occupant voice notification system. Item 6 - Vertical shaft enclosures may be of nonrated construction for required exit stairway enclosures . Vertical shaft enclosures of openings in floors provided for elevators, escalators and supplemental stairways shall not be required, provided such openings are protected by an approved curtain board and water curtain system. Item 7 - Protection of openings in vertical shaft enclosures may be non-rated but shall be not less than 1 3/4-inch solid-wood door or the equivalent thereto. Closing and latching hardware shall be provided. Item 9 - An automatic elevator recall system shall not be required. Item 11 - Stair shaft ventilation shall not be required. Item 15 - Existing corridor construction need not be altered . Item 16 - Door openings into exit corridors may be protected by assemblies other than those specified in Section 106 (a) , provided an effective smoke barrier is maintained. Closing and latching hardware shall be provided. Protection of duct penetrations is not required. Item 18 - The length of existing exit corridor dead ends shall not be limited. Item 19 - Interior finish in exitways may be reduced by one classifi- cation but shall not be less than Class III , as described in the Uniform Building Code. -7- Installation of meters or backflow preventers for the connection to the water works system need not be provided unless required by other regulations of the authority having jurisdiction. Section 50-3 is repealed and readopted as follows: 50-3. Violations and penalties . Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code, as amended, or who shall fail to comply with any of said provisions or who shall violate or fail to comply with any orders made thereunder or who shall act in any way in violation of any permits issued thereunder shall , severally and for each and every violation in noncompliance res- pectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not to exceed three hundred dollars ($300.) or by imprisonment not to exceed ninety (90) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, as provided in the Code of the City of Fort Collins . The imposition of one (1) penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and all persons shall be required to correct or remedy the violations or defects within a reasonable time, and when not otherwise specified, each ten (10) days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense. The application of any penalty pursuant thereto shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions nor the suspension or removal of a permit or license issued thereunder. Section 50-4 is repealed and readopted as follows: 50-4. Appeals . Whenever the Chief shall disapprove any application made pursuant to the Uniform Fire Code, as amended, or refuse to grant a permit applied for thereunder or when it is claimed that the provisions of said code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of said code have been miscon- strued or wrongly interpreted or when any person requests a variance from the literal terms of said code, the applicant or person affected may appeal the decision of the Chief to the Board of Appeals established pursuant to Section 2.302 of said code. Such Board shall have the power to vary or modify any requirement made by the Chief thereunder, provided that an appeal to the Board is made within thirty (30) days of the date of the action complained of. Within fifteen (15) days after the date of final action of the Board of Appeals, either the Chief or the person affected may appeal to the City Council by filing a notice of such appeal with the City Clerk. Section 2. Severability The City Council hereby declares that should any section, paragraph, sentence, word or other portion of this Ordinance or the Appendix adopted therein be declared invalid for any reason, such invalidity shall not -8- effect any other portion of this Ordinance or said Appendix, and the City Council hereby declares that it would have passed all other portions of this Ordinance and adopted all portions of the said Appendix, inde- pendent of the elimination therefrom of any such portion which may be declared invalid. Introduced , considered favorably on first reading , and ordered published this 20th day of November , A.D. 1984, and to be presented for final passage on the 4th day of December , [A.DD. , 1984. /O�IY�JI.tjl Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk Passed and adopted on final reading this 4th day of December A.D. , 1984. l Mayor ATTEST: City C erk� -9-