Fire Prevention, Protection & Control Code

Chapter 27 Section 27-15 Miscellaneous Construction Provisions

(5) Installation & Testing of Smoke Alarms

• Installation Required: A "ten-year" smoke alarm with a sealed battery or smoke alarms hardwired together and on their own circuit must be installed in all multi-family and mixed-use occupancies by January 1st, 2010. Smoke alarms must be installed in all bedrooms, in the common hallway outside of bedrooms, and at the head of all stairways and/or in locations required by the AHJ.
• Special Requirements: Once notified of a missing or defective smoke alarm, the owner of a multi-family occupancy must repair or replace the smoke alarm(s) within 5 days.
• Testing and Maintenance:
  • (a) The owner(s) of multi-family occupancies are responsible for the monthly testing and documentation of the monthly testing of all smoke alarms not in tenant spaces.
  • (b) The owner and/or occupant of all mixed-use occupancies is responsible for the monthly testing and documentation of the monthly testing of all smoke alarms in all areas they occupy.

(5) Open Burning

• (a) Limitations: Burning of any kind is restricted. Open air burning of yard waste shall be allowed only by permit from the Fire Department. A fee may be required.
• (B) Permissible Burning:
  • 1. Grills: For other than one and two family dwellings, no hibachi, gas-fired grills, charcoal grill or similar devices used for cooking, heating, or any other purpose shall be used or kindled on any balcony or under any overhanging portion of a building. Grilling on ground level is permissible provided that the grill is at least 10 feet away from any structure. Listed electrical ranges, grills or similar electrical apparatus shall be permitted.
  • 2. Recreational fires and Permit-required Open Fires shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 1 and the following requirements:
    • a. Recreational Fires
      • Fires shall be contained to manufactured fire pit appliances that shall be listed by a nationally recognized testing organization or acceptable to the AHJ and used according to the manufacturer's recommendations. At a minimum, appliances shall have spark arresting screens encompassing the entire unit and a non-combustible cover that are both in place while the unit is in operation.
      • Appliances shall be positioned on a non-combustible surface and at least 25 feet from any building, combustible structure, such as decks or fences, and/or combustible materials such as trees or shrubbery and shall not be used on any balcony or under any overhanging portion of a combustible surface.
      • With the exception of newspaper for kindling the fire, only wood may be burned with a minimum 1 inch diameter. No brush, yard waste, treated wood or other refuse or rubbish may be burned.
      • Flammable or combustible liquids shall not be used to ignite the fire.
      • The fire must be located on your own property. If there is an easement area, you must have approval from all involved parties.
      • Fires are not allowed if winds are in excess of 10 miles per hour.
      • Hours for recreational fires are limited to 7 am to midnight
      • b. Permit-Required Open Fires
        • Permit-required open fires shall be located not less than fifty (50) feet from any structure.
        • Materials to be burned shall be approved by the AHJ.
        • Flammable or combustible liquids shall not be used to ignite the fire.
• 3. All fires must be supervised at all times by an adult and have the proper means available to extinguish the fire. No fire shall be left unattended.
• 4. Any police officer or fire department member may withdraw permission for recreational or permit-required fires due to climatic conditions, extreme dryness, nuisance problems, or violations of this code and may require immediate extinguishment of the fire.