Susanville Municipal Code Ch. 8.20 Standards for Fire Protection Facilities and Water Flow

The recommendations, guides and standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow published May 4, 1948, by the Committee on National Prevention and Engineering Standards, under the title "National Board of Fire Underwriters' Bulletin No. 266" are adopted as and for the recommendations, guides and standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow within this city as to all matters therein contained except as herein otherwise provided. Three copies of the Bulletin No. 266 and amendments thereto shall at all times be kept on file in the office of the city clerk.

(Prior code § 8.20)

This chapter is adopted for the following purposes:

A. To protect public health, safety and welfare from the danger of fire because of the lack of fire protection facilities and of adequate water flow for fire protection available to buildings located a distance from public streets, alleys and rights-of-way.

B. To establish uniform standards for the construction and placement of fire protection facilities and the delivery of adequate water flow for fire protection upon private property.

C. To provide for the installation, maintenance and supervision of fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for fire protection upon private property.

(Prior code § 8.21)

For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:

"Fire chief"

means the city fire chief or his designated representatives.

"Land"

means any lot, parcel, zoning plot, acreage or building site or any other land or portion thereof, whether improved or unimproved.

"National Standards"

means the recommendations, guides and standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow published May 4, 1948, by the Committee on National Prevention and Engineering Standards, under the title "National Board of Fire Underwriters' Bulletin No. 266."

"On-site fire protection facilities"

means and includes such facilities whether installed before or after the effective date of this chapter.

"Standards specifications"

means the Standard Specifications of the city of Susanville, adopted April 16, 1973 by Resolution No. 73-1162.

"To develop land"

means to make any improvements or do any work upon such lands as would require the issuance of a building permit under this code.

(Prior code § 8.22)

When any land is to be developed in such a manner that any part of a proposed building or structure to be located thereon will be in excess of 300 feet from the nearest fire hydrant located, or to be located prior to the completion of the building or structure, in a public street, alley or place, the owner or developer shall provide at the same time of such development of land in the public street, alley or place or on site, such fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for fire protection as the fire chief shall deem necessary, according to the national standards. All facilities required to be installed shall be approved by and meet the specifications of the fire chief as to location, size and type of materials and manner of installation; provided, that all water mains, fittings and hydrants shall conform to national standards and to the standard specifications of the city. No main shall be installed which is less than six inches in diameter. Hydrant branches of six-inch diameter shall be circulating if more than 500 feet in length.

If the fire chief shall determine that the installation of a circulating six-inch branch would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, he or she may permit the installation of a single, noncirculating, eight-inch branch if such branch is connected to a water main of at least eight inches in diameter or is connected to a circulating six-inch water main of not more than 1,000 feet in length. All installations made in a public street, alley or place shall be subject to the inspection of and approval by the director of public works and subject to the conditions of an encroachment permit issued therefor.

The costs and expenses of installing on site fire protection facilities shall be the responsibility of the owner or developer of the land. The costs and expenses of installing off-site fire protection facilities, including main and branch mains, shall also be the responsibility of the owner or developer, but the city may, at its discretion, share in the expense of installation of such facilities in such proportion and according to such policies as may be determined by the city council.

(Prior code § 8.23)

Every application for a building permit and its accompanying plans, if any, filed with the building inspector, pursuant to the Uniform Building Code and/or city ordinance shall be referred to the fire chief for review and comment.

(Prior code § 8.24)

When any plans are submitted under Section 8.20.050 the fire chief shall review the same and determine whether or not the fire protection facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate according to national standards. If the fire chief shall have determined that the facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate according to national standards, he or she shall endorse the plans with his or her approval and return the same to the building inspector. If the fire chief shall have determined that the facilities existing or to be provided are not adequate according to national standards, he or she shall:

A. Disapprove the plans and indicate in writing to the building inspector wherein they are deficient. In such event the building inspector shall require from the owner revised plans to cure the deficiency and the revised plans shall be submitted to the fire chief; or

B. Conditionally Approve the Plans. In such event such conditions shall be made a part of such plans and the issuance of a permit by the building official shall be so conditioned. If the fire chief shall fail for a period of fifteen days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, from the date of submission to him or her by the building inspector, to take any action with respect to any plans, the plans shall be deemed approved and the building inspector may issue a permit.

(Prior code § 8.25)

Whenever any fire protection facilities, hydrants or other appurtenances for use by the fire department are required to be installed pursuant to this chapter, there shall be included in the development plan and delineated thereon, adequate provision for access by firefighting personnel and equipment to and from all such fire protection facilities, including, but not limited to hydrants and appurtenances. Such access shall be approved by the fire chief and the owner may be required to dedicate to the city as a condition of approval of the development plan, an easement sufficient for access by firefighting equipment to such fire protection facilities. All such access easements shall be maintained in such a manner as to provide clear and unobstructed ingress and egress by fire-fighting personnel and equipment at all times.

(Prior code § 8.26)

No final inspection by the building inspector as to all or any portion of the development shall be deemed completed and no certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless and until the installation of the prescribed fire protection facilities and accessways have been completed and approved by the fire chief.

(Prior code § 8.27)

All on-site fire protection facilities shall at all times be maintained as installed, free of leaks and in good working order by the owner of the land. The fire chief is empowered, at his or her discretion, to enter upon the land at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner to conduct periodic tests and inspections of such facilities. If the fire chief determines that any on-site fire protection facilities are being maintained in such manner as not to meet national standards, he or she shall order the owner to make such repairs, alterations, or additions as shall conform the facilities to national standards. The fire chief shall designate a reasonable time within which such repairs, alterations, or additions are to be made and it shall be unlawful for any person so ordered to wilfully fail or refuse to comply with such order. Without limiting the foregoing, the wilful failure or refusal to comply with such an order shall constitute an occupancy violation within the meaning of the applicable provisions of the city building code.

(Prior code § 8.28)

On-site fire protection facilities may be altered or repaired with the written consent of the fire chief subject to the provisions of Section 8.20.040.

(Prior code § 8.29)

All on-site fire hydrants and off-site facilities on private property shall be maintained and repaired by the property owner. Officers, employees, agents, and contractors of the city are authorized to enter upon the land upon which said hydrants are installed at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner for the purpose of testing the hydrants to ascertain if they comply with the maintenance and repair standards of the city fire department. All repairs of on-site and off-site fire hydrants on private property shall be inspected and approved by the fire chief.

(Prior code § 8.30)

A map showing the size and location of all water pipes and hydrants installed pursuant to this chapter and stating the material of which such pipes are made and the date of their installation and approval shall be filed in the office of the building inspector prior to the issuance of any occupancy permit under the provisions of the building code.

(Prior code § 8.31)