Woodland Municipal Code Ch. 8.24 Fire Alarm Systems

The purpose of this chapter is to establish standards and controls to reduce the incidents of false fire alarm calls responded to by the Fire Department. The most effective alarm management is through user and alarm industry accountability.

(Prior code § 9A-1)

For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

"City"

means the City of Woodland.

"False fire alarm"

means the activation of a fire alarm system resulting in a response by the Fire Department and which is caused by the negligence or intentional misuse of the fire alarm system by owner, its employees, agents or any other activation of a fire alarm system not caused by heat, smoke or fire.

"Fire alarm agent"

means any person who is self-employed or employed either directly or indirectly by a fire alarm business whose duties include any of the following: selling, maintaining, leasing, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving or installing a fire alarm system in or on any building, place or premises.

"Fire alarm business"

means any person conducting or engaged in the business of selling, leasing, maintaining, servicing, repairing, altering, replacing, moving, installing, or monitoring a fire alarm system in or on any building, place or premises.

"Fire alarm device"

means a device or alarm that is designed to respond either manually or automatically to smoke, fire, or activation of a fire suppression system.

"Fire alarm monitoring company"

means a person in the business of providing monitoring services.

"Fire alarm system"

means a combination of approved compatible devices with the necessary electrical interconnection and energy to produce an alarm signal in the event of a fire or emergency medical situation or both, and, when activated, emits a sound or transmits a signal to indicate that an emergency situation exists.

"Fire alarm user"

means any person responsible for operating a fire alarm system at any premises in the City.

"Fire Department"

means any employee of the Woodland Fire Department.

"Person"

means any individual, partnership, corporation or other business entity.

(Prior code § 9A-2)

Any alarm liability and consequential damage resulting from the failure to respond to an alarm is hereby disclaimed and governmental immunity as provided by law is retained. By installing a fire alarm system, the fire alarm user acknowledges that a response may be influenced by factors such as: availability of fire units, priority of calls, weather conditions, traffic conditions, emergency conditions, staffing levels and prior response history.

(Prior code § 9A-3)

A fire alarm business, fire alarm agent, and fire alarm monitoring company shall have the following duties:

A. To install a fire alarm or fire alarm system in accordance with nationally recognized standards within the perimeters of the alarm activating devices and be available to maintain the fire alarm system in good working order, and to take reasonable measures to prevent the occurrence of false fire alarms.

B. To provide each purchaser and fire alarm user with a copy of the provisions of this chapter relating to fire alarm user duties, false fire alarm assessments, and appeal procedures within 60 calendar days of the adoption of the ordinance codified in this chapter.

C. To provide accurate and complete instructions to the fire alarm user in the proper use and operation of said fire alarm system. Specific emphasis shall be placed on the avoidance of false fire alarms. All businesses that sell fire alarm systems, but which are not a fire alarm business as defined in this chapter, are similarly responsible for instructing the buyer of the fire alarm system in the proper use of said system.

D. To maintain records of the location of these fire alarm systems, devices, or services and the name and telephone number of the person and two alternates to be notified whenever an alarm is activated, and to readily report such information to the Fire Department upon request.

(Prior code § 9A-4)

Following fire response to the activation of an alarm, which investigation by the Fire Department determines to be false and upon notification of said fact by the Fire Department, the fire alarm user shall notify the Fire Department and file a report with the Fire Department within 72 hours if the fire alarm user has reason to believe the false alarm response report was issued in error. Such report shall contain all information pertaining to the false alarm that occurred. If an alarm did not occur, the fire alarm user may submit a written letter providing the details to the Fire Department.

(Prior code § 9A-5)

The City Council hereby finds and determines that three or more false fire alarms within a calendar year period are excessive and thereby constitute a public nuisance. The Fire Department may not consider any false fire alarm in this computation of nuisance alarms if such was generated by earthquakes, high intensity winds, or unusual acts of nature. Nuisance alarms shall be considered that are the result of the negligence of the fire alarm user, the agents or employees of the fire alarm user, or a defect in the fire alarm system.

(Prior code § 9A-6)

A. The fire alarm user shall pay a false fire alarm response fee to the City's Finance Division upon the occurrence of three or more false fire alarms received from any one source or from any one fire alarm system within a calendar year. The fire alarm user shall also pay a false fire alarm response fee for the first and all subsequent false fire alarms or trouble alarms due to "failure to notify" when working on or testing the fire alarm system. The false fire alarm response fee shall be in such an amount as established by resolution of the City Council.

B. The fire alarm business or the fire alarm agent will be subject to the false fire alarm response fee as established by resolution of the City Council if the firefighter responding to the false fire alarm determines that the fire alarm business or fire alarm agent directly caused the false fire alarm. In this situation, the false fire alarm will not be counted against the fire alarm user.

C. Fees established and/or levied by this section shall be paid to the City's Finance Division within 30 calendar days from the date of when the invoice was rendered.

(Prior code § 9A-7)

If the Fire Department assesses a fee, the Fire Department shall send written notice of the action and a statement of the right to an appeal to the affected person or fire alarm user. Appeals shall be heard by the City Manager or designee. The decision of the City Manager or designee shall be final.

(Prior code § 9A-8)