HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 1561
ORDINANC~ NO.
156:
AN ORDINANCE O? ~EE C=~Y COGNCI~ OF ~HE CITY O?
NORTE RICHLAND HI~LS, TEXAS, ADOPTING A FIRE
PREVENTION CODE; PRESCR:3ING REGULATIONS GOVERNING
CONDITIONS HAZARDOUS TO LIFE AND PROPERTY FRO~ FIRE
AND EXPLOSION; ESTA3LISHING A 3UREAU OF ?IRE
PREVENTION; ESTA3~ISEING APPEAL PROCEDURES;
PROVIDING ¿OR A PENALTY OR A FINE NOT LESS ~EAN S50,OO
NOR MORE TEAN $200.00 FOR FIRE LANE VIO~ATION;
PROVIDING FOR A PENALTY OR A FINE NOT LESS ~EAN $50.00
NOR MORE THAN $2,000.00 FOR VIOLATION OF ANY OTHER
PORTION OF ORDINANCE NO. 1561 ; ADOPTING A SAVINGS
C~AUSE AND DEC~ARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
3~ ,~ ORDAINED 3Y TEE CI~Y COUNCIL OF TEE CITY OF
NORTE RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, TEA:;
Sect~o~ 1.
An ordinance ~o ?rovide the City of North Richland
:l~~S, Texas, with rules and regulations to im?rove public
safety ~y ?romoting the control of fire hazards; regulating
the installation, use, and maintenance of equipment;
regulating the use of structures, premises, and open areas;
providing for the abatement of fire hazards; establishing the
responsibilities and procedures for code enforcement; and
setting forth the standards for compliance and achievement of
the objectives.
:his Ord~nance shall be ~nown as the City of North
Richland Eills Fire Prevention Coåe. This Code adopts the
1988 Fire Prevention Code of the Uniform Fire Code published
by the International Conference of 3uilding Officials along
wit~ Appendicies :-VI of same and al~ s~andards of the 1988
ed. of the National fire Protection Association. IDe same
are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at
length herein. Not less than ~wo copies of the adopted
issue of the Fire Prevention Code of the ~niform Fire Code
and the ado?ted standards and codes of the National Fire
Protection Association shall be filed in the office of the
City Secretary and the provisions thereof shall oe
contro::i~g :~mits of the City of ~o~th Ric~la~d Hi::s,
Texas.
Section 2,
Sach of the Codes, Standards, and Supplimen~s listed
aoove are adopted in their entirety and will je known as the
Fire ?reventio~ Code of the City of North ~ic~ia~d 3illsr
~exas. Sections 3 through 27 of this àocument shall control
over any wording to the contrary cOè~tained in the 1988
~ditions of the Uniform Codes adopted herein.
Section 3.
A~TDO~ITY ~AVIXG ~~~=S0:CT:OK IS TEE ORGANIZATION, OFFICE,
OR INDIVIDUAL RES?ONSIB:'::: FOR "APPROVING" EQUIPMENT, AT.\
:XSTAL:'ATION, OR A PROCEDURE.
Section ~.
-~ sha~~ ae u~:awful ~or any ?e=so~ to vio~ate this
O~ciinance, to permit o~ maintain such a violation, to refuse
to obey any provision t~ereof, or fail or refuse to comply
with any such provision or regulation except as varia~ion may
be allowed by the action of the Fire Marshal in writing, or
his designee. Proof of such unlawful act or failure shall be
deemed p~ima facie evidence that such act is that of the
owner o~ other person in control of the premises. Prosecution
lack thereof of either the owner. occupant, or the person in
in charge shall rrot be deemed to relieve a~y o~ the othe~s.
Section. 5.
The Fire Prevention Code sha~l be enfo~ced by the
Fire Inspection Division of the Community Development Depart-
ment of the City of North Richland Hills which hereby is
established and which shall be operated under the supervision
of the Fire Marshal.
The City Manager of the City of North Richland ~ills
shall appoint the Fire Marshal either by examination or
interview for determining his qualifications and shall on the
authority of the City Manager ass~re and accomplls~ t~e
duties of Fire Marshal.
The Fire Marshal Wl~~ oe the administrator of the Com-
munity Development Department and shall be responsible for
the direct administration and enforcement of the Fire
Prevention Code of the Uniform Fire Coåe and the Standards of
the National Fire Protection Association.
Section E.
It sha~~ oe the duty of the personnel assigned to
the Community Development Department to enfo~ce all laws anè
ordinances pertaining to Fire Codes of the City of North
Richland Hills. They shall have such other powers and
perform such other duties as are set forth in other sections
of this Ordinance, and as may be conferred and imposed from
time to time by law. The Fire Marshal of the City of North
Richland Hills may delegate any of his power or duties under
passageways, doors, corr~aors, or windows, liable to in~er-
fere with the operations of the ?ire ~epartment or egress of
occupants in case of fire, he shall oraer the same to be
removed or remedied, and such order shall forth with be
complied with by the owner or occupant of such premises or
oUl~a~ngs, subject to the a~peaìs procedure pyovideã for i~
the Fire Prevention Code of the Uniform Fire Code.
Any owner or occupant failing to comply with such
order within a reasonable period after the service of the
said order shall be liable to penalties as hereinafter
provideå.
Sectio~ 1:.
The Fire Support Division of Investigation shall
comDile and record of all fires and of all facts concerning
the same, inclualng injuries, rescue of persons and
statistics as to the extent of such fires and the damage
caused thereby, and whether such losses were covered by
insurance, and if so, in what amount. Such record shall be
made daily from the reports made by Fire Department personnel
under the provisions of this Oràinance. All such records
shall be open to the public.
Section :2.
The City Manager, Fire Marshal or Fire Chief of the
City of North Richland ~ills shall also recommend any amend-
ments to the Fire Prevention Code or the City of North
~ichland Eills or Ordinance which, in his judgement shall
be desirable,
Section 13.
The provisions of the Fire Prevention Code of the
~niform Fire Code shall apply to all st~uctures and their
occupancies, except as otherwise specified.
Section 14,
This act shall oe deemed an exercise of the police
powers of the City of ~orth ~ichland Eilis for the
preservation and protection of the public health, peace,
safety, and welfare, and all provisions of ~he Fire
Prevention Code of the Uniform Fire Code,
Section 15.
Appeals of the decision maåe by the Department o~
Comm~nity Developme~t i~ the interpretation of t~e Fi~e
this O~dinance.
Section 7.
The Fi~e Investigation Division shall have the
authority to investigate the cause: origin, and circ~m-
stances of any fi~e o~ explosion involving a loss of life
to persons, or destruction or damage to property. When in
the opinion of the Fire Chief, or his designee reasonable
cause exists that the fire explosion may have been of
incenc~ary origin, the Fire Chief, or his designee shall nave
the authority to take c~stody of all physical evidence
relating to the cause of the fire or explosion and to
continue the investigation to conclusion.
P~op~ietary information which may relate to t~ade
secrets or processes shall not be made part of the public
reco~d except as may be directed by a court of law.
Zvery fire shall be repo~ted in writing to the Fire
Investigation Division within three (3) days after the
occurrence of the same by the Fire Depa~tment Officer in
whose jurisdiction such a fire has occurred. Such repo~t
shall contain a statement of all facts relating to the cause,
origin, and circumstances of such fire, the extent of the
damage thereof, the insurance ~pon such p~operty, and such
other info~mation as may be required, including the injury,
death or rescue of persons.
Section 8.
~he Fire Marshal and/or his designee shall be
responsible for the issuance of permits, ce~tificates,
notices, approvals, anà other orders pertaining ~o fire
control and fire hazards as provided for in the Code,
Section 9.
The Fire Inspection Division shall inspect or cause to
be inspected all premises as required by the Fire ?revention
Code of the City of North Richland Hills and shall make such
orders as may be necessary for the enforcement of the laws,
ordinances governing the same and for safeguarding of life
and property from fire.
Section :0.
Whenever any inspec~or, as der~ned above, shall find
in any bu~~alng, or upon any premises or other places,
combustible or explosive mat~er or dangerous accumulations or
rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of waste paper, boxed
shavings, or any highly flammable materials especially liable
~o fir.. Gnd which 1. 80 Bituatøcl ~œ ~0 endanger property; or
shall find obstructions to or o~ fi~e escapes, stairs,
P~evention Codes of the City and their enfo~cement shall be
appealed to the Board of Appeals. ~~ere is a fee of $50.00
to appeal to the Boa~d of Appeals to be paid with the
application that is non-refundable ~egardless of the
30a~d!s decision.
Section :6.
It shall be in violation of this Ordinance to use any
wood shingles as part of the consLruction mate~ial on
structures classified as mUlti-family (including duplexes) or
commercial buildings,
All single family dwe~~lngs using wood shingles or
shakes shall be factory pressure treated with a fire
retardant c~emical to meet class C fire resistant
requirements of the National Fire Protection Association
~o, 256,
~xisting wood sn~ngles or shake roofs may be repaired
with wood shingles or shakes provid:ng the area repaired àoes
not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the entire area of
the roof, otherwise the entire roof shall be replaced with
material specified in the code.
Section ::'7.
~he provisions of this section sha~~ apply to the
total building or structure, regara~ess of the area
separation walls as provided in Section 505,:'988 0niform
Building Coåe,
Sprinkler requirements of this code shall apply
to the total building or structure, rega~dless of the
area separation walls as provided in Section 505, of the
:988 Uniform Building Code.
All aULomatic sprinkler systems shall be supervisee oy an
approved central, proprietary or remote station service.
Any apartment, condominium, hotel. motel, or townhome.
three or more stories in height or more than thirty-five feet
elevation from finished floor level shall be equipped with a
fire protection sprinkler system that meets the minimum
sLanåards of ~.F.?A. Standard l3,13D OR l3R as applicable.
The system shall be installeå on all floors of the
':nÜ Iding.
2. The sprinkler heads installed :n occupied areas of
tDe SLructure shall be fused at 165 degrees
Fahre~heit unless otherwise approved by the Fire
!V:AHSEAi:..
3. Any ~u:t~-Fami:y structure over thirty-five feet
Any means of escape into any portion of the living quarters
s~all be protected by a twenty (20) minute rated fire door at
the top of the stairs leadinç out of the basement.
~his provision of the Fire ?revention Ord~nance will include
structures or parts of structures which may be converted
to ~~v~ng areas in the future.
Section 19.
Any occupancy used for group A, group 3, group 3,
group E, or group I shall be separated from the other occu-
pants or businesses in the same building by construction
having a fire resistive rating of not less than one hour.
~. Fire resistive construction shall extend from
the floor to the bottom of the roof deck or the
sub-floor of the next floor level.
2. Occupancies which require fire resistive
separation greater that one hour shall be indicated
by the appropriate Standards or Codes.
Section 20.
Fire lanes shall be provided for all buildings.
Fire lanes shall be at least 20 feet in width with
the edge closest to the building at least :0 feet from
"the ol:ilding.
2. Any dead-end road more than 300 feet long shall be
provided with a turn-around at the closed end at least
50 feet in diameter.
3. Fire lanes shall be identified by red lines 6" in
width, with "NO ?ARKING FIRE LANE" stenciled in white
4 II letters over the red striping every 20'.
4.1f any portion of a new constructed building is
more than 150 feet from a public thoroughfare then
there shall be a hard paved surface of either
asphalt or reinforced concrete provided for FIRE
Department apparatus,for all new constructed
buildings before any construction is allowed above
the foundation. ~his surface shall have fire lanes
in accordance with this ordinance,and the placement
designation,use/and maintenance shall be accomplished
as specified by the F:RE MARSHAL.
5. Clearances or widths required bv this Ordinance
may be increased when, in the opinion of the Fire
Marshal or his designee, minimum clearances or widths
are not adequate to provide fire apparatus access.
in height
shall be equipped
- +.
W:'d1 a
sprink.le:::-
system that meets the requirements of N.F.?A.
Standard 13,13D 02 132 as applicable.
4, Sta~d pipes shall be i~stalled O~ landings ~o~
three (3) stories or more equipped with National
Standard threads and accessable for Fire Depart-
ment use,
5. 0Don installation completion, the installer of the
sprinkler system shall furnish the office of the
~epartment of Commu~ity Development with a copy of
"as built" pla~s for the system and a lette:'
stating the name of the company installi~g the
system, date of completio~, a statement that the
system has been installed to meet the requirements
of the Ordinance, and the notarized signature of
~he installer.
Commercial structures three or more stories in height
or more than thirty-five feet elevation from finished floo:'
level, shall be protected by a complete approved N.F.?A,
fire protection sprinkler system.
Any structure with a gross square footage of
24,000 square feet or more shai~ be equipped
with a complete ~ire protection sprinkler
system that is N.F.?A. approved.
2, Each installation shall be constructed in
compliance with !\.F.?,A. Standard 13 - "Standard
=or Sprinkier Systems". All underground fire mains
serving a fire protection sprinkler system shall
be installeà by a ~:censeà sprinkler contractor
in compliance with NF?A 13 and NFPA 24.
3. ~?on completion, the installer shall fur~isìl the
Department of Community Development with a copy
of "as bu::'.":.t" pla:1s for the system and a letter
stating the name of the company insta.":.ling the
system, date of completion, a statement that the
system has been installed to meet the requirements
of the Ordinance, and the :1otarized signature of
the insta.":.le:,.
~. Fire hydrants shall be located with::'n a 300 foot
hose lay of the Fire Department connection,
Section 18.
Any residential occupancy having a living area below grade
level shall have two (2) means of egress, one of which shall
have a door leading directly to the o~tside of the st~uctu~e.
Stai~ways and ramps leading from outside the exit to g~ade
level shall confo~m to the Uniform Building Code,Chapter 33.
Section 2~.
Any motor vehicle. vehicle or combination thereof.
which is designed to carry or transport a cargo or payloaà
considered a hazardous material by the Uniform Fire Code
that is loaded or unloaded is prohibited from parking
within 150 feet of any and all structures, buildings, public
thoroughfares, railroads, and is also prohibited from parKlng
on city streets or in residential areas of the City of ~orth
Richland ~ills. Texas unless said vehicle is in the process
of loading or unloading its cargo or payload. Hazardous
material vehicles shall not be parked in public garages.
Section 22.
The installation, maintenance and continuous operation
of smoke detectors in every occupancy classification
listed in Uniform 3uilèing Code are required to be installed
by the owners with location and number dtermined by authority
having jurisdiction. All required smoke detectors are to be
wired directly to house current. (No battery powered
detectors except when used as a back up, )
All smoke detectors, emergency lighting and exit signs shall
be on dedicateà circuits,
Section 23.
The storage and distribution of liquified petroleum
gases shall be in compliance with the National Fire Code
and with The Texas Railroad Commission, Docket No.., The
use of liquified petroleum gas shall be prohibited where
natural gas services are available. Liquified petroleum gas
installations shall be limited to containers holding 250
gallons or less. All containers shall be above grounà.
7he sale or delivery of liquified petroleum gas as a motor
vehicle fuel or delivery into portable containers shall
be prohibited,
7his being the intention of this Ordinance to prohibit
the bulk storage of liquified petroleum gas within the
corporate limits of the City of North ~ichland ~ills.
Section 24.
The storage of flammable or combustible liquids in an outside
above ground storage tank is prohibited except as may be
permitted by the Fire Marshal at construction sites.
Dispensers of Class I or II flammable or combustible liquids
shall be rro closer than twenty (20) feet to any building.
No Class I or LL liq~ids shall be dispensed from inside a
Quildina,
Storage of Class III liquids i~side of a building shall Qe
limited to 120 gallons. The storage of these liquids shall
not be stored above or below the first floor.
Section 25.
The street address and buildi~g numbers shall aDnear
on all buildings, The numbers shall be of a contrasting
color to the structure. Address numbers shall be at least
6 (six) inches in height.
Section 26.
No person sha~~ place or keep any post, fence, vehicle,
growth, trash, storage or other material or thing near any
fire hydrant, Fire Department connection or fire protection
system control valve that would prevent such equipment or
hydrant from being immediately discernible or in any other
manner deter or hinder the Fire Department from gaining
immediate access to said equipment or hydrant. A minimum
lO-foot clear space shall be maintained around the
circumference of the fire hydrant.
Section 27.
A?PLICATIOK TO EXISTING 3UILDINGS
Any alterations, additions, or repairs made to any existing
building in which the cost shall exceed 25% (twenty-five)
percent of the current Tarrant Appraisal ~istricts assessed
value of that building shall then require such building to
come into compliance with all current Codes and Ordinances
of the City.
2, In the case of existing multi-family developments, i.e.
apartments, condominiums, etc., or any other multi-building
development in any other classification each building
within the development shall be a separate building and
value assessed for each building separately.
3. In the event inaccurate figures are given for cost of work
being done, in an effort to avoid this section of the
Ordinance, the Fire Marshal shall have the authority to
adjust fig~res to the I.C.B.O. Building Valuation chart
of values of construction.
Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of
the Code hereby adopted; or shall fail to comply therewith;
or shall violate or fail to comply with any order made
THE STATE OF TEXAS
crT13
county of Tarrant
Before me, a Notary Public in and for said County and State, this day
personally appeared Dana Pitts Secretary for the Fort Worth
Star-Telegram, published by the Capital cities Communications, Inc. at
Fort Worth, in Tarrant County, Texas, and. who, after being duly sworn,
did depose and say that the following clipping of an advertise\llent waS
published in the above naJœd paper on the following dates:
6226436
Oct 20,
ORDINAN<;E NO. 1561
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CI-
I¡ ~rLe~ ~~l~ :b~"fì~8
THE ,988 FIRE PREVEN-
\ TION CODE OF THE UNI-
FORM FIRE CODE WITH
CERTAIN CHANGES SET
FORTH IN THIS ORDI-
NANCE; ESTABLISHING
REGULATIONS GOVERN-
b"u<i ~g~?J~lf:~ ~~~R:
TY FROM FIRE AND
r~GL~~WhpT~~ðl~~:
~~~Ä~~rlsO¥WdN~IC~~:'
TION OF A FINE NOT LESS
b f h· th 2 THAN $50.00 NOR MORE
e ore me, t 1-S e THAN $2000.00 FOR VIOLA-e>r 1988
~ TION; ADOPTING A SAV- .
Publ1-' 'jj.. t':.~<ö't8.~~~~~tF=,~gct¿A<. . ~ ,
Notary ~ TIVE NOVEMBER 1.1988. -"/ '-'
PASSED AND APPROVED" Texas.
'~l~l~g¡T N~-rtfIh8f-
LAND HILLS. TEXAS THE
22ND DA YOF AUGUST ..'988.
IslTommy Drown
Mayor
ATTEST:
151 ~ RewIs
Clt'l Seçretarv
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGALITY:
IslRex NlcEntlre
At10rrwv far thê CIty
1988
CL. 008
Signed
Subscribed and sworn to