HomeMy WebLinkAbout2007-2975 - Ordinance - 04/26/2007ORDINANCE NO. 2975
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6, "FIRE PROTECTION", OF THE CODE OF
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS, BY AMENDING
CERTAIN SECTIONS AS SET OUT BELOW; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE;
DECLARING A PENALTY; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLLEGE STATION,
TEXAS:
PART 1: That Chapter 6, "Fire Protection", of the Code of Ordinances of the City of
College Station, Texas, be amended as set out in Exhibit "A", attached hereto and
made a part of this ordinance for all purposes.
PART 2: That if any provisions of any section of this ordinance shall be held to be void or
unconstitutional, such holding shall in no way effect the validity of the remaining
provisions or sections of this ordinance, which shall remain in full force and
effect.
PART 3: That any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the provisions of this
chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof
shall be punishable by a fine of not less than Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) nor
more than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00). Each day such violation shall
continue or be permitted to continue, shall be deemed a separate offense. Said
Ordinance, being a penal ordinance, becomes effective ten (10) days after its date
of passage by the City Council, as provided by Section 35 of the Charter of the
City of College Station.
PASSED, ADOPTED and APPROVED this 26th day of April, 2007.
ATTEST:
Connie Hooks, City Secretary
APPROVED:
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City Attorney
APPROVED:
BEN WHITE, Mayor Pro Tem
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EXHIBIT "A"
Page 2
That Chapter 6, "Fire Protection", Section 1, "Fire Prevention Code", of the Code of Ordinances
of the City of College Station, Texas, is hereby replaced in its entirety, as set out hereafter to
read as follows:
SECTION 1: FIRE PREVENTION CODE
A. INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE ADOPTED
(1) The 2006 edition of the International Fire Code, including Appendix Chapters B, C, D, E,
F and G, as published by the International Code Council. Said Code is hereby adopted
to the same extent as though such Code were copied at length herein, subject however
to the omissions, additions, supplements, and amendments contained in this section.
(2) The Life Safety Code Handbook, specifically the 2006 Edition published by the National
Fire Protection Association, a copy of which is on file in the office of the City Secretary of
the City of College Station, Texas, is hereby adopted and designated as the life safety
code of the City of College Station. Said code is adopted to the same extent as though
such code was copied at length herein, subject however to the omissions, additions,
supplements, and amendments contained in this section.
B. AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE
The International Fire Code, as referred to above is hereby amended as follows:
Section 101 (General) is amended by adding Section 101.6 to read as follows:
Section 101.6 (Emergency Vehicle Egress):
No part of any commercial structure will be located outside the limits of a one hundred
fifty foot (150') arc from a point where fire apparatus can operate. Fire apparatus will
operate on surfaces designed for such and may utilize public right-of-way, approved fire
lanes and/or drive access ways to meet this one hundred and fifty foot limit but in no case
shall the truck travel route be measured across grass, wooded or landscaped areas, over
curbs, through fences, through ditches or across paved areas which are not designed
and maintained as fire lanes".
Section 108 is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
Section 109.3 (Violation Penalties) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and replacing
with the following:
Section 109.3 (Violation Penalties)
Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the
requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the
approved construction documents or directive of the Fire Official, or of a permit or
certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,
punishable by a fine as described in Chapter 1 section 5 of the College Station Code of
Ordinances.
Section 202 (General Definitions) is amended by adding "Tutorial Services" under the definition of
"Occupancy Classification Assembly Group A-3".
Section 308.3.1 (Open Flame Cooking Devices) is amended by deleting exception 2.
Section 308.3.1.1 (Liquid-Petroleum-Gas-Fueled cooking devices) is amended by deleting the
section in its entirety and replacing with the following:
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Section 308.3.1.1 (Liquid-Petroleum-Gas-Fueled cooking devices)
LP-gas burners shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet (3048
mm) of combustible construction. Exception: One- and two- family dwellings.
Section 501.4 (Timing of Installation) is amended by adding the following text at the end of the
section: "There shall be no combustible, flammable or ignitable materials placed on site,
lot or subdivision where waterlines, fire hydrants and/or all weather access roads capable
of supporting emergency vehicles with an imposed load of at least 75,000 pounds as
required by this code or other adopted code or ordinances are completed, accepted and
inservice."
Section 503.2.1 (Dimensions) is amended by replacing "13 feet 6 inches" with "14 feet".
Section 503.2.5 (Dead Ends) is amended by replacing "150 feet" with "100 feet".
Section 503.3 (Marking) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and replacing with the
following:
Section 503.3 (Marking)
The owner, manager, or person in charge of any building or property to which fire lanes
have been approved or required by engineering shall mark and maintain said fire lanes in
the following manner:
All curbs and curb ends shall be painted red with four inch (4") white lettering stating
"FIRE LANE - NO PARKING -TOW AWAY ZONE". Wording may not be spaced more
than fifteen feet (15') apart.
In areas where fire lanes are required but no continuous curb is available, one of the
following methods shall be used, in conjunction with the curb markings, to indicate that
the fire lane is continuous:
Option #1: A sign twelve inches (12") wide and eighteen inches (18") in height shall be
mounted in a conspicuous location at each entrance to the property. (See Diagram No.
1 for specifications on colors and lettering.)
Option #2: From the point the fire lane begins to the point the fire lane ends, including
behind all parking spaces which adjoin a fire lane, shall be marked with one continuous
eight inch (8") red stripe painted on the drive surface behind the parking spaces. All
curbing adjoining a fire lane must be painted red. Red stripes and curbs will contain the
wording "FIRE LANE - NO PARKING- TOW AWAY ZONE", painted in four inch (4") white
letters. ("Figure A" in Ordinance No 1630 illustrates striping on drive surface behind
parking spaces.)
In those cases where curb markings are not possible or where signs would in the Fire
Official's opinion work more effectively, the Fire Marshal may require signs_in lieu of curb
markings.
The use of the color red to mark or stripe any curb or parking area (other than fire lanes)
is prohibited within the City of College Station."
(11) Section 503 (Fire Apparatus Access Roads) is amended by adding Sections 503.3.1 (Fire
Lane Signs; Tow-Away Zone Signs), 503.3.2 (Destruction of Fire Lane and Tow-Away
Signs), 503.3.3 (Abandonment or Closing) and 503.3.4 (Authority Under Emergency
Conditions) to read as follows:
503.3.1 (Fire Lane Signs; Tow-Away Zone Signs)
The owner, manager, or person in charge of any building to which fire lanes have been
approved by the Engineering Division shall post and maintain appropriate signs in
conspicuous places along such fire lanes stating "No Parking -Fire Lane". Such signs
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shall be twelve inches (12") wide and eighteen inches (18") high, with a companion sign
twelve inches (12") wide and six inches (6") high stating "Tow-Away Zone".
Any "No Parking -Fire Lane" or "Tow-Away Zone" sign shall be painted on a white
background with symbols, letters and border in red. Drawings and samples of such signs
may be obtained from the Fire Department of the City of College Station. Standards for
mounting, including but not limited to, the height above the grade at which such signs are
to be mounted, shall be as adopted by the Fire Official of College Station.
Section 503.3.2 (Destruction of Fire Lane or Tow-Away Signs)
It is hereby unlawful for any person without lawful authority to attempt or in fact alter,
destroy, deface, injure, knock down, or remove any sign designating a fire lane or tow-
away zone erected under the terms of this code, or to deface a curb marking in any way.
Section 503.3.3 (Abandonment or Closing)
No owner, manager, or person in charge of any premises served by a required fire lane
shall abandon or close such fire lane without written permission of the Fire Official of the
City of College Station.
Section 503.3.4 (Authority Under Emergency Conditions)
The Fire Marshal is hereby authorized to establish fire lanes during any fire, and to
exclude all persons other than those authorized to assist in extinguishing the fire or the
owner or occupants of the burning property from within such lanes.
Section 503.4 (Obstruction of Fire Apparatus Access Roads) is amended by deleting the section
in its entirety and replacing with the following:
Section 503.4 (Obstruction of Fire Apparatus Access Roads)
No person shall park, place, allow, permit, or cause to be parked, placed, any motor
vehicle, trailer, boat, or similar obstruction within or upon an area designated as a fire
lane and marked by an appropriate sign or curb marking.
Section 503 (Fire Apparatus Access Roads) is amended by adding Sections 503.4.1 (Obstructing
Fire Lanes) and 503.4.2 (Enforcement; Issuance of Citations; Impoundment of
Obstructions) to read as follows:
Section 503.4.1 (Obstructing Fire Lanes)
Any motor vehicle, trailer, boat, or similar obstruction found parked within an area
designated as a fire lane as required by this section is hereby declared a nuisance per se
and any such motor vehicle, trailer, boat, or similar obstruction parked or unoccupied in
such a manner as to obstruct in whole or in part any such fire lane shall be prima facie
evidence that the registered owner unlawfully parked, placed, or permitted to be parked
or placed such obstruction within a fire lane.
The records of the State Highway Department or the County Highway License
Department showing the name of the person to whom the Texas highway license or boat
or trailer license is issued shall constitute prima facie evidence of ownership by the
named persons.
Section 503.4.2 (Enforcement; Issuance of Citations; Impoundment of Obstructions)
The Fire Official or any member of the Fire Department designated by the Fire Official,
the Chief of Police, or any member of the Police Department designated by the Chief of
Police are hereby authorized to issue parking citations for any motor vehicle, trailer, boat,
or similar obstruction found parked or unattended in or upon a designated fire lane and
may have such obstruction removed by towing it away. Such vehicle or obstruction may
be redeemed by payment of the towage and storage charges at the owner's expense.
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No parking citations shall be voided nor shall the violator be relieved of any penalty
assessed by a judge of the Municipal Court for any provision by the redemption of the
obstruction from the storage facility."
(14) Section 505.1 (Address Numbers) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and
replacing with the following:
Section 505.1 (Address Numbers)
An official building number placed pursuant to this ordinance must be at least four inches
(4") high, and have at least aone-half inch (1/2") stroke in the main body of the number,
and be composed of a durable material and of a color which provides a contrast to the
background. The number shall be mounted a minimum of thirty-six inches (36") and a
maximum of thirty feet (30') in height measured from ground level. Buildings located
more than fifty feet (50') from the curb of a street shall have numbers at least five inches
(5") in height. For the purpose of this ordinance, durable materials for use in numbering
shall include, but not be limited to wood, plastic, metal, weather-resistant paint, weather-
resistant vinyl, orweather-resistant numbers designed for outside use on a glass surface.
For single family residences, the requirement of this section may be met by providing two
inch (2") high numbers on both sides of a U.S. mailbox located near the curb in front of
the house, or a freestanding structure with numbers at least four inches (4") in height.
(15) Section 505 (Premise Identification) is amended by adding Sections 505.1.1 (Building
Complex Identification), 505.1.2 (Rear Access Identification), 505.1.3 (Alley Premise
Identification) and 505.1.4 (Building Complex Diagrams) to read as follows:
505.1.1 (Building Complex Identification)
A building complex composed of multiple structures shall have an official suite/unit
number assigned to each building as well as a street address number. If there is
sufficient street frontage, each unit or building may be assigned a separate official street
address number. The official street address number of each structure as designated by
the Building Official must be prominently posted on the building so that it is visible from
the nearest public street. Each number designated by the Building Official for each
individual suite/unit must be conspicuously posted on the suite/unit.
505.1.2 (Rear Access Identification)
Commercial buildings with rear access shall also display the business name and
designated street address and suite/unit number on the rear access door.
505.1.3 (Alley Premise Identification)
Residential structures that provide for rear vehicular access from a dedicated public alley
shall conspicuously post the designated numbers that comply with the size requirements
above so that it is visible to the alley.
505.1.4 (Building Complex Diagrams)
The owner of a building complex which contains an enclosed shopping mall shall submit
to the Fire Official four (4) copies of diagrams acceptable to the Fire Official of the entire
complex, indicating the location and number of each business. When a change in a
business name or location is made, the owner or manager of structure shall so advise the
Fire Official in writing of the change.
(16) Section 508.5.1 (Where Required) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and
replacing with the following:
Section 508.5.1 (Where Required)
Public fire hydrants of the City of College Station standard design shall be installed as
part of the water distribution system for subdivisions and/or site developments. The
Engineering Division shall approve the appropriate hydrant locations accessible to fire
fighting apparatus and within the maximum distances described in the following sections:
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(17) Section 508.5.2 (Inspection, Testing and Maintenance) is amended by deleting the
section in its entirety and replacing with the following:
Section 508.5.2 (Inspection, Testing and Maintenance)
Public fire hydrants shall be installed in single-family and duplex districts zoned R-1, R-
1Aand R-2 at such locations that no part of any structure shall be more than five hundred
feet (500') from a fire hydrant as measured along the right-of-way of a public street as the
fire hose is laid off the fire truck.
Section 508.5.3 (Private Fire Service Mains and Water Tanks) is amended by deleting the
section in its entirety and replacing with the following:
Section 508.5.3 (Private Fire Service Mains and Water Tanks)
Private fire hydrants shall be installed in districts other than single-family and duplex
districts zoned R-1, R-1A or R-2 at such locations that no part of any structure,
aboveground tanks or fueling stations, shall be more than three hundred feet (300') from
a fire hydrant as measured along the right-of-way of a public street or along an approved
fire lane as the fire hose is laid off the fire truck."
(19) Section 903.2 (Where required) is amended by adding the following text at the end of the
section:
In addition to the requirements of this section, an automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided throughout all new buildings and structures as follows:
1. Where the total building area exceeds 12,000 square feet in area.
2. Where the height exceeds two stories, regardless of area.
(20) Section 903.2.2 (Group E) is amended by deleting the exception and replacing "20,000
square feet" with "12,000 square feet".
(21) Section 903.2.3 (Group F-1) is amended by deleting items #2 and #3.
(22) Section 903.2.6 (Group M) #2 is amended by replacing "three stories above grade" with
"two stories in height" and by deleting #3 in its entirety.
(23) Section 903.2.7 (Group R) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(24) Section 903.2.8 (Group S-1) is amended by deleting items #2 and #3.
(25) Section 903.2 (Where Required) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety and
replacing with the following:
Section 903.2 (Where Required)
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings where the total
building area exceeds 12,000 square feet and/or all structures exceeding two stories in
height.
(26) Section 907.10.1.2 (Employee work areas) is amended by deleting the section in its
entirety and replacing with the following:
Section 907.10.1.2 (Employee work areas)
Where a fire alarm and detection system is required, employee work areas shall be
provided with devices that provide audible and visible alarm notification."
(27) Section 2204.1 (Supervision of Dispensing) is amended by deleting the section in its
entirety and replacing with the following:
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Section 2204.1 (Supervision of Dispensing)
The dispensing of flammable or combustible liquids into the fuel tank of a vehicle or into
an approved container shall be under the supervision of a qualified attendant except
service stations not open to the public. Such stations may be used by commercial,
industrial governmental or manufacturing establishments for fueling vehicles in
connection with their business."
(28) Section 2204.3 (Unattended Self-Service Motor Fuel Dispensing Facilities) is amended
by deleting the section in its entirety.
(29) Section 2204.3.1 (General) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(30) Section 2204.3.2 (Dispensers) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(31) Section 2204.3.3 (Emergency Controls) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(32) Section 2204.3.4 (Operating Instructions) is amended by deleting the section in its
entirety.
(33) Section 2204.3.5 (Emergency Procedures) is amended by deleting the section in its
entirety.
(34) Section 2204.3.6 (Communications) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(35) Section 2204.3.7 (Quantity Limits) is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
Section 3406.6.1.2 (Leaving Vehicle Unattended) is amended by deleting the section in its
entirety and replacing with the following:
Section 3406.6.1.2 (Leaving Vehicle Unattended)
At no time while discharging flammable, combustible or ignitable liquids shall the driver or
operator be out of sight and reach of the discharge valves. If at any time while
discharging flammable, combustible or ignitable liquids, the driver or operator must leave
the vehicle for any reason, he or she shall shut down all valves until his or her return and
shall be totally responsible for any and all spillage. When the delivery hose is attached to
the vehicle it is presumed to be discharging flammable, combustible or ignitable liquids.
(37) Appendix D Section D103.4 (Dead Ends) and Table D103.4 are amended by replacing
"150 feet" with "100 feet".
C. AMENDMENTS TO NFPA LIFE SAFETY CODE:
(1) Section 24.3.5.1 is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(2) Section 43.6.4.1 is amended by deleting this section in its entirety and replacing with the
following:
Section 43.6.4.1
In a building with rehabilitation work areas involving over 50% of the aggregate building
area an automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed to the code applicable to new
construction for this type of occupancy.
(3) Section 43.6.4.2 is amended by deleting the section in its entirety.
(4) Section 43.6.4.4 is amended by replacing "up to and including the highest rehabilitation
work area floor" with "highest floor".
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