(FPN: Newly created chapter 4-29-2006)
12-101 Short Title
This Chapter shall be known and may be cited as the “Fire Prevention and Life Safety Code Standards for the Town of Poland, Maine”.
1. Purpose and Applicability
The purpose of this chapter is to prescribe minimum regulations governing life safety and hazardous condition to life and property from fire or explosion.
2. Applicability
The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to all properties, buildings, and structures within the town of Poland.
12-102 Administration and Enforcement
This chapter shall be administered and enforced by the Town of Po1and Fire/Rescue Chief and/or the Town of Poland Code Enforcement Officer.
12-103 Adoption of a Fire Prevention Code Prescribing Regulations Governing Conditions Hazardous to Life and Property from Fire or Explosion
1. That a certain document, three (3) copies of which are on file in the office of the Town of Poland Clerk of the Town with one (1) copy being in the Town Clerk’s Office, marked and designated as the Fire Prevention Code – 1970 edition abbreviated as recommended by the American Insurance Association, be and is hereby adopted as the Fire Prevention Code of the Town of Poland, in the State of Maine; for the safeguarding to a reasonable degree of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion; each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Fire Prevention Code are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this Chapter, with additions, insertions, deletions, and changes prescribed in Chapter 1.
2. Revisions to the Fire Prevention Code – 1970 edition
The Fire Prevention Code – 1970 edition is amended and changed in the following respects:
a. Section 15. Is amended to add the following: “(g) Dangerous accumulations of brush, debris, slash, scrap lumber or wood, or uncut grass.”
b. Section 169.2. Is amended by adding the following: “(c) Fire Lanes shall be provided for all buildings set back more that 150 feet (45.75m) from a public road or exceed 30 feet (9.14m) in height.”
c. Add: Section 62. Water Supply For Residential Developments:
The Chief of the Fire/Rescue Department shall review all proposed residential developments consisting of seven (7) or more residential dwellings or single building developments with six (6) or more families and specify a suitable water supply for firefighting purposes. The water supply must be of large enough capacity to provide a sufficient fire flow for the largest proposed structure within the development. The water supply must be located within the boundaries of the proposed residential development or within 3500 feet outside the residential development, as measured along roadways usable by firefighting apparatus, if an approved water source already exists and is acceptable to the Fire Chief.
The developer or property owner installing a water supply facility located on privately owned property to satisfy the water supply requirement set forth in this section as a condition of development must provide the Town of Poland with a formal easement acceptable to the Fire/Rescue Chief between the location of the water source and the point of access from a publicly maintained road.
The provisions of the current National Fire Protection Standard #1141, Fire Protection in Planned Building Groups shall be followed to determine the sufficient fire flow requirements. The minimum acceptable water supply shall be 10,000 gallons. Whenever fire ponds, natural bodies of water, or storage tanks are used as a means of providing the required water source, a dry hydrant shall also be installed. Said dry hydrant shall be installed in a location easily accessible as determined by the fire department.
d. Add: Section 63.Maintenance of Water Sources for Residential Developments:
Maintenance for water sources required under Section 62 of this code that is located on private roadways or drives within a residential development shall be the responsibility of the property owner. This will include snow removal and the cutting of brush and grass so that the water source is readily visible and accessible at all times.
The property owner shall be responsible for the initial filling of any tanks that may be used. The Fire Department will then be responsible for refilling after use.
3. Establishment of Limits of Districts in which Storage of Explosives and Blasting Agents, Storage of Flammable Liquids in Outside Aboveground Tanks, and Bulk Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gases is to be restricted.
The limits referred to in Section 53.b. of the code hereby adopted, in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited, the limits referred to in Section 74.a. of the code hereby adopted in which storage of Class 1 liquids in outside above ground tanks is prohibited, and the limits referred to in Section 114 of the code hereby adopted, in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted are hereby established as follows: Restricted in all areas excluding those designated Commercial and Industrial.
4. Establishment of Motor Vehicle Routes for Vehicles Transporting Explosives and Blasting Agents.
The routes referred to in Section 55.i. of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting explosives and blasting agents are hereby established as follows: “State Highways designated Routes 11, 26, 121, & 122. Travel on local roads is restricted to deliveries to property locations served by that local road.”
5. Establishment of Motor Vehicle Routes for Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Chemicals or Other Dangerous Articles.
The routes referred to in Section 109.1.b. of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals and other dangerous articles are hereby established as follows: “State Highways designated Routes 11, 26, 121, 122. Travel on local roads is restricted to deliveries to property locations served by that local road.”
6. Establishment of Limits of Districts Restricting the Storage of Hazardous Chemicals and Dangerous Articles.
The limits of storage of Hazardous Chemicals and other dangerous articles in bulk quantities are hereby established as follows: “Restricted in all zoned areas excluding those designated Industrial Areas.”
7. Establishment of Fire Lanes on Private Property Devoted to Public Use.
The fire lanes referred to in section 169.2.a. of the Fire Prevention Code are hereby established as follows: The Fire/Rescue Chief shall inspect all such property and designate fire lanes as necessary to allow access for firefighting equipment.
12-104 Adoption of NFPA Life Safety 101 by Reference
1. That a certain document, three (3) copies of which are on file in the office of the Town of Poland Clerk of the Town with one (1) copy being in the Town Clerk’s Office, marked and designated as the Life Safety Code 101 - 2003 Edition including Appendices A and B as published by the National Fire Protection Association, be and is hereby adopted as the Life Safety Code of the Town of Poland, in the State of Maine; for control of buildings and structures as herein provided; each and all of the regulations, provisions, penalties, conditions and terms of said Life Safety Code are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof, as if fully set out in this Chapter, with additions, insertions, deletions, and changes prescribed in Chapter 1.
12-105 Violations and Penalties
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter commits a civil violation and is subject to fines and penalties as provided in Chapter 4 of this Code.
12-106 Modifications. (From IRC 2000 and IBC 2000, Sections 104.10 adopted by reference in Chapter 11)
1. Wherever there are practical difficulties involved in carrying out the provisions of this code, the building official shall have the authority to grant modifications for individual cases, provided the Code Enforcement Officer in conjunction with the Fire/Rescue Chief shall first find that special individual reason makes the strict letter of this Chapter impractical and the modification is in compliance with the intent and purpose of this Chapter and that such modification does not lessen health, life and fire safety requirements or structural. The details of action granting modifications shall be recorded and entered in the files of the Code Enforcement Office.
2. Areas prone to flooding.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall not grant modifications to any provision related to areas prone to flooding without the granting of a variance to such provisions by the Board of Appeals.
12-107 Alternative materials, design and methods of construction and equipment. (From IRC 2000 and IBC 2000, Sections 104.11 adopted by reference in Chapter 11)
1. The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any material or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the Code Enforcement Officer in conjunction with the Fire/Rescue Chief finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this Chapter, and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this chapter. Compliance with the specific performance–based provisions of the International Code Council (ICC) codes in lieu of specific requirements of this code shall also be
permitted as an alternate.
2. Tests.
Whenever there is insufficient evidence of compliance with the provisions of this Chapter, or evidence that a material or method does not conform to the requirements of this Chapter, or in order to substantiate claims for alternative materials or methods, the Code Enforcement Officer and/or the Fire Rescue Chief shall have the authority to require tests as evidence of compliance to be made at no expense to the jurisdiction. Test methods shall be as specified in this Building Codes of Chapter 11 or by other recognized test standards. In the absence of recognized and accepted test methods, the Code Enforcement Officer and/or Fire/Rescue Chief shall approve the testing procedures. Tests shall be performed by an approved agency. Reports of such tests shall be retained in the Code Enforcement Office.
(End of Chapter 12)
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