Title
Fire Sprinkler System Requirement Clarification - For the purpose of clarifying that the fire sprinkler systems requirements of § 17.20.120(A) and when the requirement goes into effect; updating subsections B through D to comply with current national standards; reformatting the section; and generally dealing with City fire sprinkler requirements.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Ordinance 32-24
Introduced by: Mayor Buckley
Referred to:
Economic Matters Committee
AN ORDINANCE concerning
Fire Sprinkler System Requirement Clarification
FOR the purpose of clarifying that the fire sprinkler systems requirements of § 17.20.120(A) and when the requirement goes into effect; updating subsections B through D to comply with current national standards; reformatting the section; and generally dealing with City fire sprinkler requirements.
BY repealing and reenacting with amendments the following portions of the Code of the City of Annapolis, 2024 Edition
17.20.120
SECTION I: BE IT ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Code of the City of Annapolis shall be amended to read as follows:
Title 17 - BUILDINGS AND CONSTRUCTION
Chapter 17.20 - Fire Prevention Code
Section 17.20.120 Fire sprinkler systems.
A. Applicability. All commercial buildings located on Main Street or Francis Street in the Historic District that are adjacent to existing underground lateral lines are required to be sprinklered no later than five years from the date of passage of this ordinance. Any commercial building within the City of Annapolis that subsequently benefits from the installation of adjacent underground lateral lines after the date of passage of this ordinance shall be sprinklered no later than five years from the date of the laterial line installation.
B. Requirement to Have Fire Sprinkler System. All buildings to which this section applies shall have a fully functioning interior fire sprinkler system. When activated, the system shall immediately and automatically alert a monitoring service.
C. Plans. In applying for a permit, the owner shall submit plans for the applicable sprinkler system specified in the building code. Subject to NFPA review, an alternate suppression system may be approved if the Department determines that a wet sprinkler system cannot be installed without jeopardizing any historic components and the existing fabric of the building. Applications to install alternate suppression systems are not eligible to receive assistance from the sprinkler revolving fund.
D. Responsibility of Property Owner. The property owner shall pay for installation of the entire fire sprinkler system, including the lateral from the water main into the building. For purposes of this chapter, all tapping of water mains shall be performed in accordance with Section 16.04.010 of the City Code.
A. Applicability.
1. All commercial, mixed-use, and residential buildings other than a single-family house located on Main Street and Francis Street in the Historic District shall install sprinkler systems.
2. If the building is adjacent to existing underground lateral lines, sprinkler systems shall be installed no later than February 28, 2027.
3. If the building benefits from installing adjacent underground lateral lines after February 28, 2022, sprinkler systems shall be installed no later than five years after the lateral lines are installed.
B. Requirement to Have Fire Sprinkler System.
1. All buildings in this section shall have a fully functioning fire sprinkler system.
2. When activated, the system shall immediately and automatically alert a monitoring service, through a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 72 compliant control panel.
C. Plans.
1. In applying for a permit, the owner or owner’s representative shall submit plans for the applicable sprinkler system specified in the building code.
2. Subject to NFPA review, an alternate suppression system may be approved if the Department determines that a sprinkler system cannot be installed without jeopardizing any historic components and the existing fabric of the building.
3. Applications to install alternate suppression systems are not eligible to receive assistance from the sprinkler revolving fund.
4. When the owner or their representative submits a building permit application for the sprinkler system, the Department and Fire Marshal's office shall approve the type of sprinkler system required based on the standards set by NFPA 101 and the International Building Code (IBC), e.g., NFPA 13, 13R, or 13D.
D. Responsibility of Property Owner.
1. The property owner shall pay for installation of the entire fire sprinkler system, including the lateral from the water main into the building and monitoring components.
2. For purposes of this chapter, all tapping of water mains shall be performed in accordance with § 16.04.010.
SECTION II: AND BE IT FURTHER ESTABLISHED AND ORDAINED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that this ordinance shall take effect upon passage.