HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/2012 03Ciii Response to Citizen: Annual Fire Inspection Program Elimination /
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT C , i
Item No. (G
For Meeting of: March 6, 2012
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ITEM TITLE: Response to Mark Burton on Annual Fire Inspection
program elimination
SUBMITTED BY: Joe Caruso, Code Administration Manager
CONTACT Joe Caruso 509 - 575 -6257
PERSON/TELEPHONE:
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Response to ABC contractor Mark Burton on annual fire inspection program
elimination- See attachment
Resolution Ordinance Ot her Response
(specify)
Contract: Mail to:
Contract Term: Amount: Expiration Date:
Insurance Required? No
Funding Phone:
Source:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: ...�.� , City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Informational
BOARD /COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Click to download
El Memo to Council re fire inspection program
INTEROFFICE MEMO
March 6, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Joe Caruso, Code Administration Manager
SUBJECT: Response to ABC Contractor Mark Burton....Fire Inspections
At the last council meeting on February 21, 2012, resident and business owner Mark
Burton questioned the City of Yakima's decision to eliminate the annual fire inspection
program. Before the elimination date of February 1, 2012, the City of Yakima conducted
annual fire inspection on approximately 3800 commercial businesses and approximately
another 900 related inspections.
It has been a requirement that contractors who conducted annual tests and repairs on
fire alarm systems, sprinkler systems, hood suppression systems and extinguishers
shall submit a service report copy for the fire official. Contractors routinely supplied us
with those copies as stated in the fire code along with the city communication as a
policy.
The annual fire inspection program obligated the commercial business owners who had
sprinklers, fire alarm systems, hood suppression systems and extinguishers to have a
certified contractor conduct these annual inspections and repairs. A copy of that report
was supplied to the City of Yakima for the fire inspector to follow -up with the businesses
to have any necessary repairs completed.
Starting February 1, 2012, the annual fire inspection program was eliminated due to
budgetary restrictions along with a fire inspector.
The City of Yakima /Fire Marshal enforces the 2009 International Fire Code as required
through the State of Washington (WAC 51 -54). Within the fire code, it requires that
sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, hood suppression systems and fire extinguishers
are tested and maintained.
The applicable requirements of the fire code are summarized below:
2009 International Fire Code
Chapter 9- Fire Protection Systems - Sprinklers
901.5 Installation acceptance testing
Fire Detection and alarm systems, fire extinguishing systems, fire hydrant
systems, fire standpipe systems, fire pump systems, private service mains and
all other fire protection systems and appurtenances thereto shall be subject to
acceptance tests as contained in the installation standards as approved by the
fire code official.
903.5 Testing and Maintenance
Sprinkler systems shall be tested and maintained in accordance with Section
901 -Fire Protection Systems
City of Yakima Actions regarding New Construction
Any new system due to new construction or improvements will be reviewed by a Plans
Examiner to insure that all fire and life safety requirements are met. An inspection and
final test will be conducted by the City of Yakima building inspector to approve
occupancy.
901.6 Inspection, testing and maintenance
Fire detection, alarm and extinguishing systems shall be maintained in an
operative condition at all times, and shall be repaired or replaced where
defective. Non - required fire protection systems and equipment shall be tested
and maintained or removed.
901.6.2 Records
Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the
referenced standards shall be maintained on the premises for a minimum of
three years and shall be copied to the fire code official upon request.
904.6.1 System Test....Alternative Automatic Fire - Extinguishing Systems
Systems shall be inspected and tested for proper operation at 6 month intervals.
107.2 Testing and Operation
Equipment requiring periodic testing or operation to ensure maintenance shall be
tested or operated as specified in this code
107.2.1 Test and Inspection Records
Required tests and inspection records shall be available to the fire code official at
all times or such records as the designates shall be filed with the fire code official
107.2.2 Reinspection and Testing
Where any work or installation does not pass an initial test or inspection, the
necessary corrections shall be made so as to achieve compliance with this code.
The work or installation shall then be resubmitted to the fire code official for
inspection and testing.
City of Yakima Actions Regarding Deficiencies
If the City of Yakima receives a report of a deficiency from a contractor's inspection, the
Fire Marshal will contact the business by telephone and notify them to have the
deficiency corrected as stated in the fire code. A City of Yakima Notice will be sent to
the business operator at the location which states the deficiency and required
correction. The notice will allow ten business days to have the deficiency corrected. If
the deficiency was corrected by the ten day notice, a report from a contractor will be
submitted to the city stating that the correction has been made and the system is back
in service.
If the city does not receive a notice from the contractor that the deficiency was corrected
within the ten day notice, the business will receive a telephone contact from the Fire
Marshal that the correction still needs to be completed. If the violation still has not been
corrected, the Fire Marshal has several legal options for compliance. A Stop Work
Order through the Fire Code can be issued closing the business until there is
compliance.
Temporarily rescinding the Business License, which has a citation fine of $250 a day
with each day serving as a new violation if the business still operates. And finally, using
all means afforded by law through the legal court system.