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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/2012 03Ciii Response to Citizen: Annual Fire Inspection Program Elimination / E� 9 � 4ti N i t- 'yriiyr,'+lt��4� u BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT C , i Item No. (G For Meeting of: March 6, 2012 "1.; L : 'r: - 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.