Sec. 7-56. - Automatic fire sprinklers required.
Sec. 7-57. - Automatic sprinkler system not to be disabled.
This division shall apply to new construction, additions and renovations of buildings which are within the corporate limits of the Town of Chapel Hill and its extra-territorial planning jurisdiction.
(Ord. No. 96-11-11/O-6f, § 1, 11-11-96; Ord. No. 97-10-27/O-2.2, § 3, 10-27-97)
Sec. 7-56. - Automatic fire sprinklers required.
An automatic fire sprinkler system meeting the requirements of NFPA Standard #13 is required to be installed in non-residential construction, as follows.
(1)
In new non-residential structures if:
a.
The building has more than 6,000 square feet of floor area;
b.
Twenty (20) per cent or more of the total floor area is more than two hundred (200) feet of travel distance from the nearest access point for a fire truck; or
c.
The building exceeds two (2) stories or twenty-four (24) feet in height from the average grade of the lot to the windows on the topmost occupied floor.
(2)
In a structural addition to a non-residential building of more than six thousand (6,000) square feet where the cost of the addition exceeds fifty (50) per cent of the value of the building. Sprinklers are required in the addition.
(3)
In a non-residential building of more than six thousand (6,000) square feet which is either renovated at a cost greater than fifty (50) per cent of value or which is damaged and rebuilt at a cost greater than fifty (50) per cent of value.
In addition, all connections shall be located on the street side of each building, and activation of the sprinkler system shall activate both a local building alarm and a supervisory alarm at a twenty-four (24) hour certified and licensed alarm monitoring service.
(Ord. No. 96-11-11/O-6f, § 1, 11-11-96; Ord. No. 96-12-4/O-2.1, § 1, 12-4-96; Ord. No. 97-1-27/O-2, §§ 3, 4, 1-27-97)
Sec. 7-57. - Automatic sprinkler system not to be disabled.
Upon the occupancy of any new, renovated or expanded structure subject to this division, no person shall shut off or disable such automatic fire sprinkler system and no owner or resident of such building shall fail to prevent the shutting off or disabling of such a system. Provided, however, that a sprinkler system may be shut off in order to perform maintenance work on the system during the time that qualified maintenance personnel are on the premises performing necessary maintenance work. Such maintenance work shall only be conducted after notice to and approval by the Town Fire Department.
(Ord. No. 96-11-11/O-6f, § 1, 11-11-96)
(a)
Criminal penalties. Violation of any provision of this division shall be a misdemeanor and shall be subject to a fine of five hundred dollars ($500.00) or imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days.
(b)
Civil enforcement. This ordinance may be enforced by civil penalty or appropriate equitable remedy as may be authorized by applicable N.C. General Statutes, including but not limited to G.S. Sec. 160A-175, G.S. Sec. 160A-432 and G.S. Sec. 143-139.
(Ord. No. 96-11-11/O-6f, § 1, 11-11-96)