Agenda - Council - 06/08/2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

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new h]tcmmtio~ml l~uilding ~md ]~ir~' Codes encourage the use of spri~kler systems by allowing more lradcoFEs or exceptions whe~ ,~;prinklers are used, thus reducing construction costs and improving life sal'c, ty oF t~uilding occupants and firefighters. If adopted, this ordinance would provide co~sistent spvinkl~v pvote~tio~] thresholds for all occupancies including residential structures witl~ mul/iplc dwclli~g m~its over 8,500 square feet. With the dense communities that Ramscy h~s buil~ and continues '~,~ b~ild, the need for greater fire protection is here. Fire spvi nk lers o t'l'cr cost c[Tective altern'4tives to the traditional fire suppression methods. They save lives, money (con.~;~vt~ctio~ cosls, w:~ter usage, equipment repair, ere) and maintain the economic viability o1' tilt: community. Counci hncmbcv 1;.I rig Clucstiot]cd if an existing property is sold would they be required to install sp ri nlc I cts. Fire Inspector Strcicla replied that it' the type of use would change they would have to include sprinklers, l lt~' also noted tlmt if' someone were to add on to an existing building they rnight be required to ~td~t spril~klers ~o l}~c entire building. Cotmci lmcmbcr Cook incttfi red it' a~ ~y other suppression systems would be required if they were to adopt tlfi s ovdita~liacc. Councilmcmbc~v Zi~l~merma~ incluir~:d il' it xvas possible for the City to have more stringent rules. Fire Inspector Strcicla explained tha~ thc City can have more stringent rules than what is included in thc Fire ('cdc, b~lt what is Ire'lng ~li,~;cussed is part of the Building Code so the City is not able to alncnd tlmt. CoLmcilnlcnll~cl' l~l~,ig stated that h~' agreed with the need commercially, but there are only a COLtplc of bttsincss(~s that i~stall sprinkling systems and he was not sure how that is related to residential LInils. I lc Wats concerned about the costs that may be incun'ed by property owners. Director of Public x,,Vorks/l:irc (;hicC Kztpler noted that PVC pipe can be used in residential units so ally ccrti [lcd phu~bet' could do th~z work. Cou~]cilmcmbcv l~lx~ig inqui~'e~l iF it ',vt~s; possible for staffto estimate what the costs would be for a rcside~tial trail. Cou~cilmcm/,cr Pc,;~vson sta~cd ~hat ilo x,,,ould like to know what the insurance savings would be. Mayor (;~m~cc i~clUircd as to what w,~ul(1 happen in areas where there is not City water available. Fire I~mpcctov Str{zich explained th:tt the ordinance does provide for an exception where City water is ~ot ~tvailal)[c. (~'ity Co~ncil Work Session/May 4, 2004 Page 2 of 14