ARTICLE III. - FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS

Sec. 20-135. - Maintenance; false alarm fees; acts of God; disconnection after three false alarms.#

(a)

All fire alarm systems connected to the fire division shall be maintained in good operating condition at all times.

(b)

If a fire alarm system connected to the fire division transmits an alarm signal condition to the fire division through a mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or negligence of the user, his employees or agents, the fire chief may assess the owner a false alarm nuisance service fee of $100.00 for each false alarm in excess of three false alarms occurring within a calendar year. All fees assessed hereunder shall be paid to the finance director for deposit into the special fire equipment fund.

(c)

False fire alarms caused by acts of God, including, but not limited to, power outages, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, thunderstorms or adverse weather or atmospheric disturbances shall not be deemed to be a false fire alarm.

(d)

The chief of the fire division may authorize the disconnection of any fire alarm system from the municipal fire alarm system if, after three false alarms, such system in the opinion of the fire chief, is not maintained in good operating condition.

(Code 1994, § 20-101; Ord. of 5-13-1991(4), § 9-9; Ord. of 5-14-2018(2), § 1)

Sec. 20-136. - Annual fee.#

(a)

There shall be assessed by the fire division an annual fee of $200.00 for each privately owned fire alarm box. The annual fee shall be charged for the privilege of maintenance and connection to the city's fire alarm system. Such fee shall be due and payable in full on the first day of July of each year, but provided that if the service is applied for during the year, the applicant shall pay only that portion of the fee which the unexpired portion of the year bears to the full fee. The city solicitor may also record a lien against the real property for any unpaid charges or fees under this chapter, and the lien shall be enforced in the same manner provided or authorized by law for enforcement of common law liens on personal property. An exemption for financial hardship may be granted by either the director of public safety or by a majority vote of the city council.

(b)

The assessed fees collected from the owner of the fire boxes shall be deposited into a special fire equipment account fund, the account fund to be administered by the chief of the fire division accountable to the director of public safety.

(Code 1994, § 20-102; Ord. of 5-13-1991(4), § 9-10; Ord. of 12-19-2011(4); Ord. of 5-14-2018(2), § 1)

Sec. 20-137. - In-building radio specifications.#

(a)

Generally. The fire division, fire alarm division, has the authority to waive the fire division communication system and substitute a radio communications system to achieve effective fire division radio communications throughout the protected premises. Voluntary adoption of this alternative is subject to the specifications contained within this section.

(b)

Radio coverage. For purpose of this section, adequate radio coverage shall include all of the following:

(1)

A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm available in 95 percent of the area of each floor when transmitted from the fire division.

(2)

A minimum signal strength of -95 dBm received at the fire division system from 95 percent of the area of each floor of the building.

(c)

Amplification system allowed. Buildings and structures shall be equipped with any of the following, in order to achieve the required radio coverage: a radiating cable system or an internal multiple antenna system with FCC Type Accepted Bi-Directional UHF Amplifiers as needed to encompass CFFD UHF frequencies 483/486 (Channel 1). The system shall be capable of operating on an independent battery and/or generator system for a period of at least 12 hours without external power input. In order to use an emergency generator in lieu of a battery back-up system, the generator must be an oil-fired generator. The battery system, if installed, shall automatically charge in the presence of external power input. The amplifier fault circuit shall be connected to a trouble fault in the fire alarm panel. An audible alarm shall be present at the fire alarm panel to indicate a fault in the amplifier.

(d)

Acceptance test procedures.

(1)

Acceptance testing for an in-building radio amplification system is required, upon completion of installation. It is the building owner's responsibility to have the radio system tested to ensure that two-way coverage on each floor of the building is a minimum of 95 percent. Each floor of the building shall be divided into a grid of approximately 20 equal areas.

(2)

A maximum of one area will be allowed to fail the test per floor. A spot located approximately in the center of a grid area will be selected for the test. Once the spot has been selected, prospecting for a better spot within the grid area will not be permitted. Field strength testing instruments are to be recently calibrated (one year) and of the frequency selective type incorporating a flexible antenna similar to the ones used on the hand held transceivers. All compliance testing is to be done with 50 ohm loads in place of the antenna to avoid interference to fire alarm. The fire division, fire alarm, is to be notified prior to any testing. Talk back testing will be conducted by the fire division, fire alarm personnel during sample testing of the accuracy of the BDA compliance test report. All test results and as-built drawings are to be supplied at the time the sample testing is requested.

(3)

The gain values of all amplifiers shall be measured and the results kept on file with the building owner so that the measurements can be verified each year during the annual tests. In the event that the measurement results become lost, the building owner will be required to rerun the acceptance test to reestablish the gain values.

(e)

Annual tests. When an in-building radio system is installed, the building owner shall test all active components of the system, including but not limited to amplifier, power supplies, and backup batteries, a minimum of once every 12 months. Amplifiers shall be tested to ensure that the gain is the same as it was upon initial installation and acceptance. Backup batteries and power supplies shall be tested under load for a period of one hour to verify that they will operate during an actual power outage. All other active components shall be checked to determine that they are operating within the manufacturer's specifications for the intended purpose.

(f)

Five-year test. In addition to the annual test, the building owner shall perform a radio coverage test a minimum of once every five years to ensure that the radio system continues to meet the requirements of the original acceptance. The procedure set forth in subsection (e) of this section shall apply to such tests.

(g)

Qualifications of testing personnel. All tests shall be conducted, documented, and signed by a person in possession of a current FCC general radio telephone operator license. All test records shall be retained at the inspected premises by the building owner and a copy submitted to the fire division, fire alarm division.

(h)

Fire division inspections. Fire department personnel, after providing reasonable notice to the owner or his representative, shall have the right to enter onto the property to conduct field testing to be certain that the required level of radio coverage is present.

(i)

Property owner letter. At final acceptance the applicant shall supply a letter to the Central Falls fire division, fire alarm division, 150 Illinois St., Central Falls, RI 02863, accepting the property owner's responsibilities. These responsibilities are as follows: upgrades to system as directed by the fire division, maintenance contract in place with name of contractor, who will provide a 24-hour by seven-day emergency response within two hours after notification, and contact personnel with phone numbers. This letter is to be on company letterhead signed by the property owner or a legal representative.

(j)

Request for waiver. A waiver from the fire division, fire alarm division, is required for radio equipment usage in lieu of a telephone system in high rise occupancies. The applicant shall make a formal request in writing to the Central Falls Fire Division, Fire Alarm Division, 150 Illinois St., Central Falls, RI 02863. The request shall state address of property, property owner (responsible party), radio equipment vendor, contact personnel with telephone numbers, radio system drawings with technical parameters, and equipment specifications shall accompany the waiver request. Applicants will receive a written reply within 30 days. This waiver is the initial step in this procedure and required before proceeding.

(k)

Required form. All required forms can be obtained from the Central Falls Fire Division, Fire Alarm 150 Illinois St., Central Falls, RI 02863.

(1)

Equipment location notification form.

(2)

BDA compliance test report.

(l)

Cabinet. The cabinet shall be a NEMA 4 painted steel cabinet. The color will be fire engine red and bear the lettering as follows: "CENTRAL FALLS FIRE DEPT. RADIO" in bright yellow. The maintenance vendor and telephone number will be marked on the cabinet. The cabinet will have a lock mechanism to keep the unit secure.

(m)

Primary power. Connection to primary power can be done in two manners. The first, a cord set with twist lock plug and receptacle or with metallic conduit. Each bi-directional amplifier shall be powered by its own 20 ampere circuit.

(Ord. of 5-14-2007)