City Council
MEETING DATE: 7/22/2015
TITLE:
Title
Second Reading - Residential Smoke Alarm Ordinance Amendment
End
FROM:
Paul S. Wilson, Fire Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council conduct a second reading and approve an amendment to City Ordinance 8.12 and the California Fire Code 2013 Edition Article 9 - 907.2.10.5.4. subsequent to the first reading on June 22, 2015.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Since July 2007 the Cathedral City Municipal Ordinance 8.12 has required residential smoke detectors to be “dual sensor” (photoelectric and ionization). The requirement was based on recommendations from the International Association of Fire Chiefs and California Fire Chiefs Association to provide optimal detection of fast-flaming fires versus smoldering fires.
The California Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) has determined removal of smoke detector batteries by residential occupants as one of the more serious hazards to life safety.
As of July 1, 2014 in order to be listed by the California OSFM new smoke alarms that are solely battery powered must have a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarm for at least ten years.
Beginning July 1, 2015 all California OSFM listed and approved smoke alarms shall display;
(a) The date of manufacture on the device
(b) Provide a place on the device where the installation date can be written
(c) Incorporate a hush feature.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
“Upon sale of any residential dwelling and factory-built housing, the seller shall have installed therein, permanently wired smoke detectors (alarms), or ten-year tamper-proof battery powered approved dual Photoelectric and Ionization type detectors of products of combustion, other than heat only, as required by the fire code commonly known as Dual Sensor Smoke Alarms. The smoke alarms are required to be State Fire Marshal approved and listed. The seller must obtain certification from the Fire Department of the installation and proper operation prior to close of sale of property.”
DISCUSSION:
Due to the new California OSFM requirements, smoke alarm manufacturers are not producing “dual sensor” (photoelectric and ionization) devices, which also incorporate the new California OSFM features referenced above.
The sellers of residential properties, their realtors and escrow agents are experiencing difficulties in locating “dual sensor” smoke alarms that meet the California OSFM requirements.
Staff would continue to recommend residential dwellers install both types of smoke alarms (photoelectric and ionization) independently, for optimal occupant protection. However, upon adoption of the proposed Amendment to City Ordinance 8.12 and the California Fire Code 2013 Edition Article 9 - 907.2.10.5.4 the “dual sensor” smoke alarms would not be required in the future, in order to comply with California OSFM and the California Health and Safety Code Section 13114.
The advantage of smoke alarms being installed in Cathedral City with a non-replaceable, non-removable battery that is capable of powering the smoke alarms for at least ten years outweighs the current “dual sensor” smoke alarm requirement.
PHASE-IN PERIOD: Residential properties which had installed the previously required battery powered dual sensor smoke alarms, without a 10-year tamper-proof battery, could retain said alarms if the property were sold after September 1, 2015 through August 31, 2017.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Adoption and implementation of the recommendation will incur minimal expense to the fire department, as all printing is completed in-house, correspondence to realtors can be sent via email and the updated smoke alarm information would be accessible on the fire department website.
ATTACHMENTS:
Ordinance