Code of the Town of Wethersfield
Chapter 78, Fire Alarms
The purpose of this chapter is to reduce needless alarms to which the Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department responds and to provide standards and regulations for the installation of fire alarm systems that automatically summon the Fire Department either via a central station, the Wethersfield Police Department or automatic dialers.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM -- A system of electrical devices and circuits installed, arranged and maintained to form, transmit and send signals indicating an emergency requiring immediate action to safeguard life and property from fire, whether or not required by town ordinance or by the State of Connecticut Fire Safety Code.
- Before any new alarm system or system modification shall be installed or performed in any commercial or residential building or structure, a permit shall be obtained from the Building Department.
- Upon application for a permit, the following information shall be supplied:
- Complete information regarding the system, including specifications, wiring diagrams and floor plans, shall be submitted for review and approval by the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield prior to the installation of the equipment and wiring. Such plans shall be stamped with the approval of the Fire Marshal and such approval shall be valid for one year from the date of approval, after which time said plans shall be subject to an additional review. The Fire Marshal shall approve only one fire alarm system design per building.
- All devices, combination of devices and equipment constructed and installed in conformity with the standard shall be approved for the purpose for which they are to be used and shall be shown on appropriate drawings. The submitted drawing shall show all detector placement on dedicated fire alarm system drawings (No other system shall be shown).
- All components shall be listed for fire alarm use by a testing organization acceptable to the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield.
- All central station equipment connections shall comply with NFPA 71.
- All wiring and devices shall meet the requirement of the NFPA 70, NFPA 71, NFPA 72, NFPA 72E and NFPA 74.
- Systems shall be under the supervision of a responsible qualified person or organization satisfactory to the Fire Marshal, who shall, under contractual agreement, make all inspections, tests and repairs within seven working days. Qualified persons shall be licensed by the State of Connecticut and shall hold a minimum L-5 license.
- Prior to the Fire Marshal's and Building Inspector's making the final inspection, a contract must be in evidence between the building owner and an approved fire alarm testing company for the testing and maintenance (in accordance with NFPA 72H) of the building alarm system.
- Complete information regarding the system, including specifications, wiring diagrams and floor plans, shall be submitted for review and approval by the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield prior to the installation of the equipment and wiring. Such plans shall be stamped with the approval of the Fire Marshal and such approval shall be valid for one year from the date of approval, after which time said plans shall be subject to an additional review. The Fire Marshal shall approve only one fire alarm system design per building.
- All devices, combination of devices and equipment constructed and installed in conformity with the standard shall be approved for the purpose for which they are to be used and shall be shown on appropriate drawings. The submitted drawing shall show all detector placement on dedicated fire alarm system drawings (No other system shall be shown).
- All components shall be listed for fire alarm use by a testing organization acceptable to the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield.
- All central station equipment connections shall comply with NFPA 71.
- All wiring and devices shall meet the requirement of the NFPA 70, NFPA 71, NFPA 72, NFPA 72E and NFPA 74.
- Systems shall be under the supervision of a responsible qualified person or organization satisfactory to the Fire Marshal, who shall, under contractual agreement, make all inspections, tests and repairs within seven working days. Qualified persons shall be licensed by the State of Connecticut and shall hold a minimum L-5 license.
- Prior to the Fire Marshal's and Building Inspector's making the final inspection, a contract must be in evidence between the building owner and an approved fire alarm testing company for the testing and maintenance (in accordance with NFPA 72H) of the building alarm system.
The administration of this chapter shall be by the Division of Fire, and the enforcement shall be by the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield.
- Any fire alarm system installed after the effective date of this chapter shall conform to the requirements of this chapter. If such fire alarm system does not so conform, then the property owner shall have a thirty-day period from receipt of notice that the fire alarm system is nonconforming to bring the system into conformance. Failure to do so shall result in the imposition of a fine of $100.
- Any fire alarm system installed prior to the effective date of this chapter shall be registered with the Fire Marshal of the Town of Wethersfield within 60 days of the effective date of this chapter. If any property owner fails to register a fire alarm system within the registration period and within 30 days after receipt of notice that he has failed to register such system, then the property owner shall be fined the sum of $100.
- The registration or approval of a fire alarm system pursuant to the provisions of any prior ordinance shall constitute compliance with the approval and registration requirements of this chapter.