Code Summary of the Wright City FPD Ordinances

The following information is provided for a summary only of the Wright City Fire Protection District Ordinances. This summary is a portion of all three ordinances pertaining to the Building Code, Fire Code and Residential Code and shall be used as such document. The Ordinances and Codes books are to be used together to construct any and all buildings within the Wright City Fire Protection District.

1. Intent: The intent is to affix the numerical address to any and all structures in the Wright City Fire Protection District to ensure proper identification of the building or structure in the event of an emergency.
2. Enforcement Authority: The Fire Chief and/or his designee of the Wright City Fire Protection District of Warren and Lincoln Counties of Missouri is the duly authorized representatives as the enforcement authority for this ordinance.
3. Designation of Street Numbers: The designation of all street numbers for dwelling units and place of business on all public and private streets shall be assigned by the emergency 911 office or municipality responsible for that particular location.
4. Requirements, Posting, and Owner Responsibility: The owner or occupant or person in charge of any house or building to which a number has been assigned will be notified of such address and shall comply with this ordinance. Within sixty (60) days after receipt of such notification, the owner or occupant or person in charge of a house or building to which a number has been assigned shall affix the number to the structure, if said structure is visible from the road. If said structure is not visible from the roadway, numbers shall be affixed to a sign or number post in such a way that the address can clearly be seen from the roadway. It shall be the duty of such owner or occupant or person in charge thereof upon affixing the new numbers to remove any other number(s), which might be mistaken for, or confused with, the number assigned to said structure. Each principal building shall display the number assigned toward the street on which the structure is addressed and adjacent to the entrance. In case the principal building is occupied by more than one (1) business or dwelling unit, each separate front entrance shall display a separate address or unit number. Number indicating the official address for each principal building or each front entrance to such building shall be posted in a manner so as to be legible and distinguishable from the street on which the property is located. Numerals painted or applied of a contrasting color to the background, of not less than three (3) inches in height in residential occupancies, and not less than four (4) inches in height on commercial areas. Script lettering or similar unconventional type styles are not permitted. If a building or dwelling is situated in such a way that the numerals can not be easily seen from the roadway in front of said structure, then a sign or number post must be installed in front of the structure and placed in such a way that it is easily seen from the roadway. New Structures: No building permit shall be issued for any principal building until the owner or developer has procured from the applicable agency the official address of the premises. Final approval of a certificate of occupancy of any principal building erected or repaired after the effective date of this ordinance shall be withheld until permanent and proper numbers have been displayed in accordance with the requirements listed above in this section.

ADDITION TO SECTION 506 (Page 40)
506.3 Intent: This section is to provide emergency entry into premises in which a gate, fence, and/or any other obstruction is placed such as perimeter gates, parking garages, and gated communities. The intent is to provide a secure system in which owners of said property are still secured, however still provide emergency access to said property without excessive loss of time, life, and/or property located within the Wright City Fire Protection District. This section will provide emergency entry into a building or structure in the event of an emergency without excessive loss of time, life, and/or property located in the Wright City Fire Protection District.

506.4 Enforcement Authority: The Fire Chief and/or his/her designee is duly authorized as the enforcement authority of this ordinance.

506.5 Requirements for “Rapid Access” Key Switch or Padlock: Any gate across an access point to be used by emergency personal responding to an emergency at a property servicing one commercial or industrial and/or any access point servicing more than one residence shall be installed to the following minimum guidelines.

            506.5.1 General:

1. There shall be two site plans filed with the Wright City Fire Protection District.
2. Plans shall indicate measurements, location, type or gate/barrier and direction of swing.
3. Plan shall indicate location of Rapid Access Key Switch and/or Padlock.
4. The gate shall be equipped with an approved opening device.
5. The gate shall be equipped with a currently approved Rapid Access Key Switch of the “Knox” 3500 series or and approved Rapid Access Padlock of the “Knox” 3700 series.
6. Chained gates shall include both a padlock of the owner’s choice and a Rapid Access Padlock that interlocks with each other.
7. Opening for both ingress and egress of vehicles shall be a minimum 13’6” in height and a minimum of 15’ in width for single lane.
8. The minimum inside turning radius shall be 17’ with an outside radius of 38’ for the exterior and interior approach to the gate.
9. Key Switch or Padlock shall be identified by a red sign with white reflective letters not less than ½” letters reading “FIRE DEPT.”
10. A minimum of 25’ unobstructed setback is required from a gate to the first right turn to allow apparatus clearance.

          506.5.2 Electrically Operated Gates:

1. The gate control shall be operated by an approved emergency override key switch of the “Knox” Type.
2. In the event of a power failure, the gate shall automatically open by means of battery backup and remain located open until power is restored.
3. A manual opening means of the gate shall be provided and approved by the code official.
4. Upon activation of the key switch, the gate shall remain open until returned to normal operation by means of the key switch.
5. Key switch shall be located a minimum of 40” to maximum of 60” above the roadway surface.

          506.5.3 Manually Operated Gates:

1. Gates and barriers across fire department access routes shall include an approved padlock of the “Knox” Type from the Wright City Fire Protection District.
2. Gate shall be able to be opened by one person.
3. Gates or immediate surrounding shall be inscribed with the name of the subdivision, building, and/or other structures serviced by the said gate.

506.6 Requirements for “RAPID ENTRY” Boxes “Knox Type”: Rapid Entry Boxes of the Knox Type shall be required in all new and existing buildings or structures of Use Group A, B, E, F, I, M, and S. In all new and existing R-1 and R-2 Use Groups except where each dwelling unit has an exit directly to the exterior.

506.7 Location of “Rapid Entry” Box: The Box shall be installed at the primary fire department entrance. The box shall be visible and accessible to the fire department and shall be installed not less than 42 inches and no more than 54 inches above the finished grade and within 10 feet of the main entrance. “Rapid Entry” boxes shall be installed prior to an Occupancy Permit being issued from the Wright City Fire Protection District on all new construction as of the effective date of this ordinance. The Rapid Entry box shall be identified with a red sign with white reflective letters not less than ½” in height reading “FIRE DEPT”.

506.8 Owner’s Responsibility:
506.8.1 Rapid Entry Box: All owners of new and existing buildings or structures after the effective date of this ordinance shall be required to have a “Rapid Entry” lock box and shall be responsible for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the boxes. No person other than the Wright City Fire Protection District personnel shall remove keys. The keys in the “Rapid Entry” box shall open any and all locks on the premises. It shall be the owner’s responsibility to notify the Fire Chief and/or his/her designee of any key changes. The “Rapid Entry” key box shall be purchased through the Wright City Fire Protection District and shall be of the 3200 series style box. Upon completion of the installation the owner shall contact the Fire Chief and/or his/her designee to replace the cover and insert the properly labeled key in the box.

506.8.2 Rapid Access Key Switch or Padlock: All owners of new and existing buildings, structures and/or gates after the effective date of this ordinance shall be required to have a “Rapid Access” key switch and/or key padlock of the “Knox Type”. Owners shall be responsible for the purchase, installation, and maintenance of the key switch and/or key padlock. It shall be the owner’s responsibility to notify the Fire Official and/or his/her designee of any malfunction or damage to the key switch and/or key padlock. The “Rapid Access” key switch and/or padlock shall be purchased through the Wright City Fire Protection District and shall be of the 3500 series key switch and/or 3700 series key padlock.

508.5.1 Fire Hydrant: Dry Hydrant, Dry Stand Pipes, Yard Hydrants, and Public Fire Hydrants shall be installed, located, and protected as directed by the Fire Official or his/her designated representative and shall conform to the material and installation specifications as developed by the Fire District.

508.5.1.2 Installation of other new Fire Hydrants: No person shall install or cause to be installed any fire hydrant within the District, unless the location thereof, and the design and type of hydrant, including the threads and outlets thereof shall first have been approved by the Fire Official.

508.5.1.3 Placement of Fire Hydrants and Prohibition of obstructing Fire Hydrants: All fire hydrants shall be places within ten (10) feet of a roadway and not closer than forty (40) feet to any building, however will be allowed within residential subdivisions at the discretion of the fire official. Where fire hydrants are to be installed in areas where vehicles would be parked or standing, said vehicle parking or standing should be restricted to ten (10) feet in each direction from the fire hydrant to the center of the public or private passageway. No person shall place a structure within forty (40) feet of a fire hydrant or obstruct or block the use of a hydrant in any manner. No person shall place any object within fifteen (15) feet of the hose connections, or between the steamer cap and the nearest point on the centerline of the adjoining roadway or within five (5) feet from the rear of the hydrant. Hydrant shall be minimum of 18” and maximum of 36” off the ground from grade to the center of the discharge outlet.

 508.5.1.4 Installation Requirements: Fire Hydrants shall be installed according to the aforesaid plat or development plan, as approved by the Fire Official, and that such installation will be made as nearly forthwith as may be practicable. Fire hydrants shall be installed on water mains not less than six (6) inches in diameter in residential areas of single family construction and not less than eight (8) inches in diameter in multi-family, commercial, or industrial construction areas. As may be approved by the Fire Official hydrants shall be installed at spacing of six hundred feet (600’) of separation from hydrant to hydrant, and in other areas, including multi-family, commercial and industrial areas, at spacing of three hundred (300’) from hydrant to hydrant. Incases where special fire hazards exist, such as, but not limited to, buildings or structures where highly combustible materials are stored, used or installed, smaller spacing my be required between fire hydrants, as approved by the Fire Official. In any case on commercial buildings at least 1 fire hydrant must exist within 200ft of the building on a fire apparatus road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building.

Commercial buildings, which have a fire suppression system, must also be served by an approved fire hydrant not farther than one hundred feet (100’) from the fire department connection. All public and private fire hydrant barrels are to be painted yellow. All fire hydrant bonnets are to be painted as follows to indicate water flow:
                                   
                                    COLOR                                    WATER FLOW
                                    Blue                                         1500 or greater GPM
                                    Green                                       1000 to 1499 GPM
                                    Orange                                     500 to 999 GPM
                                    Red                                           250 to 499 GPM
                                    Black                                         0 to 249 GPM

508.5.1.5 System Design: The water supply delivery system shall be designed to deliver a minimum of 1,000 gallons per minute with twenty pounds per square inch residual pressure. The system shall be designed to sustain a fire flow rate for a period of not less than two (2) hours. The system design shall also meet all sprinkler demands.

508.5.1.6 Access: The commencement of construction of any such new development, or new building, within the district, shall be deemed to be the granting of permission by such person for entry upon such property by the water company, or other water supplier, for the installation of any such aforesaid fire hydrant and the water main leading thereto, and also to the district and the members of its staff and to its equipment, for access to such fire hydrant or hydrants which may be located upon any such property, for any reason whatever within the function of the district, in consideration of issue of building permits. All fire hydrants shall be accessible and provide to the fire protection district, at no cost for the water usage, the exercising of hydrants under emergency situations or training and shall further permit testing and record analysis for static and residual pressures and gallons of flow available.

508.5.1.7 Building Permits: The Fire Official of the District shall not approve, nor issue building permits for the construction of any such new development for so long as the owner thereof shall fail to provide for fire hydrants, or to perform any guarantees, or to permit access, according to this section. Except as herein provided, the Fire Official shall not issue a building permit unless the nearest wall of the proposed building site is within six hundred feet (600’) of a fire hydrant. The distance between a fire hydrant and the walls of a proposed building site shall be determined along public or private roadways and not across yards, fields, or other ways not open to vehicular traffic. If the installation of a fire hydrant is not reasonable and practicable and the other combinations of water sources such as dry hydrants, dry standpipes, swimming pools, and lake access are not acceptable to the Fire Official, the applicant may apply to the Fire District board of Directors for an exception. In determining whether or not the installation of a fire hydrant is reasonable and practicable many factors will be considered including, but not limited to, the degree of fire hazard to the building site and those occupying the building site. The cost of the installation of the hydrant, the number of individuals who would share the cost of installing the fire hydrant and the number of individuals who would share the benefits of the fire hydrant. If under the circumstances the installation of a fire hydrant is not reasonable and practicable as determined by the Board of Directors, the Fire Official shall issue a building permit conditioned upon the applicant either complying with this code and encumbering the land of the proposed building site with a covenant to install a fire hydrant or hydrants at that time when the installation of a fire hydrant would be reasonable and practicable.

Section 3308.1 General. The display of outdoors fireworks shall comply with this chapter and NFPA 1123. The indoor display of fireworks, including proximate audience displays and pyrotechnic special effects in motion pictures, television, theatrical, and group entertainment productions shall not be allowed in the Wright City Fire Protection District.

ADDITION APPENDIX
B: (Page 371-372) Fire Flow Requirements for buildings. It shall be adopted in its entirety.
D: (Page 375) Fire Apparatus Access Roads. It shall be adopted in its entirety.
D103.7 Insert No speed bumps will be allowed to be installed within the Wright City Fire Protection District.
D107.1 Insert 100 in place of 30 dwellings.
F: (Page 385) Hazard Ranking. It shall be adopted it its entirety.

R309.1 Opening protection. Openings from a private garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall not be permitted. Other openings between the garage and residence shall be equipped with a solid wood doors not less than 1 ¾ inches thick, solid or honeycomb core steel doors not less than 1 ¾ inches thick, or 20 minute fire-rated doors.

R309.2 Separation Required. The garage shall be separated from the residence and its attic area by not less than 5/8-inch firecode rated sheetrock applied to the garage side. Where the separation is a floor-ceiling assembly, the structure supporting the separation shall also be protected by not less than 5/8 inch firecode rated sheetrock.

Addition: R310.1.5 (Page 49) Closets: Any room that can be used as a bedroom i.e., den, office, exercise room shall have an egress window and a smoke detector.
Exception: Any of the rooms i.e., den, office, exercise room that does not have a egress window shall not be allowed to have any type of closet, but still shall have a smoke detector.

Addition: R313 (Page 52) R313 Carbon monoxide Detectors:
R313.1 General: The provisions of this section are intended to provide a reasonable degree of safety to persons occupying new and existing buildings or structures from exposures to dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.

R313.2 Definitions: The following words and terms shall, for the purpose of this section, and as stated elsewhere in this code, have the meanings shown herein.

1. Fossil Fuel: Shall include coal, natural gas, kerosene, oil, propane, and wood.
2. Rehabilitated: Shall mean any repair, remodeling, or reconstruction of the interior of the building or structure which requires a permit under any applicable section(s) of the building code.
3. Approved Carbon Monoxide Detector: Shall mean a carbon monoxide detector which meets the requirements of UL standard 2034.

R313.3 Detectors required: The owner of any new building or structure which is intended to be occupied as Use Group R-2, R-3 or R-4 and every building or structure within the aforementioned Use Groups which is rehabilitated or has a change in occupancy after the effective date of this ordinance, and which contains an appliance, furnace, or fireplace which utilizes a fossil fuel as its fuel source, shall install not less than one (1) approved carbon monoxide detector on each occupiable level of the building or structure. This provision does not include unfinished basements.

R313.4 Also required: All new and existing occupied buildings or structures of Use Group R-1 that contain an appliance, furnace, or fireplace which utilizes a fossil fuel as a fuel source, shall install not less than one (1) approved carbon monoxide detector on each occupiable level of the building or structure. This provision does not include unfinished basements.

R313.5 Placement of detectors: The required detectors shall be located as close to the entrance to the sleeping areas as possible.

R313.6 Unlawful to make detector inoperable: It shall be unlawful for any person to, in any way make inoperable a carbon monoxide detector required under this section, except that this provision shall not apply to any building owner, manager or agent of said building owner or manager in the normal procedures of maintenance of the detector, including battery replacement.

R313.7 Maintenance: The owner of a building or structure that is subject to the provisions of this section, shall supply, install, test, and maintain the detector in accordance with the manufacture’s recommendations. The owner shall supply all necessary equipment required for the safe operation of the carbon monoxide detectors.

Addition: Chapter 2 Definitions, as note to Basement: Note: under no circumstance can a building be classed as having more than one basement.

Addition: Section M1805.4 Pre-fabricated Fireplaces text from Ordinance 2005-3 Section 2113.21.

Addition: Section M1805.5 Solid Fuel Burning appliances text from Ordinance 2005-3 section 2114.0.

102.2.1 Buildings or structures exempt form sealed plans:

1. One family dwellings
2. A multiple family dwelling house, flat or apartment containing not more than two families; or
3. Commercial or industrial buildings or structures which provide for the employment, sleeping, assembly, housing or feeding of not more than nine persons; or
4. Any one structure containing less than twenty thousand cubic feet, except as provided in B, or C above, and which is not a par or a portion of a project which contains more than one structure; or
5. A building is or structure used exclusively for farm purposes. When the quality of materials is essential for conformity to this code, specific information shall be given to the fire official who may waive the requirement for filing plans when the work involved is of a minor nature.