19920714 1992-22ORDINANCE NO. 1992-
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 9-7 OF
ARTICLE I, CHAPTER 9 OF THE CODE OF THE
CITY OF FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA CONCERNING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS OF CHAPTER 9
AND THE VIRGINIA STATEWIDE FIRE
PREVENTION CODE; AMENDING SECTION 9-14
OF ARTICLE III, CHAPTER 9 OF THE CITY
CODE CONCERNING LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE
FIRE PREVENTION CODE, INCLUDING
SUSPENSION AND INVALIDATION OF PERMITS,
PERSONS OR ENTITIES RESPONSIBLE FOR
COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE, DEFINITIONS,
SPILLS AND LEAKS, DRIVER RESPONSIBILITY,
AND SAFETY ATTENDANT; AMENDING SECTION
9-19 OF ARTICLE IV, CHAPTER 9 OF THE
CITY CODE CONCERNING APPEALS FROM
ACTIONS OF THE FIRE MARSHAL; AMENDING
SECTION 9-26 OF ARTICLE V, CHAPTER 9 OF
THE CITY CODE CONCERNING AUTHORITY OF
FIRE MARSHAL; REDESIGNATING AND AMENDING
SECTION 9-27 OF ARTICLE V, CHAPTER 9
CONCERNING EMERGENCY PLANS; AND
REPEALING SECTIONS 9-28 AND 9-29 OF
ARTICLE V, CHAPTER 9 OF THE CITY CODE
CONCERNING PENALTIES AND WAIVER OF
PROVISIONS.
1. BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of
Fairfax, Virginia that Section 9-7, Article I, Chapter 9 of
the Code of the City of Fairfax is hereby amended to read in
its entirety as follows:
Section 9-7. Penalty.
Except as otherwise noted, any person, firm or
corporation who shall violate any of the sections of
this chapter, including any sections of the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code adopted by section 9-13,
and any additions to the Virginia Fire Prevention Code
adopted by section 9-14 or shall fail to comply
therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with
any order made thereunder, or who shall fail to comply
with such an order within the time fixed therein shall
separately for each and every such violation and
noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a violation of
this chapter, and shall, upon conviction, be guilty of
a Class 1 misdemeanor. Each day that a violation
continues after a service of notice as provided for in
this Code shall be deemed a separate offense.
2. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that a new Subsection F-104.7.1,
Section 9-14, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code of the City
of Fairfax is hereby added to read in its entirety as
follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
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F-104.7.1. Suspension of permit: Add Subsection F-
104.7.1 as follows:
The local fire official may suspend a permit or
approval under the SFPC if a violation of this code or
ordinance under the fire official's jurisdiction may
pose an imminent and substantial endangerment to life,
limb or property. In the event that a permit or
approval is suspended, the permit holder or operator
shall have the right to appeal, the procedures for
which shall be those in section F-105.0. Pending the
appeal in a case where the violation may not pose an
imminent and substantial endangerment to life, limb or
property of any person, the suspension of the permit or
approval shall be stayed by the Board. Suspensions
under this subsection shall remain in effect until the
cause of the violation has been ascertained and
rectified to meet the requirements of this code or
other ordinance under the fire official's jurisdiction
as determined by the fire official.
3. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that a Subsection F-104.8, Section 9-
].4, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of
Fairfax is hereby amended to read in its entirety as
follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
F-104.S. Invalidation of permit: A permit shall
become invalid if the authorized activity is not
commenced within six months after issuance of the
permit, or if the authorized activity is suspended or
abandoned for a period of six months after the time of
commencement.
4. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that a new Subsection F-107.6.1,
Article I, Section 9-14, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code
of the City of Fairfax is hereby added to read in its
entirety as follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
F-107.$.1. Person(s) Responsible.
A person in charge of, in control of or responsible for
any building, structure, vehicle, device, other
property, substance, material, gas, liquid, chemical or
condition regulated either by this code or by an
ordinance under the fire official's jurisdiction shall
be responsible for compliance with all such code and
ordinance provisions and regulations relating thereto.
1992-22
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5. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Subsection F-201.0, Article 2,
Section 9-14, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code of the City
of Fairfax is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewlde Fire Prevention Code.
F-Z01.0. General Definitions. Add to this section the
following definition in its entirety:
Immediately: The term "immediately" shall mean without
delay.
6. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Subsections F-2801.9 and F-
2809.2.3, Article 28, Section 9-14, Article III, Chapter 9
of the Code of the City of Fairfax are hereby amended to
read in their entirety as follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
F-2SOL.9. Spills and Leaks. Delete the entire subsection
and substitute the following:
Any person in charge who witnesses, discovers, or
otherwise has knowledge of a spill, leak, or other
release of flammable or combustible liquids shall
immediately report such spill, leak, or release to the
fire official.
A person in charge shall initiate appropriate
procedures to contain and clean up such a spill, leak
or release. The owner, operator, and other person in
charge of the premises where the spill or leak occurs
or of the equipment or vehicle from which the spill or
leak emanates, shall be responsible for the containment
and clean up of the flammable or combustible, liquid and
containment of the vapors released therefrom to the
satisfaction of the fire official and for the disposal
of waste.
A written report describing the cause, location and
amount of the spill, leak or release, and describing
the containment and cleanup actions related thereto
shall be submitted by the owner, operator or permit
holder to the fire official within seven (7) calendar
days after the spill, leak or release.
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For the purposes of this subsection, the phrase "Person
in Charge" shall mean any firm, corporation, or person,
even a person of low rank or authority, who is solely
or jointly in control of all or any portion of a
premises, facility, building, structure, vehicle,
device, other property, substance, material, gas,
liquid, chemical or condition regulated by this code.
A person in charge includes an owner, operator, permit
holder, tenant, occupant, manager, employee, agent,
contractor, attendant or other person.
F-2809.2.3. Driver responsibility.
2809.2.3 as follows:
Add subsection F-
At all times before, during, and after the discharging
of any flammable or combustible liquid from any tank
vehicle, the driver, operator or attendant of such
vehicle shall take all necessary precautions to prevent
the overflow of any tank or other equipment into which
such vehicle is discharging flammable or combustible
liquids. At all times before, during, and after the
receiving of any flammable or combustible liquid into
any tank vehicle, the driver, operator or attendant of
such vehicle shall take all necessary precautions to
prevent the overflow of such tank vehicle or other
equipment into which flammable or combustible liquids
are received. As used in this section, the term
"overflow" includes spillage of flammable or
combustible liquids from any cause whether or not the
tank or other equipment is filled to capacity.
7. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Subsection 9-27 of Article V,
Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of Fairfax is hereby
redesignated as Subsection F-2810.2, Article 28, Section 9-
14, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of
Fairfax, and is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
F-2810.2. Emergency Plans. Add the following subsection:
Every operator of a facility with one or more tanks
shall prepare, maintain, and at all times fully comply
in all respects with the approved emergency plan for
that facility which shall meet the requirements of
NFiPA 30 and include the following:
(a) Procedures for the immediate notification of the
fire official in the event of:
(1) The ignition of combustible or flammable
liquids, or
(2) Conditions indicating the reasonable
likelihood of such ignition, including but not
limited to tank leaks, and combustible or
flammable liquid spills;
1992-22
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(b) On-site emergency response procedures in such
event; and
(c) Procedures to accomplish the requirements of this
section.
(d) Such emergency plans shall be submitted to and
approved by the fire official prior to the issuance of
a hazardous use permit to operate a facility with a
tank or tanks. In the case of a proposed reissuance of
a hazardous use permit to operate a facility with a
tank or tanks, such emergency plan shall be submitted
to the fire official not later than sixty (60) days
before such reissuance is to take place. Within thirty
(30) days of the fire official's receipt of such plan,
the fire official shall approve such plan, or
disapprove such plan indicating proposed amendments to
such plan which would allow its approval. No hazardous
use permit shall be reissued unless the fire official
has approved the emergency plan for the facility for
which the hazardous use permit is applicable.
8. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that a new Subsection F-2810.3, Article
28, Section 9-14, Article III, Chapter 9 of the Code of the
City of Fairfax, is hereby added to read in its entirety as
follows:
Section 9-14. Additions, deletions to the Virginia
Statewide Fire Prevention Code.
F-2810.3. Safety attendant.
follows:
Add Subsection F-2810.3 as
(a) Each bulk plant and terminal, as defined in NFiPA
30, shall have a designated trained and competent
safety attendant present on-site and on-duty at all
times when flammable or combustible liquids are
received, transferred, dispensed or loaded from a
pipeline, tank, container, vehicle or other vessel.
Individuals receiving, transferring, dispensing or
loading such liquids to or from tank vehicles shall not
be designated as safety attendants.
(b) The safety attendant shall observe or monitor the
receipt, transfer, dispensing and loading of such
liquids.
(c) The safety attendant shall assure compliance with
all federal, state and local laws, ordinances and
safety requirements including, but not limited to, the
approved emergency plan of the plant or terminal. The
safety attendant shall be knowledgeable about such
laws, ordinances, requirements and plan, including such
requirements concerning fire safety, emergency response
and spill or leak notification.
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(d) The safety attendant shall be familiar with the
location and operation of all pump controls, emergency
shut-off devices, and other safety equipment, and shall
be responsible for using such equipment to detect,
prevent, and abate, or cause to be abated, any
emergency situation.
(e) At all times while on duty, the safety attendant
shall be mentally and physically capable of
immediately:
(1) taking all necessary, appropriate and
required action to detect and prevent a fire,
explosion, spill or leak;
(2) taking all necessary, appropriate and
required action in the event of a fire, explosion,
spill or leak; and
(3) performing the functions and assuming the
responsibilities required by this section.
9. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Section 9-19, Article IV, Chapter
9 of the Code of the City of Fairfax, is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
Section 9-19. Appeals from actions of the fire marshal.
Appeals from actions of the fire marshal shall be in
accordance with the currently applicable Statewide Fire
Prevention Code.
10. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Section 9-26, Article V, Chapter 9
of the Code of the City of Fairfax, is hereby amended to
read in its entirety as follows:
Section 9-26. Authority of the fire marshal.
(a) The fire marshal or his duly authorized
representative shall administer and enforce this article.
(b) The fire marshal shall have the authority to adopt
and enforce reasonable guidelines and procedures pertaining
to the requirements of this article, including but not
limited to alarms, inspections, emergency plans, and
reports. The fire marshal shall make available to the
public draft guidelines and procedures pertaining to the
requirements of this article, and shall mail copies of such
draft guidelines and procedures to all known persons
directly subject to such draft guidelines and procedures.
Within thirty (30) days after the issuance of such draft
guidelines and procedures any person may submit written
comments on such draft guidelines and procedures to the fire
marshal. The fire marshal shall thereafter establish an
effective date for the guidelines and procedures and any
amendments thereto, and provide copies to owners and
operators. Enforcement of the guidelines by the fire
marshal is subject to appeal pursuant to the procedures set
forth in Section 9-14, F-105.0 of this chapter.
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11. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that Sections 9-28 and 9-29 of Article
V, Chapter 9 of the Code of the City of Fairfax are hereby
repealed in their entirety.
12. BE IT FURTHER ORDAINED by the City Council of the City
of Fairfax, Virginia that the remaining sections and
subsections of Chapter 9 shall continue to read as
previously enacted.
This ordinance shall become effective as provided by
law, with the exception of Section F-2810.3, which shall
become effective 30 days after signature hereof by the
Mayor.
INTRODUCED:
May 26, 1992
PUBLIC HEARING:
June 9, 1992
ADOPTED:
July 14, 1992
MAYOR
DATE
ATTEST: