The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutOrdinance No. 2025-020 An Ordinance of the City of Arlington, Washington Amending Title 15 of the Arlington Municipal Code Pertaining to Section 15.24.040 Fire Sprinkler SystemsORDINANCE NO. 2025-020 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON AMENDING TITLE 15 OF THE ARLINGTON MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO SECTION 15.24.040 FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS WHEREAS, the City of Arlington, Washington has the authority to adopt ordinances for the general welfare and safety of its citizens; and WHEREAS, certain provisions of the Arlington Municipal Code require revision; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Arlington has requested revisions be made to Section 15.24.040 — Fire Sprinkler Systems of Title 15 — Fire Regulations. NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of Arlington do hereby ordain as follows: Section 1. Arlington Municipal Code Section 15.24.040 shall be and hereby is adopted to read as set forth in "Exhibit A". Section 2. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this ordinance be pre-empted by state or federal law or regulations, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances. Section 3. Effective Date. The title of this ordinance which summarizes the contents shall be published in the official newspaper of the City. This ordinance shall take effect and be in full force five (5) days after the date of publication as provided by law. PASSED BY the City Council and APPROVED by the Mayor this 17th day of November, 003.1 C, Y Ci ARLINGTON D n E. Vanney, ayor Attest: �a Wendy Van' er Meersche, City Clerk Approved as to form: V Oskar E. Rey City Attorney 1, Wendy Van Der Meersche, being the duly appointed City Clerk of the City of Arlington, Washington, a municipal corporation, do hereby certify that the following Ordinance No. 2025-020 was approved at the November 17, 2025 City Council meeting. "AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ARLINGTON, WASHINGTON amin t--R1y1MMz=M12M* Wendy Vaff Der Meerseh�- City Clerk for the City of Arlington 16.24.040 - Fire Sprinkler Systems A. The following regulations constitute general requirements for fire sprinkler systems: 1. All approved fire sprinkler systems shall meet the requirements of the most current version of the International Fire Code, International Building Code, International Residential Code and the applicable NFPA standards. All systems shall have an adequate water supply, system of piping, and sprinkler heads designed to discharge water on a fire at an appropriate time and in an effective manner, and be installed in conformance with NFPA 13, 13D and 13R requirements. All underground sprinkler supply piping shall be included on civil drawings and shall be approved by the city of Arlington fire code official. B. For the purposes of this section, building area, as defined in the IFC, shall apply. C. Where Required. An approved fire sprinkler system shall be required in the following structures: 1. Commercial. An area separation wall or fire wall, or occupancy separation or fire barrier wall, or a distance of 10 feet (3,048 mm) or less shall not constitute separation between two commercial structures on the same property. 2. In any non -habitable structure where the building area is 3,000 square feet or more. These can include bus and transit shelters, covered pedestrian paths, and similar structures not attached to or within 10 feet (3,048 mm) of buildings. Exception: Fire sprinklers are allowed to be omitted under roof structures when all of the following conditions exist: i. Roof structures are stand-alone, detached, and built with noncombustible building materials. ii. Used to provide weather protection for people. iii. Are open on greater than 50 percent of the perimeter sides to allow ventilation of heat and smoke. iv. Are not intended to store combustibles or have combustible materials contained beneath the roof line. The roof structure shall not extend over any transit vehicle or curb. v. When no other code or applicable standard requires fire sprinklers. 3. In any structure where the calculated fire flow demand exceeds available flow. 4. In buildings with an A-2 occupancy where one or more of the following exists: i. An occupant load greater than 100. ii. An A-2 fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge. All nightclubs, defined as follows: Nightclub. An A-2 occupancy use under the 2021 International Building Code in which the aggregate area of concentrated use of unfixed chairs and standing space that is specifically designated and primarily used for dancing or viewing performers exceeds 350 square feet, excluding adjacent lobby areas. "Nightclub" does not include theaters with fixed seating, banquet halls, or lodge halls. 5. In any building with an assembly occupancy where the total occupant load of the building is over200. 6. Existing commercial buildings where one of the following applies: Additions resulting in a gross area greater than 3,000 square feet, or Sprinklers may be required in buildings that undergo a change of use or occupancy. Refer to the International Fire Code Section 102.3. 7. Residential - One- and Two -Family Dwellings. i. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in new one - and two-family dwellings as described in the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 of the International Fire Code or as updated by the International Fire Code. Exception: This subsection does not require the installation of an approved fire sprinkler system in any mobile home or manufactured home. This exception is limited to this subsection and nothing herein exempts a mobile home or manufactured home from any other requirement to install an approved automatic fire sprinkler system under any other section or subsection of this code or of any international code adopted by the City. ii. When an existing detached one- and two-family dwelling units, as described in the International Residential Code in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3 of the International Fire Code or as updated by the International Fire Code, proposes improvements to the structure the following thresholds determine if the existing structure requires an automatic fire sprinkler system to be installed. If the applicant answers "Yes" to any of the following then an automatic fire sprinkler system is required to be installed. a. An addition to an existing dwelling resulting in gross floor greater than 3,600 gross square feet. Gross floor area is based on Snohomish County Assessor information or if incorrect, the actual square footage may be certified by a licensed architect. b. An addition to a dwelling unit resulting in a 100% or greater increase in gross floor area. c. A dwelling is expanded or altered, and the access roadway exceeds 150 feet to all portions of the building. d. An addition to a dwelling is in a low flow area that exceeds the available and required fire flow. e. The grade of the access roadway (on or off site) is greater than 10%. f. The access roadway is less than 14 feet wide. g. The access roadway surface is not an all-weather surface (concrete or asphalt). h. The distance of the dwelling unit to the nearest hydrant is greater than 300 feet. i. The total construction costs on all building permits within a three-year period exceeds the Snohomish County assessed value of the structure at the beginning of a three-year period; or j. A non -conforming structure that has been destroyed, damaged or incurred a loss greater than 50 percent of its Snohomish County assessed value. iii. When ADUs are attached to, or within, an existing single-family home both the ADU and existing single family home shall be sprinklered. Exception: When the ADU and existing single family home are separated in accordance with the International Residential Code, Section 302.3 or is under the thresholds listed in AMC 15.24.040 (C)(7)(ii). iv. In all one- and two-family dwelling units that will be newly licensed as an adult family home. v. Where required elsewhere by the Arlington Fire Code or the International Building Code. {OE R4931-3759-6999;2/13217.000006/1