International Fire Code

The International Fire Code, adopted by the City of Springfield states that "Every room or space that is an assembly occupancy shall have the occupant load of the room or space posted in a conspicuous place, near the main exit or exit access doorway from the room or space." IFC 1004.3

The occupancy load must be established by a Licensed Architect, and is reviewed by Building Development Services for the City of Springfield. The occupancy load allowance is based on occupant egress and other life safety factors. An occupancy load exceeding the posted maximum occupant load for an individual room or building shall be considered an unsafe condition and will be addressed by immediately reducing the number of occupants in the room or building, and may result in additional measures including the issuance of a court summons.

This code is intended for the safety of you and your patrons.

For additional information, contact the Springfield Fire Department 864-1500 or Building Development Services 864-1055.

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Smoke Alarm Regulations for Rental Property

The fire code adopted by the City of Springfield requires that owners/landlords of rental property provide smoke alarms in property rented or leased or otherwise provided to the public for housing or sleeping accommodations. These code requirements are not intended to burden property owners but, rather, to provide a minimum of life safety protection to tenants.

Following is a list of responsibilities regarding the placement of smoke alarms in rental property and the relevant code references. These are the general regulations that cover the smoke alarm requirements for residential rental property. There are additional regulations which cover transient accommodations and other types of rental units. Please contact the fire administration office at 864-1500 if you have any questions regarding your responsibility for the installation of smoke alarms in your rental property.

Sec. 74-271. Responsibilities of owner.

The owner of the building shall supply and install all required smoke alarms. The owner shall test and maintain in a fully operable condition all smoke alarms in common areas. No owner shall rent, lease or let any dwelling unit or room that does not have functional and working alarms at the time of occupancy. The tenant shall sign a statement signifying that all smoke alarms were in fully operative condition on the date of lease. The owner shall be responsible for providing each tenant with written information regarding alarm testing and maintenance. The owner shall not be liable for any damages caused from the smoke alarm being tampered with or disabled in any way by the tenant.

(Code 1981, § 18-80(a))

Sec. 74-272. Responsibilities of tenant.

The tenant shall provide and maintain functional batteries for each battery powered smoke alarm and shall not disconnect the electrical source from electrically powered smoke alarms. The tenant shall not remove or relocate any smoke alarm installed by the owner. The tenant shall test and maintain alarms within the dwelling unit or room and notify the owner or agent in writing of any deficiencies.

(Code 1981, § 18-80(b))

Sec. 74-273. Location.

Smoke alarms shall be located to comply with the International Fire Code/2006, the International Building Code/2006 and the International Residential Code/2006.

(Code 1981, § 18-80(c); G.O. No. 5074, § 2, 4-2-2001)

Click here for how Ord. No. 5074 works

Sec. 74-274. Quality.

Smoke alarms shall comply with the standards set forth in the International Fire Code/2006, the International Building Code/2006 and the International Residential Code/2006.

(Code 1981, § 18-80(d); G.O. No. 5074, § 2, 4-2-2001)

Click here for how Ord. No. 5074 works

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LP Gas and Charcoal Grills

Effective July 1, 2001 if you live in an apartment building that has 3 or more apartments you are prohibited from operating an open-flame cooking device (LP Gas or Charcoal) on a combustible balcony or within 10 feet of combustible construction. (Section 308.3.1 IFC)

Exceptions:
1. One- and two-family dwellings
2. Where buildings and decks are protected by an automatic sprinkler system

LP-gas burners having a LP-gas container with a water capacity greater than 2.5 pounds (nominal 1 pound LP-gas capacity) shall not be located on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction. (Section 308.3.1.1 IFC)

On April 30, 2001 the City Council for the City of Springfield adopted Council Bill # 2001-088, the adoption of the 2000 Edition of the International Fire Code, for the purpose of safeguarding life, and property in the City of Springfield, Missouri from hazards of fire and explosions.

The National Fire Data Center estimates in 1998 outside cooking grills caused 6,000 fires, 5 fatalities, 170 injuries, and $35 million in property loss. In 2000 Springfield had 7 fires related to the use of gas-fueled and charcoal cooking grills.

This code is intended for the safety of you and your neighbors!

For additional information you can contact the Springfield Fire Department at 864-1500.

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Fireworks

In the City of Springfield fireworks are prohibited and may be confiscated by authorities.

Section 3301.1.3 of the adopted City Fire Code states the possession, manufacture, storage, offer or exposure for sale, selling at retail, handling and discharge of fireworks are prohibited. An exception is granted for the use of the fireworks for a public display with a valid permit.

Novelty items, described as snappers, party poppers, toy smoke devices or glowworms, and some sparklers, have been declassified as explosives from the DOT Hazardous Materials Regulations as explosives or fireworks and would be legal to possess, sell, store, and discharge inside the City of Springfield's city limits.

Each year, thousands of Americans, half of them children, are treated in emergency rooms for fireworks-caused injuries.

54% of the children injured by fireworks are under the supervision of adults.
26% of the children injured by fireworks are simply bystanders.
10% of the children injured by fireworks suffer permanent damage.
24% of the children injured by fireworks suffer eye injuries.
24% of the children injured by fireworks suffer injury to the hands.
(Source-National Fire Protection Association)

This code is intended for the safety of you and your neighbor!

For additional information, contact the Springfield Fire Department at 864-1500.

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Fire Apparatus Access Road or Fire Lane Blocking

The City of Springfield has an ordinance against the blocking of a Fire Apparatus Access Road or Fire Lane.

Section 503.4 IFC

Fire apparatus access roads shall not be obstructed in any manner, including the parking of vehicles. The minimum widths and clearances established in Section 503.2.1 shall be maintained at all times.

Fire Access Roads or Fire Lanes must be unobstructed so the fire department may gain access to a building or structure for rescue, emergency, evacuation, and firefighting operations.

This code is intended not only for your safety, but the safety of others.

For additional information you can contact the Springfield Fire Department at 864-1500.

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Building Surveys / Inspections

The Springfield Fire Department has the responsibility and authority to inspect businesses for fire hazards within the City of Springfield from the City Fire Code. The Fire Code states that the Code Official (the Fire Chief or his approved designee) shall inspect all buildings other than R-1 residentials within his jurisdiction. The designee may be a fire department employee or another approved inspector.

Annually, businesses within the City of Springfield will receive a Self-Inspection letter in the mail. This Self-Inspection Program gives the business owner the opportunity to self inspect their business for fire and safety hazards, also update fire department records with emergency contact numbers. In addition, the staff may follow up the self-inspection forms with a telephone call to the business owner to see if they had any problems with the forms or questions regarding the fire code.

All businesses within the City of Springfield are placed on a 5 year or less rotating building survey/inspection list, which the fire crews physically go through the buildings and perform a fire and safety inspection, also obtain occupant information to be used in the case of an emergency.

If the names or phone number of your contact person should change, or you have any questions regarding the Fire Code or inspections, please contact the Springfield Fire Department at 864-1500.

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