Ord 075-2002 9/3/2002 ORDINANCE NO. r15---c9-(20,
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WICHITA
FALLS, TEXAS, AMENDING PART II OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES,
AT CHAPTER 22, BUILDINGS AND BUILDING REGULATIONS,
ARTICLE XI, RESIDENTIAL CODES FOR ONE- OR TWO-FAMILY
DWELLINGS, AT SECTION 22-701, CHANGES, DELETIONS AND
AMENDMENTS, TO REQUIRE SMOKE ALARMS THAT ARE BOTH
BATTERY OPERATED AND DIRECT WIRED; FINDING AND
DETERMINING THAT THE MEETING AT WHICH THIS ORDINANCE
WAS PASSED WAS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC AS REQUIRED BY LAW.
WHEREAS, at its meeting of August 6, 2002, the Wichita Falls City Council
passed and approved Ordinance No. 64-2002, amending the Code of Ordinances at
Chapter 22, Buildings and Building Regulations, by the addition of Article XI,
Residential Codes for One or Two-Family Dwellings, to adopt the International Council
Code's International Residential Code for One- or Two-Family Dwellings, 2000; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council now desires to amend such ordinance to require
the installation in new construction of smoke alarms that are both battery operated and
direct wired.
WHEREAS, the City Council also wishes to recognize a provision for battery
operated alarms in buildings without commercial power.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, THAT:
SECTION 1. Part II of the Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, at Chapter 22,
Buildings and Building Regulations, Article XI, Residential Codes for One- or Two-
Family Dwellings, is hereby amended at Section 22-701 as that section regulates
smoke alarms, so that such portion of Section 22-701 shall hereafter read as follows:
"Sec. 22-701. Changes, deletions and amendments.
Chapter 3, Building Planning, Section R317, Smoke Alarms, at R317.2, Power
Source, shall be amended to read as follows:
R317.2. Power Source. In new construction, the required smoke alarms shall
receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is served from a
commercial source, and when primary power is interrupted, shall receive power from a
battery. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than those
required for overcurrent protection. Smoke alarms shall be permitted to be battery
operated when installed in buildings without commercial power or in buildings that
undergo alterations, repairs or additions regulated by Section R317.1.1."
SECTION 2. No other portion of Section 22-701 of Chapter 22, Article XI of the
Wichita Falls Code of Ordinances, as adopted by the Wichita Falls City Council on
August 6, 2002, by Ordinance No. 64-2002, is affected by this amendment.
SECTION 3. It is hereby officially found and determined that the meeting at
which this ordinance was passed was open to the public as required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED this the 3rd day of September, 2002.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
I . :
•ity Clerk