Athens City Code

1. (1) The fire chief may recommend to the city council variances from the provisions of the fire code upon application in writing by any property owner or lessee, or the duly authorized agent of either, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the fire code, provided that the spirit of the fire code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such variances when granted or allowed shall be contained in a resolution of the city council.
2. (2) The fire code adopted in ACC 7-21 is modified by requiring automatic sprinkler systems in future commercial, industrial, and residential occupancies having a gross floor area of 10,000 square feet or greater and requiring an automatic sprinkler system in hazards production material (HPM) facilities as defined by the adopted building code. All automatic sprinkler systems shall be designed by a licensed engineer or architect and shall conform to NFPA 13 requirements and to the building code sprinkler requirements. The sprinkler requirements shall be made a part of the plans and specifications submitted for approval and shall be installed by a state licensed automatic sprinkler system contractor. The city will not require sprinklers in one- and two-family residences with less than 10,000 gross square feet. Sprinklers will be required in three-unit townhouses with 5,000 gross square feet or more and townhouses built with four or more units regardless of square footage.

(Code 1972, § 7-205; Code 1995, § 7-204; Ord. No. 824, § 1, 12-17-1996; Ord. No. 991, 8-17-2010)