1 Del. Admin. Code § 701
DELAWARE STATE FIRE PREVENTION COMMISSION
700 Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations
701 Administration and Enforcement
1.1 Adoption
1.3 Application, Validity, Retroactivity, Limitations, Liability, and Adopted References
1.3.1 These regulations shall apply to all buildings, structures, marine vessels, premises, and conditions which are erected or modified.
1.3.1.2 The provisions of these regulations do not apply to one and two family dwellings in the normal use or maintenance of those, except to the extent that specific sections require application of these regulations to one and two family dwellings.
1.3.5 Technical details regarding processes, methods, specifications, equipment testing and maintenance, design standards, performance, installation, or other pertinent criteria as contained in those codes and standards published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) shall be considered a part of these regulations.
1.4 Review and Updating of Regulations
1.5 Authority
1.5.1 These regulations shall be administered and enforced by the State Fire Marshal throughout the State of Delaware pursuant to 16Del.C.Ch. 66.
1.5.1.3 Notwithstanding any other provisions of these regulations, the State Fire Marshal in the enforcement of these regulations may:
1.5.2 Right of entry shall be granted to the full extent permitted by law. The State Fire Marshal is authorized at all reasonable times to enter and examine any building, marine vessel, vehicle, or premises for the purposes of making fire safety inspections. Before entering a private building or dwelling, the State Fire Marshal shall obtain the consent of the occupant or obtain a search warrant authorizing entry for the purpose of inspection except in those instances where an emergency exists. As used in this section, "emergency" means circumstances which the State Fire Marshal knows, or has reason to believe exist, and which reasonably may constitute immediate and grave danger to life or property.
1.6 Enforcement Provisions
1.6.3 Violation Procedures
1.6.3.2 Except those that present immediate danger to life, written notice is required whenever the State Fire Marshal finds any violation of these regulations.
1.7 Request for alternatives to these regulations
1.7.2 The State Fire Marshal may accept alternatives to specific systems, conditions, arrangements, materials, or equipment required by these regulations. Alternatives shall afford an equivalent level of fire safety, in the opinion of the State Fire Marshal.
1.7.2.4 The applicant shall have the right to appeal the decision of the State Fire Marshal in accordance with subsection 1.9 of this regulation
1.8 Procedures of Appeal
1.8.1 Filing of appeals shall follow the following procedures:
1.8.1.3 All appeals that originate from enforcement action by 1 of the Assistant State Fire Marshals, from the jurisdictions as defined16Del.C.§6612(c), shall be reviewed by the State Fire Marshal with the jurisdictional Assistant State Fire Marshal, to determine if, in fact, the State Fire Prevention regulations appear to have been appropriately interpreted and applied to the case in question.
1.8.4 Stay
1.8.5 All appeals, unless dismissed by the State Fire Prevention Commission as unfounded, shall, if reasonably possible, be heard by the Commission within 3 months after they are filed. The time and place of the hearing shall be fixed by the State Fire Prevention Commission.
1.8.6 Continuance Requests
1.8.8 Hearings shall follow the procedures in subsections 1.8.8.1-1.8.8.11.
1.8.8.1 All testimony shall be recorded by an electronic recording device and the record shall be preserved for at least 60 days following the hearing. The party initiating the appeal or the party seeking the variance, special exception, interpretation, or other decision upon some other specific question may elect to have the proceedings transcribed by a court reporter and shall be responsible for the following:
1.8.8.5 All evidence which the State Fire Prevention Commission determines to be relevant, reliable, and not unduly repetitious shall be admissible.
1.9 Requests for a Variance to the State Fire Prevention Regulations
1.9.1 When a request for a variance, special exception, or waiver to1DE Admin. Code701-710is put before the State Fire Prevention Commission Procedures of Appeal, shall be applied.
1.9.1.1 When the State Fire Marshal agrees with the granting of the variance, then the following procedure will take place:
Words and phrases defined in this section are intended for use with1DE Admin. Code701-710. Definitions set forth in any document referenced by1DE Admin. Code701-710shall be the acceptable definition for use in that document as well as any other document or section referenced. Words and phrases not specifically defined in1DE Admin. Code701-710or other referenced documents, shall be read with their context and shall be construed according to the common and approved usage of the English language. Technical words and phrases not defined herein which have acquired a particular and appropriate meaning in the industry shall be construed and understood according to the appropriate meaning.
"Accepted engineering practice" means that which conforms to accepted principles, tests, or standards of nationally recognized technical or scientific authorities.
"Addition" means any extension or increase in floor area or height of a building or structure.
"Agricultural structure" means any structure used wholly for farming purposes. Structures include barns for livestock, farm equipment storage, chicken houses/ coops, sheds for hay storage, silos, milking parlors, or personally owned animal housing. Animal housing for other than personally owned animals shall be subject to these regulations.
"Alterations" means, as applied to a building or structure, any change or rearrangement in the structural parts or in the means of egress; or an enlargement, whether by extending on a side or by increasing in height; or the moving from 1 location or position to another. Also, as applied to systems, means any change or rearrangement of any wiring, piping, part or other component, whether by extending the system; or the moving from 1 location or position to another.
"Alternative" means a system, condition, arrangement, material, or equipment submitted to the State Fire Marshal as a substitute for a requirement of these regulations.
"Approved" means acceptable to the State Fire Marshal. The State Fire Marshal may refer to the listings or labeling practices of nationally recognized testing laboratories, inspection agencies, or other organizations concerned with product evaluations which are in a position to determine compliance with appropriate standards for the current production of listed items, and the satisfactory performance of the equipment or materials in actual usage.
"Approved waste burner" means a noncombustible container in which a fire is built with no openings greater than 1/4 inch.
"Assembly occupancy" means an occupancy (1) used for a gathering of 50 or more persons for deliberation, worship, entertainment, eating, drinking, amusement, awaiting transportation, or similar uses; or (2) used as a special amusement building, regardless of occupant load. Assembly occupancy is broken down into 3 classes:
"Class A" Capacity of greater than 1,000 persons.
"Class B" Capacity of greater than 300 persons but not greater than 1,000 persons.
"Class C" Capacity of 50 or more but not greater than 300 persons.
Occupancy of any room or space for assembly purposes by less than 50 persons in a building of other occupancy shall be classified as part of the other occupancy for purposes of review under these regulations.
"Authority Having Jurisdiction" or "AHJ" means the organization, office, or individual responsible for "approving" equipment, an installation, or a procedure. In these regulations, the AHJ shall mean the State Fire Marshal.
"Automatic" means as applied to fire protection devices, is a device or system providing an emergency function without the necessity of human intervention and activated as a result of a predetermined temperature rise, rate of rise of temperature, or increase in the level of combustion products.
"Automatic fixed fire protection system" means any system which is designed and installed to detect a fire and to subsequently discharge an extinguishing agent without human activation or direction. "Automatic fixed fire protection system" does not include automatic sprinkler systems.
"Automatic sprinkler system" means for fire protection purposes, an integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. The installation includes 1 or more automatic water supplies. The portion of the sprinkler system aboveground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping installed in a building, structure, or area, generally overhead, and to which sprinklers are attached in a systematic pattern. The valve controlling each system riser is located in the system riser or its supply piping. Each sprinkler system riser includes a device for actuating an alarm when the system is in operation. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges water over the fire area.
"Basement" means any area that is more than 50% below the highest grade level.
"Building" means any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy. The term "building" shall be construed as if followed by the words "or portions thereof".
"Business occupancy" means all buildings used for the transaction of business (other than that covered under mercantile) for the keeping of accounts and records and similar purposes.
"Capable of self preservation" means as defined for use within these regulations and in conjunction with the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 3 items must be met in order to meet this definition:
3. Individuals must be capable of exiting a building under normal conditions without any assistance from others using approved fire exits only (not elevators).
"Certificate" means a written document issued by authority of the State Fire Marshal to any person to engage in any operation or act for which certification is required.
"Chairperson" means the presiding officer of the Commission, selected from among its members, pursuant to16Del.C.§6603(a).
"Combustible" means capable of undergoing combustion. A material which cannot be classified as noncombustible in accordance with that definition.
"Combustible fiber" means any material in fibrous or shredded form which will readily ignite when heat sources are present.
"Combustible liquids" means any liquid having a flash point at or above 100°F shall be known as Class II or III liquids. Combustible liquids shall be divided into the following classifications:
"Class II" Liquids having flash points at or above 100°F and below 140°F.
"Class IIIA" Liquids having flash points at or above 140°F and below 200°F.
"Class IIIB" Liquids having flash points at or above 200°F.
"Combustible refuse" means all combustible or flammable loose rubbish, litter, or waste materials generated by an occupancy which are refused, rejected, or considered worthless and are disposed of by incineration on the premises where generated or periodically transported from the premises.
"Combustible waste" means combustible or flammable loose waste materials which are generated by an establishment or process, and being salvageable, are retained for scrap for reprocessing on the premises where generated or transported to a plant for processing, including, all combustible fibers, hay, straw, hair, feathers, down, wood shavings, turnings, all types of paper products, soiled cloth trimmings and cuttings, rubber trimmings and buffings, metal fines, and any mixture of the items listed in this definition, or any other salvageable combustible or flammable waste material. This list is not exhaustive.
"Combustion" means a chemical process that involves oxidation sufficient to produce light or heat.
"Commission" means the State Fire Prevention Commission as duly appointed and authorized 16Del.C.Ch. 66.
"Condominium" is a form of ownership, not an occupancy. An example would be an apartment building. The dwelling units are owned individually, but the structure is owned by the homeowner's association (HOA).
"Design professional" means an Architect, Engineer, or Land Surveyor as defined by the statutory requirements of the Professional Registration Laws of the State of Delaware and registered to practice in the State of Delaware.
"Detention and correctional occupancy" means an occupancy used to house 1 or more persons under varied degrees of restraint or security where the occupants are mostly incapable of self preservation because of security measures not under the occupants' control.
"Duration" means that period of time during which the required fire flow shall be maintained.
"Dwelling" means a single unit providing complete and independent living facilities for 1 or more persons including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking, and sanitation.
"Educational occupancy" means an occupancy used for educational purposes through the twelfth grade by 6 or more persons for 4 or more hours per day or more than 12 hours per week.
"Elevator" means a hoisting and lowering mechanism, equipped with a car or platform, which moves in guide rails and serves 2 or more landings and is classified by the following types:
"One and two family elevator" means a passenger elevator which is limited in size, capacity, rise, and speed, and is installed in a one and two family dwelling as a means of access.
"Construction elevator" means an elevator being used temporarily, only for construction purposes.
"Freight elevator" means an elevator used primarily for carrying freight and on which only the operator and the persons necessary for unloading and loading the freight are permitted to ride.
"Observation elevator" means an elevator designed to permit exterior viewing by passengers while the car is traveling.
"Passenger elevator" means an elevator used primarily to carry persons other than the operator and persons necessary for loading and unloading.
"Existing condition" means any situation, circumstances, or physical make-up of any structure, premise, or process which was ongoing or in effect prior to the effective date of these regulations as amended.
"Explosive" means a chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion; that contains any oxidizing and combustible units, or other ingredients, in specific proportions, quantities, or packing, that an ignition by fire, by friction, by concussion, by percussion, or by detonator, of any part of the compound or mixture may cause a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or destroying life and limb.
"Explosive materials" means explosives, blasting agents, water gels (slurries), and detonators (see Explosive Materials Code, NFPA 495, for a full set of definitions).
"Exposure hazard" means the condition in which a property or structure is endangered by a fire in another property or structure.
"Fire alarm signaling system" means any system which is designed to detect the existence of fire, and any system which is either automatically or manually activated to either audibly or visually notify anyone either on or off the property or within or without the structure of a fire condition. It shall not include systems or devices which are primarily designed to suppress or extinguish a fire.
"Fire barrier" means a continuous membrane, either vertical or horizontal, such as a wall or floor assembly, that is designed and constructed with a specific fire resistance rating to limit the spread of fire, and which will also restrict the movement of smoke.
"Fire department connection" means a connection for pumping into an automatic sprinkler system or standpipe to provide additional water supply and suitable pressure.
"Fire door" means a tested, listed, or approved door and door assembly constructed and installed for the purpose of preventing the spread of fire through openings in walls, partitions, or other horizontal or vertical construction.(See Standard for Fire Doors and Fire Windows, NFPA 80).
"Fire hazard" means those buildings which have been damaged by fire, wind, explosion, or other causes so as to increase the risk of personal injury or property damage; or those buildings having inadequate facilities for egress in case of fire or panic, or those having insufficient features of fire protection. Also, anything or act which increases or may cause an increase of the risk or menace of fire to a greater degree than that customarily recognized by persons regularly engaged in preventing, suppressing, or extinguishing fire; or which may obstruct, delay, hinder, or interfere with the operations of the fire department or the egress of occupants in the event of fire.
"Fire hydrant" means a valved connection on a water supply system having 1 or more outlets and which is used to supply hose and fire department pumpers with water.
"Fire protection system" means any fire alarm device or system or fire extinguishing device or system, or their combination, which is designed and installed for detecting, controlling, or extinguishing a fire, or otherwise alerting occupants or the fire department, that a fire has occurred.
"Fire resistance rating" means the time in hours or fractions thereof that materials or their assemblies will resist fire exposure as determined by the fire test specified in these regulations.
"Fire retardants" means liquids, solids, or gases which tend to inhibit combustion when applied on, mixed in, or combined with combustible materials.
"Fire suppression system" means an automatic or manual system designed to protect the interior or exterior of a building or structure from fire. These systems are not limited to, water systems, water spray systems, foam-water systems, foam-water spray systems, CO2 systems, foam extinguishing systems, dry chemical systems, halon, and other chemical systems used for fire protection. These systems also include the overhead and fire mains, standpipes and hose connections to systems, tank heaters, air lines, thermal systems used in connection with sprinklers, tanks, and pumps connected thereto.
"Fireworks display" means the use of fireworks in a manner to provide audio and visual entertainment.
"Flamespread rating" means the comparative performance of fire travel over the surface of a material when tested in accordance with the provisions of Standard Method of Test of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, NFPA 255.
"Flammable liquids" means any liquid having a flash point below 100°F and having a vapor pressure not exceeding 40 psi at 100°F. Flammable liquids shall be known as Class 1 liquids and be divided into the following classifications:
"Class IA" Liquids having flash points below 73°F and having a boiling point below 100°F.
"Class IB" Liquids having flash points below 73°F and having a boiling point at or above 100°F.
"Class IC" Liquids having flash points at or above 73°F and below 100°F.
"Floor area, gross" means gross floor area shall be the floor area within the inside perimeter of the outside walls of the building under consideration with no deduction for hallways, stairs, closets, thickness of interior walls, columns, or other features.
"Floor area, net" means net floor area shall be the actual occupied area, not including accessory unoccupied areas or thickness of walls.
"GPM" is the abbreviation for gallons per minute, a unit of measurement.
"Garage" means a building or a portion of a building in which 1 or more self-propelled vehicles carrying volatile flammable liquid for fuel or power are kept for use, sale, storage, rental, repair, exhibition, or demonstrating purposes, and all that portion of a building that is on or below the floor or floors in which the vehicles are kept and that is not separated as required elsewhere by these regulations.
"Grade" means the reference plane representing the elevation of finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.
"Ground kettle" means a container which may or may not be mounted on wheels and is used for heating tar, asphalt, or similar substances.
"Hazard of contents" as related to a building, means determining the classification of hazard as it pertains to occupancy as referenced in the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101.
"High hazard" means high hazard contents shall be classified as those that are likely to burn with extreme rapidity or from which explosions are likely.
"Low hazard" means low hazard contents shall be classified as those of such low combustibility that no self-propagating fire therein can occur.
"Ordinary hazard" means ordinary hazard contents shall be classified as those that are likely to burn with moderate rapidity or to give off a considerable volume of smoke.
"Hazard of contents" as related to a sprinkler system, means determining the classification of sprinkler systems as referenced in Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13.
"Light hazard" means occupancies or portions of other occupancies where the quantity or combustibility of contents is low, and fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected.
"Ordinary hazard, group 1" means occupancies or portions of other occupancies where combustibility is low, quantity of combustibles is moderate, stockpiles of combustibles do not exceed 8 feet, and fires with moderate rates of heat release are expected.
"Ordinary hazard, group 2" means occupancies or portions of other occupancies where quantity and combustibility of contents is moderate to high, stockpiles do not exceed 12 feet, and fires with moderate to high rates of heat release are expected.
"Extra hazard" means occupancies or portions of other occupancies where quantity and combustibility of contents is very high and flammable and combustible liquids, dust, lint, or other materials are present, introducing the probability of rapidly developing fires with high rates of heat release.
"Height" means the building height to be used with these regulations. Height shall be measured from the lowest level of fire department vehicle access to the ceiling of the highest occupiable story.
"High rise building" means any building that exceeds 7 stories or 75 feet in height.
"HVAC" means systems or components which provide heating, ventilation, and air conditioning to a building or structure.
"Incidental use" means where the use is supplemental to the main use of the building and the area devoted to the use does not occupy more than 10% of the area of any floor, the building shall be classified according to the main use. Additionally, where the incidental use is a higher hazard than the main use, it shall be constructed and separated by fire resistance rated construction as required in this code.
"Inclined wheelchair lift" means a powered hoisting and lowering mechanism to transport mobility-impaired persons on a guided platform that travels on an incline, not an escalator.
"Includes" means without limitation.
"Industrial occupancy" means an occupancy in which products are manufactured or in which processing, assembling, mixing, packaging, finishing, decorating or repair operations are conducted.
"General industrial occupancy" means an industrial occupancy in which ordinary and low hazard industrial operations are conducted in buildings of conventional design suitable for various types of industrial processes.
"High hazard industrial occupancy" means an industrial occupancy in which industrial operations that include high hazard materials, processes, or contents are conducted.
"Special-purpose industrial occupancy" means an industrial occupancy in which ordinary and low hazard industrial operations are conducted in buildings designed for, and suitable only for, particular types of operations, characterized by a relatively low density of employee population, with much of the area occupied by machinery or equipment.
"Inimicable hazard" means a condition or practice in an occupancy or structure that poses a danger that could reasonably be expected to cause death, serious physical harm, or serious property loss.
"Institutional occupancy" means all buildings used for purposes such as medical or other treatment or care of persons suffering from physical or mental illness, disease, or infirmity; for the care of infants, convalescents, or aged persons; and for penal or corrective purposes. Institutional buildings provide sleeping facilities for the occupants and are occupied by persons who are mostly incapable of self-preservation because of age, physical or mental disability, or because of security measures not under the occupants' control.
"Internal fire separation" means a wall, roof/floor, or floor/ceiling assembly constructed to meet specific standards for resisting the spread of fire and smoke.
"Large area building" means any building that exceeds 100,000 square feet gross floor area on any 1 floor.
"License" means an official document issued by the State Fire Marshal for the purpose of authorizing performance of an activity on an annual basis.
"Listed" means equipment or materials included in a list published by an organization acceptable to the State Fire Marshal and concerned with product evaluation, that maintains periodic inspection of production of listed equipment or materials and whose listing states either that the equipment or material meets appropriate standards or has been tested and found suitable for use in a specified manner.
"Loose house" means a separate detached building in which unbaled combustible fibers are stored.
"Marine vessel" means every description of watercraft or other artificial contrivance used as a means of transportation in or on the water.
"Mercantile occupancy" means an occupancy used for the display and sale of merchandise. Mercantile occupancies shall be subclassified as follows:
"Class A" all mercantile occupancies having an aggregate gross area of more than 30,000 square feet or occupying more than 3 stories for sales purposes.
"Class B" as follows:
(b) All mercantile occupancies of not more than 3000 square feet gross area and occupying 2 or 3 stories for sales purposes.
"Class C" all mercantile occupancies of not more than 3000 square feet gross area and used for sales purposes occupying 1 story only.
"Mid-rise building" means any building within the following occupancy classification that exceeds 4 stories or 50 feet in height up to 7 stories or 75 feet in height:
Health Care Occupancies
Ambulatory Health Care
Detention and Correction Occupancies
Residential to include Hotels, Dormitories, Lodging and Rooming Houses, Apartments, and Residential Board and Care
"Mixed occupancies" means 2 or more classes of occupancy occurring in the same building.
"Mini-storage building" means a storage occupancy partitioned into areas that are rented or leased for the purposes of storing personal or business items where all of the following apply: (1) the storage areas are separated from each other by less than a 1-hour fire resistance rated barrier, (2) the owner of the facility does not have unrestricted access, and (3) the items being stored are concealed from view from outside the unit.
"Mobile or temporary cooking" means any cooking apparatus or equipment operated on a 1-time basis, interim basis, or for less than 90 days in the same location, other than at a fixed location, building, or structure that has been inspected and permitted under another section of these regulations.
"Notice" means a written statement which gives an order, information, or warning.
"Occupancy" means the purpose for which a building or portion thereof is used or intended to be used.
"Occupancy change" means any change of use in an existing building to a new occupancy classification which imposes other provisions of these regulations governing building construction, features of fire protection, and means of egress.
"Occupancy classification" means the various classes of occupancy as listed and defined under the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, as adopted by these regulations.
"Occupied" means a building is occupied any time it is open or accessible to the public, or any time it is occupied by more than 10 persons.
"Owner" means any person who alone, or jointly or severally with others, shall have legal title to any building, structure, or premise with or without accompanying actual possession thereof and shall include the duly authorized agent or attorney, a purchaser devisee, fiduciary, and any person having a vested or contingent interest in the property in question.
"Patch kettle" means any pot or container with a capacity of less than 6 gallons, used for preheating tar, asphalt, pitch, or similar substances for the repair of roofs, streets, floors, pipes, or similar objects.
"Permanent structure" means any structure erected for a period exceeding 180 consecutive days.
"Permit" means an official document issued by the State Fire Marshal for the purpose of authorizing performance of a specified activity.
"Person" Includes an individual, a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, and any other group acting as a unit. It shall also include an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, or other legal representative appointed according to law. Whenever the word "person" is used in any section of these regulations prescribing a penalty or fine as to partnerships or associations, the word shall include the partners or members thereof named in the violation notice, and as to corporations, shall include the officer, agents or members thereof named in the violation notice.
"Private dwelling" means the same as one and two family dwelling.
"Process" means the manufacturing, handling, blending, conversion, purification, recovery, separation, synthesis or use, or any combination of any commodity or material regulated by these regulations.
"Property line" means a line separating land or structures which defines the boundaries of ownership or responsibility.
"PSI" is the abbreviation for pounds per square inch. A unit of measurement used to measure the amount of force exerted on a 1-inch square area.
"Public accommodations" means all occupancies available to the public for lease, hire, or rental where there are provided sleeping accommodations for 4 or more persons. These can be hotels; motels; rooming, lodging, or boarding houses; bed and breakfasts, country inns, guest houses; residential board and care facilities; or the same occupancies known by any other name.
"Residential occupancy" means an occupancy that provides sleeping accommodations for purposes other than health care or detention and correctional. Includes all buildings/occupancies as listed below:
"Apartment building" means a building or portion thereof containing 3 or more dwelling units with independent cooking and bathroom facilities.
"Dormitory" means a building or a space in a building in which group sleeping accommodations are provided for more than 16 persons who are not members of the same family in 1 room, or a series of closely associated rooms, under joint occupancy and single management, with or without meals, but without individual cooking facilities.
"Hotel" means a building or groups of buildings under the same management in which there are sleeping accommodations for more than 16 persons and primarily used by transients for lodging with or without meals.
"Lodging or rooming house" means a building or portion thereof that does not qualify as a one or two family dwelling, that provides sleeping accommodations for a total of 16 or fewer people on a transient or permanent basis, without personal care services, with or without meals, but without separate cooking facilities for individual occupants.
"One and two family dwellings" means buildings containing not more than 2 dwelling units in which each dwelling unit is occupied by members of a single family with not more than 3 outsiders, if any, accommodated in rented rooms.
For the purposes of these regulations, a one and two family dwelling or a single-family dwelling is defined as:
3. A townhouse, as defined in this regulation.
"Townhouse" means a single-family unit in a row of attached units (3 or more) in which each unit extends from foundation to roof, separated by walls, between units, constructed as a 2 hour rated (Class C) fire barrier walls, separated by property lines, and with open space on at least 2 sides. Additionally, each unit of a townhouse shall be served by an exit directly to the exterior at grade level. When the specifications for fire rated assemblies as called for in the classification of townhouse, rowhouse, or others are not met, then the occupancy shall be classified as a multi-family residential or apartments occupancy and shall meet all the specifications for that occupancy.
"Residual pressure" means that portion of normal operating pressure that is remaining in the water system while water is flowing for normal consumption demands and for either test purposes or for firefighting.
"Restaurant" shall include those facilities with a calculated occupant load of 50 or more persons, which are primarily engaged in the serving of meals with or without entertainment and classified as an assembly occupancy. Restaurants and drinking establishments with a calculated occupant load of fewer than 50 persons shall be classified as a mercantile occupancy.
"Required flow" where used in these regulations, shall mean the necessary or required rate of water flow which shall be delivered to the area of need at a rate and pressure as prescribed herein. Normally expressed in gpm.
"Roofing kettle" means any container exceeding 15 gallons capacity used for preheating tar, asphalt, pitch, or similar substances for waterproofing.
"Rubbish" shall include any solids which are highly flammable, combustible, or explosive, not limited to rags, clothes, excelsior, leather, rubber, carpets, paper, ashes, furniture, tree clippings, grasses, leaves, vegetation, tires, and any other materials which freely burn, and which have been discarded.
"SFPR" means1DE Admin. Code701-710.
"Site plan" means a drawing illustrating a proposed development, change, or revision of a property or properties. When required by the Fire Marshal, or other sections of these regulation, the site plan shall be prepared in accordance with the specifications 1DE Admin. Code701A, subsection 2.4.
"Smoking" means lighting, igniting, holding, possessing, carrying, throwing, or depositing any lighted or smoldering cigar, cigarette, e-cigarette, rolled cannabis cigarette, or any pipe type appliance.
"Smoking area" means a designated area where smoking is permitted within premises where smoking is generally prohibited.
"Standpipe" means a wet or dry fire pipeline equipped with valves, hose outlets, and possibly hose, extending from the lowest to the topmost story of a building or structure and designed for the specific purpose of conveying water to various parts of a building for firefighting purposes.
"State Fire Marshal" means the State Fire Marshal and all duly authorized personnel appointed pursuant to16Del.C.§6612.
"State Fire Prevention Commission" means the legal body duly appointed and authorized to act pursuant 16 Del.C. Ch. 66.
"Storage occupancy" means an occupancy used primarily for the storage or sheltering of goods, merchandise, products, or vehicles.
"Story" means that portion of a building included between the upper surface of a floor and lower surface of the floor or roof next above.
"Strip shopping or office centers" means 1-story buildings in which several tenants occupy portions of the building. All tenants have their own separate entrances from the outside, with all outside entrances on 1 or more "front" sides. Occupancies are not limited to business and mercantile.
"Subdivision" means the division or redivision of a lot, tract or parcel of land by any means including by means of a plan or plot or a description by metes and bounds, into 2 or more lots, tracts, parcels or other divisions of land, for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of lease, of the transfer of ownership or building development; provided, however, that the division of land for agricultural purposes into parcels of 10 acres or more and not involving any new streets or easements of access, divisions of property by testamentary or interstate provisions, or divisions of property upon court order, shall be exempt.
"Major" means a residential or industrial subdivision plan depicting the subdivision of land into 2 or more parcels or lots and involving a proposed street; a plan of a materials excavation pit, multi-family subdivision, mobile dwelling park subdivision; or of a commercial subdivision containing more than 3500 square feet of gross leasable floor area and involving the development of 1 or more parcels or lots.
"Minor" means a residential development depicting the subdivision of land into 2 or more parcels or lots, but not involving a new street; a plan of a commercial subdivision involving the development of 1 or more parcels or lots, but not containing more than 3500 nor less than 1000 square feet of gross leasable floor area; a plan of an industrial subdivision involving the development of more than 1 parcel or lot, but not involving a new street; a plan of an industrial or institutional subdivision involving the development of not more than 1 parcel or lot, but not containing less than 5000 square feet of gross floor area.
"Summarily abate" means to immediately judge a condition to be a life hazard and to order immediate correction of the condition.
"System" means several items of equipment assembled, grouped, or otherwise interconnected for the accomplishment of a purpose or function.
"Temporary structure" means any structure erected for a period not to exceed 180 consecutive days.
"This regulation" means1DE Admin. Code701.
"These regulations" means1DE Admin. Code701-710.
"Vertical platform lift" means a powered hoisting and lowering mechanism designed to transport mobility-impaired persons on a guided platform that travels vertically.
"Water capacity" means the volumetric measure of the amount of water a container can hold.
"Water distribution systems" means all water mains and associated equipment, both public and private, serving fire hydrants or fire protection water distribution systems.
"Water supplier" means all persons or companies, both public and private, owning, operating, maintaining, or having control over fire protection water distribution systems
"Written notice" means a notification in writing delivered in person to the individual or parties intended, or delivered at, or sent by, certified or registered mail to the last known residential or business address.
3.1 NFPA Codes and Standards. Each of the following codes and standards, published by the National Fire Protection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269, are hereby adopted in their entirety with the exception of any changes, additions or deletions as listed in this regulation as a supplement and addition to1DE Admin. Code701-710. The text of these adopted codes and standards shall be fully enforceable as provisions of1DE Admin. Code701-710as if the same were incorporated and set forth at length. If a newer code or standard has been adopted and issued by the National Fire Protection Association, the State Fire Marshal may accept the newer code or standard as an alternative, provided that the code or standard affords an equivalent level of safety in the opinion of the State Fire Marshal. Where the codes or standards as listed are updated versions of adopted codes or standards, the updated versions will replace the existing versions in1DE Admin. Code701-710.
3.2 The following additions, deletions, or changes to the codes and standards listed in these regulations are hereby adopted.
3.2.1 NFPA 1, Fire Code, 2024
3.2.1.4 MODIFY Chapter 10 - General Fire Safety as noted:
3.2.1.4.3 MODIFY 10.10 as follows:
(2) Flame effects before an audience shall be permitted in accordance with the Delaware State Fire Prevention Regulations.
3.2.3 NFPA 30A, Motor Fuel Dispensing and Repair Garages Code, 2024
3.2.3.2 AMEND 6.2, General Requirements, by adding new sub-sections to read as follows:
3.2.3.7 AMEND Chapter 11, Marine Fueling, by renumbering 11.10.6 to 11.10.6.1 and adding new 11.10.6.2, 11.10.6.3 and 11.10.6.4 to read as follows:
3.2.4 NFPA 54, National Fuel Gas Code, 2024. AMEND 10.21 as follows:
3.2.5 NFPA 58, Liquefied Petroleum Gases Code, 2024.
3.2.5.1 AMEND 4.3.1 Stationary Installations, by deleting the existing section and inserting 2 new subsections to read as follows:
3.2.5.1.1 Section 4.3.1.1* Plans shall be submitted to the Office of the State Fire Marshal for review and approval for the following liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installations:
3.2.5.2 AMEND 6.24.1.2, by adding a sub-section to read as follows:
3.2.5.4 AMEND 6.24.1 by adding a sub-section to read as follows:
3.2.5.4.2 Section A-6.24.1.4 It should be further noted that roll-down and retractable materials are considered "not open". Since they are adjustable, it is expected that they will be less open during in-clement weather in order to protect against the exposure.
3.2.5.5 AMEND 7.2.2.1 by replacing 7.2.2.1 to read as follows:
3.2.5.6 AMEND 8.4.2.3 by deleting 8.4.2.3 and inserting a new 8.4.2.3 to read as follows:
3.2.6 NFPA 101, The Life Safety Code, 2024
3.2.6.5 AMEND 30.3.4.4, Detection (New Apartment Buildings), by adding a new sub-section to read as follows:
3.2.6.6 AMEND 32.2, Small Facilities (New Residential Board and Care Occupancies), by adding new sub-sections to read as follows:
1 DE Reg. 197 (08/01/97)
3 DE Reg. 416 (09/01/99)
4 DE Reg. 1237 (02/01/01)
6 DE Reg. 1638 (06/01/03)