Background
City Council desires to establish a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus to further protect the health and welfare of City workers and visitors in City owned buildings.
Fire and smoke dampers are fire prevention devices used in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) ducts to prevent the spread of fire and smoke inside these ducts. Conducting these inspections will further ensure that the City is in full compliance with the most current National Fire Protection Association regulations.
This ordinance establishes a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus, for the purpose of ensuring that fire and smoke dampers are in proper working order to prevent the spread of fire and smoke. Testing and inspections will be conducted in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards. The testing and inspections shall be conducted by technicians that have been certified by the International Certification Board and American National Standards Institute to ensure the quality and knowledge of the inspection process.
Fiscal Impact: Funding for this inspection and monitoring program is not specifically determined or provided at this time. The Department of Finance and Management, in conjunction with other departments and commissions, will develop a budget and funding will be provided by City Council once determined.
Title
To establish a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus, for the purpose of ensuring that fire and smoke dampers are in proper working order to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within walls and floors.
Body
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council is interested in providing inspections for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning ("HVAC") fire and smoke dampers located within City owned buildings; and
WHEREAS, fire and smoke dampers are fire prevention products used in HVAC ducts to prevent the spread of fire and smoke inside HVAC ducts through walls, floors and ceilings; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council desires to establish a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus in order to protect the health and welfare of City workers, visitors and safety forces in City owned buildings; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council directs the Office of Finance and Management to oversee implementation of the Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program; and
WHEREAS, Columbus City Council directs any Department in the City that maintains or manages City owned buildings to work in conjunction with the Office of Finance and Management to successfully implement the Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program; and
WHEREAS, providing these inspections will help ensure that the City is in compliance with the most current National Fire Protection Association regulations; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program is established for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus, for the purpose of ensuring that fire and smoke dampers are in working order to prevent the spread of fire and smoke inside walls and floors.
SECTION 2. That the following definitions shall be used for the Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program:
a. Fire Damper: A listed device installed in ducts and air transfer openings designed to close automatically upon detection of heat and resist the passage of flame. Fire dampers are classified for use in either static systems that will automatically shut down in the event of a fire, or in dynamic systems that continue to operate during a fire. A dynamic fire damper is tested and rated for closure under elevated temperature airflow.
b. Smoke Damper: A listed device installed in ducts and air transfer openings designed to resist the passage of smoke. The device is installed to operate automatically, controlled by a smoke detection system, and where required, is capable of being positioned from a fire command center.
SECTION 3. That the fire and smoke damper unit testing and inspections shall be conducted in accordance with National Fire Protection Association standards. The testing and inspections shall be conducted by contractors and technicians that have been certified by the International Certification Board (ICB) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to ensure the quality and knowledge of the inspection process.
SECTION 4. That a Fire and Smoke Damper Inspection Program for buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus, for the purpose of ensuring that fire and smoke dampers are in working order to prevent the spread of fire and smoke within walls, floors and ceilings be established within eighteen months of the effective date of this ordinance.
If any fire and smoke damper unit is found to be faulty or inoperable, repairs or replacements shall begin as soon as possible, with the goal of completing such repairs within sixty (60) business days from the date the unit was found to be faulty or inoperable. The repairs or replacements of the fire and smoke damper units shall be completed and approved by contractors and technicians who are certified by the International Certification Board (ICB) and American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Compliance with the inspections, and compliance with the repairs or replacements, shall be monitored by the respective City Department that operates the building under inspection.
SECTION 5. That the Department of Finance and Management in cooperation with other city departments and commissions shall provide a status update to City Council within twelve (12) months of the effective date of this Ordinance, identifying the buildings already inspected or to be inspected, the approximate number of fire and smoke dampers in each building to be inspected, and the proposed timeline for inspections to ensure compliance with this ordinance.
SECTION 6. That all testing and inspections shall be documented indicating the location of each fire and smoke damper, date of the inspection, name of the inspector, deficiencies discovered, and any repairs or replacements completed. The results of the testing and inspections shall be given by the technicians to the Department of Finance and Management within thirty (30) days of the completion of each building tested and inspected. The Department of Finance and Management shall retain these testing and inspection reports until the next testing and inspection is completed.
SECTION 7. That upon twenty-four months following the effective date of this ordinance, the Department of Finance and Management shall report to the City Council, outlining the number of fire and smoke dampers tested pursuant to this ordinance, the number of such dampers that needed repaired or replaced and status of such repairs and/or replacement. The Department of Finance and Management shall present a recommended timeline to complete inspections, if any, of the remaining fire and smoke dampers located in buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus. In addition, the Department of Finance and Management shall present a proposed timeline for the next scheduled testing and inspection of fire and smoke dampers, in order to maintain a regular testing schedule of fire and smoke dampers in buildings owned and operated by the City of Columbus, by appropriately qualified contractors and technicians as set forth in this ordinance, to ensure ongoing safety for City workers, visitors, and safety forces and in accordance with the every four (4) year inspection schedule set forth by the NFPA.
SECTION 8. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.