The Fire Chief may waive, in whole or in part, requirements to install a cistern pursuant to these regulations to the extent that some or all of the structures within a development are to be equipped with Sprinkler Systems or are otherwise served by sufficient Town water supplies, provided that the Sprinkler System meets the requirements set forth in this Section 7 and any other requirements imposed by the Fire Chief. Except as permitted by applicable law, nothing in this Section shall be deemed to require the installation of a Sprinkler System in a proposed one- or two-family residence as a condition of approval for a local permit, per RSA 674:36, IV and RSA 674:51, V.
7.1General Requirements.
As part of the regular site plan/subdivision plan approval process, the applicant shall, in addition to all information otherwise required by the subdivision and site plan review regulations, (a) indicate where Sprinkler Systems will be installed, (b) provide design documents and manufacturing specifications and information, (c) identify and confirm their compliance with applicable standards, these regulations and any other requirements imposed by the Fire Chief, and (d) provide any additional information required by the Planning Board or the Fire Chief.
Before a building permit may issue, (a) the Sprinkler System design shall have been accepted and approved by the Fire Chief and (b) the Responsible Party or Parties shall post a bond in an amount determined by the Planning Board to guarantee the completion and operability of the Sprinkler System.
Before a certificate of occupancy may issue, the Fire Chief shall have determined that the Sprinkler System is Fully Operational, based on an inspection and tests by the installer in the presence of the Fire Chief, including a flow test at the most hydraulically demanding location on the system with results acceptable to the Fire Chief. The installer shall provide a certified copy of all testing results indicating the Sprinkler System’s compliance with all applicable NFPA Standards, these regulations, and any additional requirements imposed by the Fire Chief.
7.2Additional Requirements.
Bathrooms of any size shall be sprinklered.
Any enclosed spaces containing furnaces, boilers, water heaters (other than electric water heaters) or other mechanical shall be sprinklered.
Sprinkler System pumps and tanks shall be installed no less than seven (7) inches, and no more than nine (9) inches, above the lowest solid permanent floor of the structure served by the Sprinkler System. The materials used to accomplish this shall be permanent, solid and not allow any voids under the pump or tank installation.
Circuit breaker(s) powering components of the Sprinkler System shall be protected by a lockout device acceptable to the Fire Chief.
Sprinkler Systems shall be equipped with an external alarm horn, as well as an internal notification alarm, that will alert all occupants of the building upon system activation, which may be accomplished by connecting the Sprinkler System to the smoke detector system.
Residential Sprinkler Systems that are not supplied by a municipal water system or an elevated tank shall be equipped with an automatic standby electric generator to ensure operation during power outages.
Developers shall provide educational material to all purchasers of residences equipped with a Sprinkler System, including information on how to test operational components of the system.
7.3Responsible Party or Parties.
The Responsible Party or Parties shall, at its or their expense, (1) bear the cost to obtain, install and maintain each Sprinkler System as Fully Operational, (2) make prompt repairs, as required to keep the Sprinkler System Fully Operational, all such work to be completed by technicians approved by the manufacturer and in compliance with applicable warranties or other requirements, and (3) provide to the Fire Chief, every other calendar year following issuance of a certificate of occupancy, written evidence that the Sprinkler System remains Fully Operational, based on an inspection as described in Section 7.1 (3) above. In the absence of such evidence, the Wilton Building Inspector may revoke the existing certificate of occupancy for the premises served by the Sprinkler System.
