§ 6-21. Use of equipment, appliances, devices and vacant buildings

(a) Portable heating appliances. Unvented portable fuel-burning heaters having the following safeguards may be used:

(1) Automatic means of shutting off fuel when heater is upset; and

(2) Adequate guards to protect persons against contact with flame or combustion chamber; and

(3) Listed by nationally recognized testing agency.

The sale or use of any other type of unvented fuel-burning heater in a building is prohibited.

(b) Chimneys and heating appliances to be maintained in safe condition.

(1) All chimneys, incinerators, smokestacks or similar devices for conveying smoke or hot gases to the outer air and the stoves, furnaces, fireboxes or boilers to which they are connected shall be constructed in accordance with Chapter 4 of the City of El Lago Code of Ordinances, and maintained in such a manner as not to create a fire hazard.

(2) Exhaust systems provided for restaurant cooking equipment shall be maintained so as to avoid creating a hazardous condition.

(c) Trapdoors to be closed. In buildings other than dwellings, all trapdoors and scuttle covers (except those that are automatic in their operation) shall be kept closed at all times.

(d) Shaftways to be marked. In a building used for manufacturing purposes or for storage, every outside window in the building which opens directly on any hoistway or other vertical means of travel between two (2) or more floors in such building, shall be plainly marked with the word "SHAFTWAY" in red letters at least six (6) inches high on a white background. Such warning sign shall be so placed so as to be easily visible from the outside of such building. Every door or window opening onto such shaftway from the interior of the building shall be similarly marked with the warning word "SHAFTWAY" so placed as to be easily visible to anyone approaching the shaftway from the interior of the building, unless the construction of the partition surrounding the shaftway is of such distinctive nature as to make its purpose evident at a glance.

(e) Electrical wiring. It shall be unlawful to maintain any electrical wiring appliance, apparatus or device in violation of Chapter 4 of the City of El Lago Code of Ordinances.

(f) Hazardous warning lights. It shall be unlawful to maintain warning lights or any device utilizing an open flame along any excavation, road, or any place within the city.

(g) Vacant structures. Every person owning, or in charge or control of, a vacant building shall remove therefrom all accumulations of flammable or combustible waste or rubbish and shall securely lock, barricade, or otherwise secure all doors, windows and other openings thereof. The premises shall be maintained clear of any waste or hazardous material.

(h) Firewalls, fire doors.

(1) Firewalls, fire stops, and fire-rated partitions and floors required by Chapter 4 of the City of El Lago Code of Ordinances shall be maintained. All openings made therein for the passage of pipes, electrical and the like, and holes made for any reason, shall be sealed with noncombustible material to protect against passage of smoke and fire. All openings through these partitions (i.e. access doors) shall be protected by self-closing or automatic doors of approved construction meeting the partition requirements.

(2) Where necessary, because of the nature of the occupancy or violation of the above section, the fire marshal may require signs on the partition reading substantially as follows:

FIRE AND SMOKE OPENINGS—PROTECT ALL OPENINGS

(3) All fire and smokestop doors shall be kept in operable condition. No fire door may be blocked or obstructed or otherwise made inoperable. Fusible links shall be replaced promptly whenever fused or damaged.

(4) Fire doors designed to be kept normally open shall be marked: "Fire door—do not block." Fire doors designed to be kept normally closed (such as stairwell doors) shall be marked: "Fire door—keep closed." These markings will be designed and placed in a manner readily recognizable.

(5) Hold open devices and automatic door closers, where provided, shall be maintained. During the period that any such device is out of service for repairs, the door it operates shall remain in the closed position.

(Ord. No. 263, Art. III(6-4), 10-16-89)