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An ordinance to amend Title 15 of the Metropolitan Code, Water, Sewers and Other Public Services Regulations, pertaining to Private Fire Hydrants.
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WHEREAS, all private water hydrants for fire protection in Davidson County shall be inspected by a qualified service provider licensed in the State of Tennessee, appointed by the party responsible for the private water hydrants; and,
WHEREAS, the responsible party shall be required to ensure that the private water hydrants are inspected and tested annually, or as required by the adopted fire code; and,
WHEREAS, private water hydrant inspection, testing, and servicing reports must be submitted by the licensed service provider to the Nashville Fire Department - Fire Marshal’s Office through the established reporting process; and,
WHEREAS, the Nashville Fire Department and the Department of Water and Sewerage Services have identified the need to amend Section 15.68.030 in Title 15 of the Metropolitan Code to clarify responsibilities pertaining to private fire hydrants; and,
WHEREAS, the amendment to this section of the Metropolitan Code is in the best interest of the citizens of Nashville and Davidson County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That Title 15 of the Metropolitan Code is hereby amended by deleting Section 15.68.030 in its entirety by replacing it with the following:
A. All private water hydrants for fire protection in Davidson County, encompassed by Section 15.68.010, shall be inspected by a qualified service provider licensed in the state of Tennessee (hereafter “licensed service provider”) appointed by the party responsible for the private water hydrants. The responsible party shall be required to ensure that the private water hydrants are inspected and tested annually, or as required by the adopted fire code. A licensed service provider shall be required to perform the annual inspection and testing of private water hydrants, including any servicing as required. Private water hydrant inspection, testing, and servicing reports must be submitted by the licensed service provider to the Nashville Fire Department - Fire Marshal’s Office through the established reporting process.
B. The responsible party for a private water hydrant shall be responsible for contracting a licensed service professional to obtain an annual Private Fire Hydrant - Servicing and Testing operational permit from the Nashville Fire Department - Fire Marshal’s Office.
C. The responsible party shall perform general preventative maintenance of their water hydrants at six-month intervals to ensure proper operation of hydrants during emergency situations.
D. The responsible party shall, at least monthly, cause visual inspections of all their water hydrants and water sources therefor.
E. All deficiencies specified in any report from the licensed service professional shall be completed or repaired by a licensed professional at the expense of the responsible party and notification submitted by the licensed service provider to the Nashville Fire Department - Fire Marshal’s Office through the established reporting process.
F. No person other than an authorized official of the metropolitan government or an authorized person performing maintenance or repair activities required by this chapter shall open, operate, flow, test, maintain or repair a hydrant.
G. The Nashville Fire Department and the Department of Water and Sewerage Services shall have the authority to issue and promulgate rules and regulation as required for the implementation of the provisions of this chapter.
Section 2. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately after its passage, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.
Agenda Analysis
Analysis
This ordinance makes various changes to the Metropolitan Code relative to private fire hydrants. Under the current Metropolitan Code Sec. 15.68.030, private water hydrants are inspected by or under the supervision of the Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services at intervals required by the Metropolitan Fire Chief. The ordinance under consideration would instead require the inspection be performed by a qualified service provider licensed in the state of Tennessee. The ordinance would also require the person responsible for a private water hydrant to obtain an annual “private fire hydrant - servicing and testing” permit from the Fire Marshal’s Office. A licensed service professional would also be required to perform any repairs, at the expense of the responsible party, and must be reported to the Fire Marshal’s Office.
The ordinance under consideration would keep the remaining requirement unchanged, but use updated language such as requiring the “responsible party” to perform maintenance instead of the “property owner”. These remaining requirements include performing six-month general preventative maintenance of the fire hydrant, monthly visual inspections of the private fire hydrant, and requiring that no one may open, operate, flow, test, maintain or repair a fire hydrant except as authorized by the Metro Code. The Nashville Fire Department and Metropolitan Department of Water and Sewerage Services are authorized to issue and promulgate rules for the provision of this chapter.