HomeMy WebLinkAbout12052024 BSC Agenda Item 3 FIE
CODE
Chapter 30 FIRES AND MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
ARTICLE III. CERTAIN FIRE REGULATIONS
Sec. 30-25. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Power Walls.
(a) Purpose and Scope.This section establishes fire safety requirements for the installation of electric vehicle
(EV)charging stations and power storage walls within residential garages in new construction homes, as
well as for any retrofitted or additional installations in existing garages.
(b) Installation Requirements.
(1) Fire-Resistant Wall and Ceiling Assembly for New Construction:In new residential construction,any
garage area designated for EV charging stations or power walls must include a fire-resistant wall
and ceiling assembly. The assembly adjoining the location of the charging station or power wall
must be constructed to provide a minimum 2-hour fire-resistance rating, achieved through a triple
layer of 5/8-inch Type X gypsum wallboard or an equivalent fire-resistant assembly approved by
the Fire Marshal or their designee.
(2) Fire-Resistant Wall and Ceiling Assembly for Additions/Remodels: When an EV charging station or
power wall is added to an existing garage, the garage area shall be modified to:
i. Comply with the regulations provided in Sec. 30-25(b)(1);OR
ii. Include the installation of an alarm or detector approved by the Fire Marshal's Office.
(3) Alternative Materials: Equivalent fire-resistant materials may be used if approved by the Fire
Marshal. These materials must meet or exceed the 2-hour fire-resistance rating required for
assembly compliance.
(c) Inspection and Compliance.
(1) Permit and Inspection: Installation of EV charging stations and power walls, whether in new
construction or added to an existing structure, requires a permit and inspection by the Building
Department and Fire Marshal to verify compliance with these safety standards.
(2) Final Approval:All installations must receive final approval from the Fire Marshal or their designee
to ensure compliance with this section and applicable fire safety codes.
(d) Exemptions.
(1) Exemptions by Fire Marshal: The Fire Marshal or their designee may grant exemptions to the
requirements of this section if an equivalent level of fire safety is provided through alternative
methods or materials.
Secs. 30 25 Secs. 30-26-30-51. Reserved.
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EMODELS
Sec. 1-3. Specific words and phrases.
As used in this Code, certain terms have the meanings set out below, unless the context clearly indicates that
another meaning is intended:
(1) Applicable regulations mean and include all ordinances and regulations of the city and all laws, rules
and regulations of the State of Texas and the federal government of the United States,to the extent
they may apply.
(2) BSC means the Building&Standards Commission of the city.
(3) Building official means the official appointed as such under chapter 18 of this Code.
(4) City means the City of West University Place, in the County of Harris and State of Texas.
(5) Control means,with respect to property,to control the use and condition of the property. It is
presumed that a person controls a site and all structures thereon if the person arranges for, or pays
for, any utility service for the site, but only for the time period during which such utility service is
provided to the site. Proof of such arrangements or payments may consist of excerpts from the
customer billing records of the company or entity(e.g.,the city) providing the service.
(6) County means Harris County,Texas.
(7) Development means either the construction of a new structure or the expansion of the external
dimensions of an existing structure.
(8) Holiday means a holiday officially recognized by the city on which most city offices are closed.
(9) Major development means the construction of a new principal building or additions to an existing
principal building which increase its gross floor area to 150 percent or more of its gross floor area on
April 9, 1990(or the date it was completed, if completion occurred after April 9, 1990).
{10) Major remodeling means any one or more a-ltcFatiens of or additions to a building for which a permit or
permits arc required and whiche a fair market value of$5,000.00 or more(collective value of all
alterations and additions done at or about the same time).
{11)(10) Month means a calendar month.
{12)(11) Or may be read "and," and "and" may be read "or," if the sense requires it.
{13)(12) Owner,when applied to property,includes any part owner,joint owner,tenant in common,tenant in
partnership,joint tenant or tenant by the entirety of the property.A person is presumed to own a
parcel or item of property if:
a. The person is shown on the current tax or appraisal roll as the owner of the property; or
b. The property was conveyed (or purportedly conveyed)to the person by deed, bill of sale or other
document,and a search has revealed no similar document conveying(or purporting to convey)
the property to someone else subsequently.
{14}(13) Person includes natural persons and all other legal entities, including all those mentioned in chapter
311,Texas Government Code.
{15)(14) Preceding,following mean next before and next after, respectively.
{16)(15) Pre-development activity means demolition, moving of buildings, site clearing or grubbing,grading, and
any other activity which disturbs the surface of land and is actually undertaken, or customarily
undertaken, as preparation of development.
{17)(18) Premises includes both:
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a. A separately occupied or used land area;and
b. A building(or a distinct,separately occupied and controlled part of a building)and all
appurtenant grounds,structures and areas.
f483(17) Residential quiet hours means those hours when many people are sleeping or engaged in quiet
activities at home.They are hereby designated as follows:
Any weekday(Monday through Friday,except the Before 7:00 a.m.or after 7:00 p.m.
holidays mentioned below):
Any Saturday(except the holidays mentioned below): Before 8:00 a.m. or after 5:00 p.m.
Any Sunday, New Year's Day,Thanksgiving Day, Before 12:00 noon or after 5:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Independence Day,and any city
holiday on which there is no curbside trash collection:
{19)(18) Roadway means that portion of a street area improved,designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic
(excluding private driveways).
{20)(19) Sidewalk means any portion of the street area intended for the use of pedestrians between the curb
(or the lateral line of the roadway)and the adjacent property line.
{21)(20) State, "the state,"or"this state"means the State of Texas.
{22}(21) Street area means any highway, alley,street, avenue or public place or square, bridge,viaduct,
underpass,overpass,tunnel or causeway in the city,dedicated or devoted to public use,and includes
all of the area between the right-of-way lines.
{23)(22) ZBA means the Zoning Board of Adjustment of the city.
{24}(23) Z&PC means the Zoning& Planning Commission of the city.
{25)(24) Zoning ordinance means the city's comprehensive zoning ordinance.
(Code 2003, § 1.003; Ord. No. 1779, § 1(1.003), 1-24-2005; Ord. No. 2098, § 1(App.A), 7-27-2020)
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Sec. 38-3. Certain deposits prohibited.
(a) In general. It shall be unlawful for any person to:
(1) Scatter,throw or deposit any garbage,trash, or other rubbish, refuse or litter upon any street area or
alley;or
(2) Place,sweep, deposit or throw garbage,trash, recycling,yard waste or other rubbish, refuse or litter
within the city in such a manner that it may be carried or deposited by the elements upon or into any
street area or any other premises different from the premises where it is placed,swept,deposited or
thrown.
(3) Place,sweep, deposit or throw garbage,trash, recycling,yard waste or other rubbish,refuse or litter in
the storm drainage system.
Exception:This subsection does not apply to garbage,trash, recycling and yard waste prepared and
placed as required for basic collection by the city, at a dwelling for which fees under this chapter are
nondelinquent.
(b) Responsibility of owner, etc.When prohibited material is found in a street area, it shall be the duty of each
person who owns or controls adjacent premises to remove it, if the person knows that the material is
present. In this subsection, "prohibited material" means material prohibited to be placed in the street area
by subsection (a). It is an affirmative defense to prosecutions under this subsection that the material:
(1) Did not originate on the adjacent premises;and
(2) Was placed in the street area without the consent of any person in control of the adjacent premises.
(c) Affirmative defenses.The following are affirmative defenses to prosecutions under this section:
(1) Because of hurricane or other calamity, it was not practicable to remove the material or to store it
somewhere else.
(2) The time and manner of placement of the material was specifically directed by an authorized
representative of the city.
(3) There was a permit in effect for a major development or major remodeling of the affected premises,
and the premises are in full compliance with applicable regulations for work site conditions and clean-
up(see,e.g.,section 18-58 of this Code).
(4) The material was eligible for city collection under this chapter, it was intended to be collected by the
city as a special collection service, and it was in fact collected by the city and paid for as a special
collection service.
(Code 2003, § 11.003;Ord. No.2016,§ 1(App.A), 2-22-2016)
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