Ohio Revised Code
Chapter 3781 | Building Standards - General Provisions
Section 3781.104 | Smoke Detector Systems or Sprinkler System for Apartment Buildings and Condominiums.

Effective: November 15, 1981
Latest Legislation: House Bill 694 - 114th General Assembly
(A) One hundred eighty days after the board of building standards files its rules with the secretary of state and the director of the legislative service commission, as required in section 119.04 of the Revised Code, as required by this section, every existing apartment and condominium building that exceeds seventy-five feet in height, as measured from ground level exclusive of any radio, television, or telephone transmission antennae, or other equipment, chimneys, or equipment associated with the heating or air conditioning system of the building, which did not have an automatic smoke detection system or sprinkler system in conformity with the rules of the board of building standards adopted pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code, shall have installed and in operation an automatic smoke detection system as follows:
(1) Each dwelling unit shall have smoke detector devices approved by the board and installed in the immediate vicinity but outside of all sleeping rooms. Alarm signaling devices shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms within the dwelling unit when all intervening doors are closed. For the purpose of installation and maintenance only, the applicable sections of the national fire prevention association standard No. 74 "standard for the installation, maintenance and use of a household fire warning system" shall be considered accepted engineering practice.
(2) In those portions of a building subject to this division other than dwelling units, detector spacing shall conform to at least one of the following requirements:
(a) Where the building has a central return air system, detectors shall be installed as provided by rule in or near the return air stream in a manner that smoke-laden air originating from any part of the building must pass by a detector before the smoke-laden air leaves the floor of origin;
(b) In buildings with or without central return air systems, detectors shall be installed on each floor on the corridor or lobby side of and within five feet of all stairway and elevator doors. Where horizontal exits are used, detectors shall also be installed on each side of and within fifteen feet of doors serving as horizontal exits through fire walls.
(B) As used in this section:
(1) "Smoke detector" means a readily removable device, sensitive to either visible or invisible particles of combustion or both, which automatically detects any fire condition and broadcasts locally a signal or alarm.
(2) "Apartment building" means any building at least seventy-five per cent of the units of which are residential dwelling units rented or leased to tenants upon other than a transient basis and does not include a "hotel" as that term is defined in section 3731.01 of the Revised Code but does include a college or university dormitory.
(3) "Condominium" means any building composed of individually owned units and operated by an association of owners.
(C) The board of building standards, pursuant to section 3781.10 of the Revised Code, shall adopt the provisions of this section as a rule of the board.

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