Address Display

Your address should be posted and visible from the street. The minimum suggested size for numbers is 4 inches high and 1/2 inch wide.

Fire Hydrants

If you have a hydrant located on or near your property, please partner with us and your local fire deparment by keeping a three-foot clear space around the hydrant. An obstruction of snow, debris, fencing, tree branches, bushes, weeds or brush may cause a delay as firefighters try to get water to extinguish a fire.

Don't block a fire hydrant by parking a vehicle next to it. Vehicles cannot be parked any closer than 15 feet to a fire hydrant. Remember, your actions may cause a delay in being able to supply water to an emergency that continues to grow until intervention takes place.

A fire hydrant that is leaking, broken, missing caps or malfunctioning should be reported to the Fire Marshal at (215) 643-1600 x3210.

Fire Extinguisher

You should have at least one portable fire extinguisher installed in your home.

Smoke Detectors

Single or multiple-station smoke detectors shall be installed and maintained in all homes. The smoke detectors should be mounted either on the wall or ceiling approximately 8 to 12 inches from the corner of the ceiling.

Smoke detector units should be located in the following areas of you home:

1. Outside of each sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.
2. In each room used for sleeping.
3. In each story within your home, including the basement and attic.

Visit our Smoke Detector Give-Away web page.

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Alarm System

A permit is required before a new alarm system can be installed. Permit applications, fees and instructions are below.

All new and existing alarm systems must be registered with the Township of Upper Dublin.

If you have more than three false activations in a twelve-month period, a fine will be issued.

Fire Sprinkler System

All new construction shall have a fire sprinkler system installed according the NFPA code. A permit is required. Permit applications, fees and instructions are below.

Existing Buildings: If 50% or more of the interior walls and or partitions have been removed during remodeling, rehabilitation or alteration, a fire sprinkler system will be required. If the building area or the occupancy's area of operation for a particular use increases by 50% or more from the area of the building or occupancy (existing as of the date of adoption of this section of the ordinance) through the acquisition of additional property, expansion, remodeling, rehabilitation or alteration, a fire sprinkler system will be required. Except, in a single-family and two-family dwelling, only the expanded area is required to be fully sprinklered.

Winterizing Fire Sprinkler Systems

Fire sprinkler systems can and do fail due to freezing. Both commercial buildings and residential homes can experience this failure. Homes constructed after 1999 or that have had an addition added after 1999, are likely to have residential fire sprinkler systems.

To prevent fire sprinkler systems from freezing the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) requires that the piping for the sprinkler system be installed where the ambient temperature will not be lower than 40 degrees. If this temperature cannot be maintained then a glycerin solution (anti-freeze) is added to the sprinkler system. Fire sprinkler systems that are labeled or tagged “Anti-Freeze” do require periodic inspection by a residential sprinkler contractor to verify that the dilution ratio of the glycerin is correct and to prevent the exposed piping from freezing. A complete list of residential fire sprinkler contractors can be obtained from the Upper Dublin Township Fire Marshal.

NFPA also recommends monthly maintenance inspections of residential fire sprinklers by the homeowner:

1. Conduct a visual inspection of all sprinklers to ensure against obstruction of a sprinkler head. There should at least 18” of clearance below and around a sprinkler head.
2. Inspect the main valve to ensure that it is open.
3. Inspect the control valves to ensure that they are open.
4. Test the flow switch and alarm bell. (a) The alarm should activate between 10 and 45 seconds. (b) If your system is connected to a security alarm monitoring company the security company must be contacted before the test is conducted.

Additional information on Residential Fire Sprinklers can be found at the Home Fire Sprinklers web site.

If you have questions or require assistance from the Upper Dublin Township Fire Marshal please call (215) 643-1600 ext. 3210 or send and e-mail to the Fire Marshal.

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PERMITS

A permit is required when any Fire Detection or Suppression System is installed, alerted in both new and existing structures.

Fire Protection Systems Permit Application (Type online, print and submit by mail or in person.)

REQUIRED AS PART OF THE APPLICATION

• Three sets of NICET Level III or IV sealed design documents/prints.
• For Sprinkler System Permits: Three copies of the hydraulic calculation data report.
• For Fire Alarm/Detection System Permits: Three copies of the Power Supply and Battery Calculation sheets.
• For Fire Suppression System Permits: Three copies of the agent calculation data report.
• Cut sheets for all devices, appliances and fixtures to be installed as part of the system.
• All plans will be reviewed either internally or externally depending upon the complexity of the system. All documents will be time and date stamped upon the receipt at the Code Enforcement counter or when received in the mail.
• The Fire Marshal's office will generate a transmittal sheet indicating acceptance or rejection of the plan, utilizing the current codes and standards.
• Sprinkler contractor will pay any fees for the required review of the sprinkler plan directly to the plan reviewer.

FEE SCHEDULE
as of January 12, 2010

System	Residential	Commercial
Sprinkler Permits	$75 and third party review fee $75 for modifications	$75 for first $1,000 of cost; $10/each additional $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof
Fire Suppression Systems	Plan review and permit fee: $75 for first $1,000 of cost; $10/each additional $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof	Plan review and permit fee: $75 for first $1,000 of cost; $10/each additional $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof
Fire Alarms	$25/$1,000 of cost or fraction thereof	Plan review and permit fee: $75 for first $1,000 of cost; $10/each additional $1,000 of cost or fraction thereof
Fireplace/Stove	$75	$75
Storage Tank	$75	$75
Fuel Storage Tanks/Gasoline Pumps	N/A	$15 per 1,000 gal. tank capacity $15 per each gasoline pump
Membrane Structure/Tents	$75	$75
Blasting/Fireworks	$100	$100
Storage, handling, sale of any explosives, fireworks or pyrotechnic special effects	N/A	$250

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