D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-G704
Insert a new Section 704.1.3 into the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows:
Fire extinguishers. All portable fire extinguishers required by a prior or current Building Code or Fire Code shall be visible, readily accessible and maintained in an efficient and safe operating condition. Extinguishers shall be of an approved type. Fire extinguishers shall be maintained in accordance with NFPA 10 as referenced in the Fire Code.
Strike Sections 704.2 and 704.2.1 in the International Property Maintenance Code in their entirety and insert new Sections 704.2 and 704.2.1 in the Property Maintenance Code in their place to read as follows:
Smoke Alarms. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in existing Group I- 1 and R occupancies, regardless of occupant load, in accordance with this Section 704.2 and Sections 704.2.1 through 704.2.3. These alarms shall be installed:
Installation near cooking appliances or bathrooms
Installation near cooking appliances. Smoke alarms shall not be installed in the following locations unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm in a location required by Section 704.2.
Exceptions:
Installation near bathrooms. Smoke alarms shall be installed not less than 3 feet (914 mm) horizontally from the door or opening of a bathroom that contains a bathtub or shower unless this would prevent placement of a smoke alarm required by Section 704.2.
Exceptions:
[No change to Sections 704.2.2 through 704.2.3 of the International Property Maintenance Code.]
Strike Section 704.2.4 of the International Property Maintenance Code in its entirety and insert new Section 704.2.4 in the Property Maintenance Code in its place to read as follows:
Smoke detection system. Smoke detectors listed in accordance with UL 268 and provided as part of the building's fire alarm system shall be an acceptable alternative to single- and multiple-station smoke alarms and shall comply with the following:
Insert a new Section 704.3 into the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows:
Additional requirements for buildings with manual fire alarm boxes The provisions in Sections 704.3.1 to 704.3.3 shall apply to buildings with manual fire alarm boxes.
Manual fire alarm boxes. All manual fire alarm boxes shall be operational and unobstructed.
Fire alarm signage. Where manual fire alarm systems are not monitored by a supervising station, an approved permanent sign shall be installed adjacent to each manual fire alarm box that reads: "WHEN ALARM SOUNDS CALL FIRE DEPARTMENT".
Exception: When the manufacturer has permanently provided this information on the manual fire alarm box.
Fire alarm notice. The owner of a building containing four or more dwelling units, rooming units or sleeping units, including a building containing four or more residential condominium or cooperative units, shall post in conspicuous places in the common spaces of the building, and distribute to each tenant or unit owner, a written notice that provides information about fire alarm systems in the building. The notice shall be on a form developed and published by the code official in English and in the languages required under Section 4 of the Language Access Act of 2004, effective June 19, 2004 (D.C. Law 15-167; D.C. Official Code § 2-1933 (2016 Repl.)). The notice shall include the following information:
For purposes of this section, the owner of a building containing condominium or cooperative units shall be the unit owners' association, the cooperative housing association, or other entity having responsibility for managing the condominium or cooperative on behalf of the unit owners.
Insert new Sections 704.4, 704.5 and 704.6 into the Property Maintenance Code to read as follows:
Rental Units. Where the owner of a rental unit has failed to comply with the smoke alarm provisions of Section 704.2, the tenant is authorized to purchase, install and maintain battery-operated smoke alarm(s) as a temporary safeguard at the owner's expense, subject to the following:
Reasonable costs incurred by the tenant may be deducted from the rent for the rental unit pursuant to procedures governing landlord tenant relationships set forth in Title 14 DCMR. No tenant shall be charged, evicted, or penalized in any fashion for failure to pay the reasonable costs deducted from the rent for the rental unit for purchase, installation or maintenance of smoke alarms under this section.
Emergency measures. The failure of an owner of a rental unit to comply with Section 704.2 shall be deemed an imminent danger pursuant to Section 109 of the Property Maintenance Code and Section 111.2 of the Fire Code.
Owner responsibility. Except as provided in Section 704.4.4, no act or omission by a tenant under this Section 704.4 shall relieve the owner of responsibility to ensure full and continuing compliance with Section 704.
Tenant responsibility. Except as provided in Section 704.4.4, nothing in this Section 704.4 shall be construed:
Disabling of smoke alarms. Tampering with, removing, destroying, disconnecting, or removing the batteries from any installed smoke alarm, except in the course of authorized inspection, maintenance or replacement of the alarm, is prohibited.
Other penalties. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to negate the obligation of the owner or operator to comply with the requirements of Section 704.2, or to preclude the code official from pursuing other penalties and remedies under this code where the owner or operator fails to comply with Section 704.2.
High rise buildings. The owner of a high-rise building shall:
Smoke Alarm Maintenance and Testing. The owner of a rental unit, occupied in whole or in part by a tenant(s), shall conduct annual inspections of smoke alarms and detection systems, and shall provide reasonable notice of such inspection to tenant(s) where the alarm or detection system is located, in whole or in part, in the tenant's rental unit. The tenant(s) of such rental unit shall promptly report any defects of such devices to the owner or operator.
D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 12, r. 12-G704