Changes in Code.
Grand Rapids City Code § 9.333
in effectSec. 9.333. - Changes in Code.
The following sections and subsections of the 2021 International Fire Code are hereby amended or deleted as set forth and additional sections and subsections are added as indicated. Subsequent section numbers used in this Chapter shall refer to the like numbered sections of the International Fire Code, 2021 edition.
(1) Section 101.1. 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of City of Grand Rapids, herein referred to as "this code".
(2) Section 105.5.32. 105.6.32 Mobile food preparation vehicles. A license is required for mobile food preparation vehicles as set forth in the City's Mobile Food Business Ordinance, Chapter 74 of Title VI of the City's Code of Ordinances.
(3) Section 105.5.34. Deleted.
(4) Section 111.1. 111.1 Board of Appeals established. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or determinations made by the Fire Code Official relative to the application and interpretation of this code there shall be a Board of Appeals. The Board of Appeals shall be the Construction Code Board of Appeals of the City of Grand Rapids. All appeals shall be governed by the procedures for appeals to the Construction Code Board of Appeals.
(5) Section 112.4. 112.4 Violation Penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or to do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this Chapter, shall be guilty of a municipal civil infraction for the first offense. All subsequent offenses shall be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500, or imprisonment for up to 90 days, or both such fines and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense and a separate violation subject to enforcement action.
(6) Section 111.5. 111.5 Posting of Official Fire Department Notices. Whenever it is determined by the Fire Official that a building is unsafe for public occupancy or public safety personnel, the Fire Official or other personnel may evacuate and/or post a notice, placard, or sign on the building indicating the building's unsafe condition.
(7) Section 113.4. 113.4 Failure to Comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(8) Section 202 Definitions. Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles. Mobile Food Preparation Vehicles shall have the same meaning as Mobile Food Vending Business under Section 6.102 of Chapter 74 of Title VI of the City's Code of Ordinances.
(9) Section 307. Deleted.
(10) Section 319.1. 319.1 General. Mobile food preparation vehicles shall comply with this section.
(11) Section 319.2. 319.2 License required. A license is required for mobile food preparation vehicles as set forth in the City's Mobile Food Business Ordinance, Chapter 74 of Title VI of the City's Code of Ordinances.
(12) Section 507.5.1. 507.5.1 Where Required. Where a portion of the facility or building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction is more than 300 feet from a hydrant on a fire apparatus access road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building, on-site fire hydrants and mains shall be provided where required by the fire code official. Provided however, that for group R-3 occupancies the distance requirement shall be 400 feet.
(13) Section 901.6.3. 901.6.3. Records. Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the referenced standards and/or City Code shall be maintained on the premises for a minimum of three years and shall be copied by the inspection, testing, and/or maintenance contractor to the fire code official using a system as specified by him or her.
(14) Section 903.2.1.1. 903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout stories containing Group A-1 occupancies and throughout all stories from the Group A-1 occupancy to and including the levels of exit discharge serving that occupancy where one of the follow conditions exists:
1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m 2 ).
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 299. During special events and holidays, if the establishment assigns an existing employee or security to conduct fire watch, then the establishment may increase capacity. Fire inspectors will provide free inspections and training related to capacity requests.
3. The fire area is located on a floor other than a level of exit discharge serving such occupancies.
4. The fire area contains a multiple-theater complex.
(15) Section 1103.5.1 Deleted.
(16) Section 1103.7.5.1. 1103.7.5.1 Group R-1 hotel and motel manual fire alarm system. A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with section 907.5 shall be installed in existing Group R-1 hotels and motels more than one story in height or with more than 20 sleeping units. Fire Prevention will inspect and install smoke alarms in each room and interior egress area to ensure occupant safety. This section shall have a phased adoption and be completed by 2028. During this period, funding from state and local sources shall be sought to offset costs.
Exceptions:
1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in buildings less than two stories in height where all sleeping units, attics and crawl spaces are separated by 1-hour fire resistance-rated construction and each sleeping unit has direct access to a public way, egress court or yard.
2. A manual fire alarm system is not required in buildings not more than three stories in height with not more than 20 sleeping units and equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
3. Manual fire alarm boxes are not required throughout the building where the following conditions are met:
3.1. The building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.
3.2. The notification appliances will activate upon sprinkler water flow.
3.3. Not less than one manual fire alarm box is installed at an approved location.
(17) Section 1104.1. 1104.1 General. Means of egress in existing buildings shall comply with the minimum egress requirements when specified in Table 1103.1 as further enumerated in Sections 1104.2 through 1104.24, and the building code that applied at the time of construction. Where the provisions of this chapter conflict with the building code that applied at the time of construction, the most restrictive provision shall apply. Existing buildings that were not required to comply with a building code at the time of construction shall comply with the minimum egress requirements when specified in Table 1103.1 as further enumerated in Sections 1104.2 through 1104.24.
Exception: Means of egress conforming to the requirements of the building code under which they were constructed shall be considered as complying means of egress if, in the opinion of the fire code official, they do not constitute a distinct hazard to life.
(18) Section 1104.25. 1104.25 Egress path markings. Existing high-rise buildings of Group A, B, E, I, M and R-1 occupancies shall be provided with luminous egress path markings in accordance with Section 1025 by July 1, 2024.
Exception: Open, unenclosed stairwells in historic buildings designated as historic under a state or local historic preservation program.
(19) Section 3305.5.1. 3305.5.1 Fire watch during construction. A fire watch shall be provided during nonworking hours for new construction that exceeds 40 feet (12 192 mm) in height above the lowest adjacent grade at any point along the building perimeter, for new multistory construction with an aggregate area exceeding 50,000 square feet (4645 m 2 ) per story or as required by the fire code official. In addition to traditional fire watch, security personnel or remotely monitored detectors is allowed to ensure early notification of fires in large buildings under construction.
(20) Section 5704.2.9.6.1. 5704.2.9.6.1 Locations where above ground tanks are prohibited. New bulk plants for storage of Class I and II liquids in above ground tanks outside of buildings are permitted only in areas zoned SD-IT, unless the Fire Code Official modifies this requirement in writing.
All above ground storage tanks shall comply with the provisions of NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids, the most current edition.
(21) Section 5706.2.4.4. 5706.2.4.4 Locations where above ground tanks are prohibited. The storage of Class I and Class II liquids in above ground storage tanks is permitted only in areas zoned SD-IT, unless the Fire Code Official modifies this requirement in writing.
(22) Section 5806.2. 5806.2 Limitations. The storage of flammable cryogenic fluids in stationary containers is permitted only in areas zoned SD-IT, unless the Fire Code Official modifies this requirement in writing.
(23) Section 6104.2. 6104.2 Maximum capacity within established limits. Within the limits established by law restricting the storage of liquefied petroleum gas for the protection of heavily populated or congested areas, the aggregate capacity of any one installation shall not exceed a water capacity of 500 gallons or two hundred ten pounds gas capacity.
Exception: In particular installations this capacity limit shall be determined by the Fire Code Official, after consideration of special features such as topographical conditions, nature of occupancy, and proximity to buildings, capacity of proposed LP-gas containers, degree of fire protection to be provided and capabilities of the local fire department. The Fire Code Official may require plans to be submitted prior to allowing an increased capacity limit.
(24) Section J101.1. J101.1 Scope. Where required by the Fire Code Official due to the size, height, complex layout, fire protection features, or use of a structure, or due to historic response activity, new and existing buildings shall have a building information sign(s) that comply with Sections J101.1.1 through J101.7.
Exceptions:
1. Group U occupancies.
2. One- and two-family dwellings.
(25) Section J101.8. J101.8 Sign classification maintenance, building information. Sign maintenance shall comply with each of the following:
1. Fire departments in the jurisdiction shall define the designations to be placed with the sign.
2. The owner of a building shall be responsible for the maintenance and updates to the sign in accordance with fire department designations.
(Ord. No. 2014-24, § 1, 5-13-14; Ord. No. 2018-58, § 2, 9-18-18; Ord. No. 2024-01, § 2, 1-9-24)
Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=TIOLRE_CH159FIPR_S9.333CHCOFetched: 11/7/2026