Sec. 11-102. Definitions

Alternative means a system, condition, arrangement, material, or equipment submitted to the Fire Chief or authorized representative as a substitute for a Subtitle requirement.

Approved or Approval means in accordance with standards or requirements set forth in this Subtitle. The approval by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, inspection agency, or other recognized agency or organization concerned with product evaluation, shall be presumed to meet such standards unless there is evidence to the contrary.

Authority having jurisdiction means the Fire Chief or authorized representative.

Authorized display means the discharge of fireworks for which a permit has been issued by the State Fire Marshal.

Authorized representative means a person duly appointed to administer or enforce this Subtitle in the name of the Fire Chief.

Boardinghouse means "boarding house" as defined under "Dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.

Burning means lighting, igniting, kindling, or setting fire to combustible materials, adding fuel to a fire or permitting combustible materials to burn.

Carbon Monoxide Detector means a device capable of measuring the amount of carbon monoxide (an odorless, colorless and potentially fatal gas created when fossil fuels do not burn completely) that is present within a structure and sounding an audible alarm at specified levels of detection.

Central station means an approved office to which remote alarm and supervisory signaling devices are connected where persons are in attendance at all times to supervise the circuits and investigate signals.

Central station system means a system, or group of systems, the operations of which are signaled to, recorded in, maintained and supervised from, an approved central station, in which there are competent and experienced observers and operators in attendance at all times whose duty it shall be, upon receipt of a signal, to take such action as shall be required under the rules established for their guidance. Such systems shall be controlled and operated by a person, firm, or corporation whose principal business is the furnishing and maintaining of supervised protective signaling service and who does not have interest in the unprotected properties.

Contractor includes a subcontractor.

Dangerous rocket means any model rocket or model rocket engine that does not comply with the construction requirements of NFPA-1122. For purposes of this Subtitle, a "dangerous rocket" is subject to the regulations governing fireworks.

Distribute as used in this Subtitle with reference to fire extinguishers shall include renting, leasing, and giving away as a prize or a premium.

Dormitory means "dormitory" as defined under "Dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.

Dwelling or Dwellings means any living unit or units as defined under "Dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.

Dwelling Unit means "Dwelling Unit" as defined in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.

Emergency alarm means giving, signaling, or transmitting to Public Safety Communications, any fire station, any central station, any rescue station, or any emergency message center, or to any member of the foregoing, or a fire official or police officer, whether by telephone, spoken word, or otherwise, information to the effect that there is a fire, explosion, injured person, sick person, person trapped, building collapse, gas leak, or other emergency to which the Fire/EMS Department or rescue apparatus normally responds.

Excavate or excavation. See definition at Section 2-385 of this County Code.

Existing condition means any situation, circumstance, or physical makeup of any structure, premises, or process which was ongoing or in effect prior to the adoption of this Subtitle.

Explosive means a chemical compound or mechanical mixture that is commonly used or intended for the purpose of producing an explosion that contains any oxidizing and combustible units or other ingredients in such proportions, quantities, or packing that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, percussion, or detonation of any part of the compound or mixture may cause such a sudden generation of highly heated gases that the resultant gaseous pressures are capable of producing destructive effects on contiguous objects or of destroying life and limb.

Fire alarm system. See "fire warning system."

Fire apparatus means a vehicle such as a fire pumper, aerial ladder truck, elevated platform, rescue squad, or similar fire-fighting or rescue equipment.

Fire Chief means the head of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department as established by the Charter.

Fire Code Official means the person so designated by the Director of the Department of Permitting, Inspections, and Enforcement with concurrence of the Fire Chief.

Fire Department means the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.

Fire/EMS Department connection means a connection for Fire/EMS Department use in supplementing or supplying water for standpipes and sprinkler systems.

Fire drill means an exercise by which the occupants or users of a structure practice a planned evacuation route from the said structure.

Fire hazard means any thing, condition, or act which in the absence of fire, persons regularly engaged in preventing, suppressing, or extinguishing fire recognize as liable to increase or cause an increase in the hazard or menace of fire, or which, in the event of fire, may obstruct, delay, hinder, or interfere with the operations of the Fire/EMS Department or with the egress of occupants.

Fire hydrant means an approved valved outlet on a water supply system with one (1) or more threaded outlets and used to supply Fire/EMS Department hoses and pumpers with water.

Fire lane means the space, road, path, or other passageway developed to allow the placement and passage of fire apparatus on and through congested areas including private property.

Fire Marshal means an individual designated by the Fire Chief that oversees the Office of The Fire Marshal.

Fire Official means any person serving as a designated employee, representative, or agent of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department under authority granted by the Fire Chief.

Fire protection system means systems, devices, and equipment used to detect fire, heat, smoke, fumes, or gasses, actuate an alarm, suppress or control a fire, or any combination thereof.

Fire separation means construction of rated fire resistant material(s) or the maintenance of clear area to resist the spread of fire; including but not limited to "fire door," "fire resistance," "fire separation," "exterior fire exposure," "fire separation wall," "fire wall," and "fire window" as defined in the International Building Code as adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.

Fire suppression system means a device, devices, or system of devices that detects a phenomenon of fire including, but not limited to, heat, smoke, flame, visible or invisible particles, or infrared, ultraviolet, or invisible radiation and, upon detection, automatically extinguishes or attempts to extinguish a fire.

Fire warning system means a device, devices, or system of devices that detects a phenomenon of fire, including, but not limited to, heat, smoke, flame, visible or invisible particles, or infrared, ultraviolet, or visible radiation and that, upon detection, transmits an audible, visible, or other sensory alarm to occupants and/or the Fire/EMS Department.

Fireworks, except as hereinafter provided, means:

A lighter manufactured prior to January 1, 1980;

A lighter incapable of being fueled or lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame;

Any mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills; or

Standard disposable and refillable lighters that are printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.