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<section number="11-102" name="Definitions" law="code" slug="sec-11-102" node_id="PTIITI17PULOLAPRGECOMA_SUBTITLE_11FISA_DIV1GEPR_S11-102DE">
  <level label="a">
    <text>Generally. Definitions of words defined in this Section apply only to this Subtitle. Whenever definitions are set forth in any code, standard, manual or model law adopted by reference in this Subtitle or under the authority of this Subtitle, such definitions shall apply to the particular code, standards, manual or model law adopted by reference in which the definition appears. Any conflict between definitions set forth in an adopted code, standard, manual or model law and those expressly set forth in this Section shall be resolved by reference to the definition in this Section.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>Definitions. As used in this Subtitle:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>Alternative means a system, condition, arrangement, material, or equipment submitted to the Fire Chief or authorized representative as a substitute for a Subtitle requirement.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Authority having jurisdiction means the Fire Chief or authorized representative.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Authorized display means the discharge of fireworks for which a permit has been issued by the State Fire Marshal.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="5">
      <text>Authorized representative means a person duly appointed to administer or enforce this Subtitle in the name of the Fire Chief.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="6">
      <text>Boardinghouse means "boarding house" as defined under "Dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="7">
      <text>Burning means lighting, igniting, kindling, or setting fire to combustible materials, adding fuel to a fire or permitting combustible materials to burn.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="8">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="9">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="10">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="11">
      <text>Contractor includes a subcontractor.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="12">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="13">
      <text>Distribute as used in this Subtitle with reference to fire extinguishers shall include renting, leasing, and giving away as a prize or a premium.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="14">
      <text>Dormitory means "dormitory" as defined under "Dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="15">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="16">
      <text>Dwelling Unit means "Dwelling Unit" as defined in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="17">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="18">
      <text>Excavate or excavation. See definition at Section 2-385 of this County Code.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="19">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="20">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="21">
      <text>Fire alarm system. See "fire warning system."</text>
    </level>
    <level label="22">
      <text>Fire apparatus means a vehicle such as a fire pumper, aerial ladder truck, elevated platform, rescue squad, or similar fire-fighting or rescue equipment.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="23">
      <text>Fire Chief means the head of the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department as established by the Charter.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="24">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="25">
      <text>Fire Department means the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="26">
      <text>Fire/EMS Department connection means a connection for Fire/EMS Department use in supplementing or supplying water for standpipes and sprinkler systems.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="27">
      <text>Fire drill means an exercise by which the occupants or users of a structure practice a planned evacuation route from the said structure.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="28">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="29">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="30">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="31">
      <text>Fire Marshal means an individual designated by the Fire Chief that oversees the Office of The Fire Marshal.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="32">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="33">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="34">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="35">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="36">
      <text>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.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="37">
      <text>Fireworks, except as hereinafter provided, means:</text>
      <level label="A">
        <text>Any combustible or explosive composition;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="B">
        <text>Any substance or combination of substances or article prepared for the purpose of producing a visible or audible effect by combustion, explosion, deflagration, or detonation;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="C">
        <text>Blank cartridges, toy pistols, toy cannons, toy canes, or toy guns, in which explosives as defined by State law are used;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="D">
        <text>Unmanned balloons that require fire for propulsion;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="E">
        <text>Firecrackers, squibs, rockets, sparklers, roman candles, torpedoes, bombs, grenades, fire balloons, signal lights, fountains, wheels, dipsticks, dangerous rockets, novelties composed of two (2) or more of the foregoing, and any device of like construction; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="F">
        <text>Tablets or other devices containing any explosive, explosive substance or flammable compound.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <text>Notwithstanding the foregoing definition, for purposes of this Subtitle, "fireworks" shall not include:</text>
  <level label="A">
    <text>Model rockets or model engines that are designed, sold and used for the purpose of propelling recoverable aero models;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="B">
    <text>Toy pistols, toy canes, toy guns, or other devices in which are used toy paper or plastic caps manufactured in accordance with the United States Department of Transportation regulations for packing and shipping of toy paper or plastic caps;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="C">
    <text>Toy paper or plastic caps manufactured in accordance with the regulations promulgated by the United States Department of Transportation, except that each package of toy paper or plastic caps offered for retail sale must be labeled to indicate the maximum explosive content per cap;</text>
  </level>
  <level label="D">
    <text>Flare guns used by railroads or other transportation agencies for signal purpose or illumination; and</text>
  </level>
  <level label="E">
    <text>Blank cartridges used either in public entertainment by performers or for signal or ceremonial purposes at athletic or sports events or by military organizations.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="38">
    <text>Fireworks shooter means a person or persons who may supervise an authorized display upon the prior written approval of the State Fire Marshal.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="39">
    <text>Gallon means one United States standard gallon.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="40">
    <text>Grade when used with respect to the exterior of buildings means the reference plane representing the average elevation of finished ground level adjoining the building at all exterior walls.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="41">
    <text>Hazardous chemicals shall include, but are not limited to, such materials as flammable solids, corrosive liquids, radioactive materials, oxidizing materials, potentially explosive chemicals, hazardous substances, highly toxic materials, and poisonous gases.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="42">
    <text>Hazardous substance means any matter that conveys toxic, lethal, or sublethal effects to plant, aquatic, or animal life, or which may be injurious to human health, or persists in the environment, or which causes sublethal alterations to aquatic, plant, animal, or human systems through their cumulative or immediate reactions. The term includes any matter identified as a hazardous substance by the Environmental Protection Agency in Regulation 40 CFR Part 116.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="43">
    <text>Hotel means hotel as defined under dwellings in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="44">
    <text>Multifamily apartment house means any building or portion thereof, that is designed, built, rented, leased, sold, let, or hired out to be occupied, or that is occupied as the home or residence of three (3) or more families, each living in a separate dwelling unit, and shall include flats and apartments.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="45">
    <text>NFPA means National Fire Protection Association. When followed by a number, e.g., NFPA-101, the term refers to a model code or standard promulgated by the NFPA.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="45.1">
    <text>Novelty Lighter means a mechanical or electrical device typically used for lighting cigarettes, cigars or pipes that is designed to resemble cartoon characters, toys, guns, explosive devices, watches, musical instruments, vehicles, animals, food or beverages, or similar articles, or that play musical notes, or has flashing lights for entertainment or has other entertaining features. A novelty lighter may operate on any fuel, including but not limited to butane, isobutene or liquid fuel. Novelty lighter does not include:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>A lighter manufactured prior to January 1, 1980;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A lighter incapable of being fueled or lacking a device necessary to produce combustion or a flame;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>Any mechanical or electrical device primarily used to ignite fuel for fireplaces or for charcoal or gas grills; or</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>Standard disposable and refillable lighters that are printed or decorated with logos, labels, decals or artwork, or heat shrinkable sleeves.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="46">
    <text>Permit means an official document or certificate issued by the Fire Chief or other permit-issuing authority for the purpose of authorizing the performance or conduct of a specified activity.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="47">
    <text>Permit holder or permittee means the person in whose name a permit is issued.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="48">
    <text>Person means an individual, an executor, administrator, trustee, receiver, or other representative appointed according to law, or a corporation, firm, partnership, association, organization, or any other group acting as a unit. Whenever a violation of this Subtitle constitutes an unlawful act, "person" may include the partners or members of a partnership or association and the officers, agents, employees, or members of a corporation who are responsible for the violation.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="49">
    <text>Process means the manufacturing, handling, blending, conversion, purification, recovery, separation, synthesis or use, or any combination of any commodity or material regulated by this Subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="50">
    <text>Public Safety Communications means the public fire service communication facilities operated by Prince George's County receiving fire alarms or other emergency calls from the public, retransmitting these alarms and emergency calls to fire companies and other interested agencies, and operating the fire and rescue services radio base stations and landline communications equipment.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="51">
    <text>Repair means the reconstruction or renewal of any part of an existing building or structure for the purpose of its maintenance. The term "repair" shall not apply to any construction which changes or alters an existing building or structure or part thereof.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="52">
    <text>Siamese Connection. See "Fire/EMS Department connection."</text>
  </level>
  <level label="53">
    <text>Single-Family Dwelling means "one-family dwelling" as defined under "dwellings" in the International Building Code adopted in Subtitle 4 of this County Code.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="54">
    <text>Sleeping area means the area or areas of the dormitory, dwelling unit in a multifamily dwelling, or guest rooms in a hotel or motel in which the bedrooms or sleeping rooms are located. Rooms habitually used for sleeping that are separated by other use areas (including, but not limited to, kitchens or living rooms, but not bathrooms or closets) shall be considered as separate sleeping areas for the purposes of this Subtitle.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="55">
    <text>Smoke Alarm means an approved device capable of sensing visible or invisible particles of combustion.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="56">
    <text>Smoking means lighting, igniting, holding, or possessing any lighted cigar, cigarette, or pipe, or carrying, throwing, or depositing any lighted or smoldering cigar, cigarette, or pipe.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="57">
    <text>Street means a public thoroughfare that has been dedicated for vehicular use by the public.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="58">
    <text>System means several items of equipment assembled, grouped or otherwise interconnected for the accomplishment of a purpose or a function.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="59">
    <text>Unprotected combustible fiber storage vault means a room with a capacity not exceeding one thousand (1,000) cubic feet separated from the remainder of the building by a two (2) hour occupancy separation, constructed as specified in the International Building Code adopted by Subtitle 4 of this County Code and provided with approved safety vents to the outside.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="60">
    <text>Utility line. See definition at Section 2-385 of this County Code.</text>
  </level>
</section>
