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<section article="gps" article_name="Public Safety" number="9-102" title_number="9" title_name="Fire Protection and Prevention" subtitle_number="1" subtitle_name="Smoke Detection Systems">
  <level label="a">
    <level label="1">
      <text>In this section, “high–rise building” means a building where the floor of an occupiable story is greater than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>“High–rise building” does not include:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>a structure or building used exclusively for open–air parking; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>a building used exclusively for agricultural purposes.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>This subtitle applies throughout the State, including Baltimore City.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <level label="1">
      <text>An automatic smoke alarm shall be provided in each sleeping area within each residential occupancy, including one– and two–family dwellings, lodging or rooming houses, hotels, dormitories, and apartment buildings, as defined in NFPA 101: Life Safety Code as adopted by the State Fire Prevention Commission.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Beginning July 31, 2025, smoke detectors shall be installed in accordance with location and spacing requirements established by the National Fire Protection Association in each interior public corridor in a residential rental high–rise building.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>A county may not require upgrades to fire safety systems not specified in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph as a condition of issuing a permit for the installation of smoke detectors required under subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <level label="i">
        <text>In this paragraph, “substantial renovation” means permanent alterations that:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>are intended to enhance the value of a building;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>cost an amount equal to or greater than 40% of the value of the building as assessed by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>meet the criteria for substantial renovation under any applicable local law.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Beginning October 1, 2026, automatic fire sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with NFPA Life Safety Code and NFPA standards in each residential rental high–rise building that is undergoing a substantial renovation that receives building permits on or after October 1, 2026.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>In determining whether a proposed substantial renovation is intended to enhance the value of a building exclusive of land value, a county may consider building improvements completed over a 4–year time period from the date of the initial building permit.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>A substantially renovated residential rental high–rise building shall also have the following fire protection and life safety features:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>smoke alarms in every sleeping area;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>stairwells enclosed with at least 2–hour fire resistance rated construction with at least 90–minute fire resistance rated, self–closing, and self–latching doors;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>at least 20–minute fire resistance rated corridor doors with appropriately rated corridor walls;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="4">
          <text>smokeproof exit enclosures via natural ventilation, mechanical ventilation incorporating a vestibule, or pressurizing the stair enclosure;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="5">
          <text>at least two smoke compartments on each floor; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="6">
          <text>inadequate fire pumps replaced when necessary.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <text>Smoke alarms shall:</text>
    <level label="1">
      <text>be installed in accordance with NFPA 72: National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code as referenced by the State Fire Prevention Code;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>be listed and labeled by a nationally recognized testing laboratory to comply with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 217, “Standard for safety for single and multiple station smoke alarms”;</text>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>be suitable for sensing visible or invisible products of combustion; and</text>
    </level>
    <level label="4">
      <text>sound an alarm suitable to warn the occupants.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <text>Local jurisdictions may adopt smoke alarm regulations that are more stringent than the provisions of this subtitle.</text>
  </level>
</section>
