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Chapter 4

 ALARMS

  [HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Henniker as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]

ARTICLE I - Fire Alarms  [Adopted 9‑29‑1998]

~ 4‑1. Definitions.

  As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ACCIDENTAL ALARM ‑‑ Any activation of an alarm system to which the Fire Department responds which is the result of an unintentional occurrence or mishap. This shall include but not be limited to alarms caused by electrical storms, floods, violent events of nature, steam from showers, burned food and good faith assumptions of a fire condition.

FALSE ALARMS ‑‑ Any activation of an alarm system to which the Fire Department responds which is not the result of fire, emergency call for assistance or accidental alarm. This shall include alarms improperly or maliciously sounded.

 ~ 4‑2. Inspections of alarm installations. 

All fire alarms shall be installed by qualified personnel. The inspection of an installed fire alarm system shall be performed with the Fire Department and/or designee without charge to the alarm owner.

 ~ 4‑3. False alarm charges.

 Any property owner having a fire alarm system on its premises and installed to warn occupants of fire, which causes a response by the Fire Department, shall pay the Town of Henniker a charge for false alarms to which the Fire Department responds in each calendar year as follows: 

A.         There shall be no charge for the first five false alarms. This is to be considered the limit.

 

B.         The charge for the first five false alarms in excess of the limit will be in the amount of $50 per alarm.

 

C.        The charge for all false alarms in excess of 10, including Subsection A and B above, will be in the amount of $100 per alarm.

~ 42‑4. System malfunctions. 

 A good faith effort will be made by the property owner to address system malfunctions within 24 hours of becoming aware of a malfunction. If good faith efforts are not made to address a malfunction in the system then it will be classified as a false alarm and charged as such.

~ 4‑5. Liability of town limited. 

The Henniker Fire Department shall take every reasonable precaution to assure that the alarm signals and alarm messages received by the Fire Department are given appropriate attention and are acted upon with dispatch. Nevertheless, the Fire Department shall not be liable for any defects in operation of alarm devices, nor for the failure or neglect of any person in connection with the installation and operation of alarm devices or their components, the transmission of alarm signals and prerecorded alarm messages or the receipt or relaying of such signals and messages. In the event that the Fire Department finds it necessary to disconnect an alarm device, the Fire Department shall incur no liability by such action.