TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
John Jalili, Interim City Manager
FROM:
Robert Espinosa, Fire Chief
Sal Kaddorah, Building Official
Louis Petroni, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT:Title
Ordinance Adopting By Reference the 2013 Edition of the California Fire Code, and Portions of the International Fire Code, 2012 Edition, Together With Certain Amendments, Deletions, and Additions, and Amending Title 3 of the Manhattan Beach Municipal Code (Community Development Director Thompson & Fire Chief Espinosa).
CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARING AND ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 13-0028 (FIRE CODE)
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that Council conduct a public hearing and adopt Ordinance No 13-0028 (Fire Code).
Body
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
There is no Fiscal Implication associated with this item.
BACKGROUND:
Every three years, the State adopts new model codes (known collectively as the California Building Standards Code) to establish uniform standards for the construction and maintenance of buildings.
Section 13143.5 of the Health and Safety Code allows the City by ordinance to change, make alterations or modifications to the fire code that are more stringent than the requirements published in the California Building Standards Code relating to fire and panic safety and the other regulations adopted pursuant to this part. The City Attorney assisted the Fire Department staff in drafting the attached Ordinance to ensure compliance with State Law.
DISCUSSION:
At the City Council meeting on October 15, 2013 this Ordinance was introduced and a public hearing was scheduled for November 19, 2013. A published notification for two successive weeks was placed in the Beach Reporter on October 24, 2013 to announce the public hearing and adopt the ordinance.
The State of California has adopted the California Building Standard Codes that must in turn be adopted or utilized by each city or county. Certain of the provisions of these Codes are inappropriate for use within the City of Manhattan Beach because of unique climatic, geological and topographical conditions prevailing within the City.
The California Health and Safety Code Sections 17958, 17985.7 and 17958.5 provide for certain amendments to the California Building Standard Codes provided findings of necessity can be made.
Staff is proposing amendments to all codes consistent with the current Manhattan Beach Codes and past practice. The most significant amendments are:
Delete the following Manhattan Beach amendments to the 2010 Fire Code. The 2013 Fire Code adequately addresses these issues:
1. § 507.1 Required Water Supply. Water supplies and fire hydrant requirements must be required in accordance with Section 508.
2. § 507.1.1 New Facilities. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for fire protection must be provided to all premises upon which facilities, buildings or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction.
3. § 507.1.2 Existing facilities. When required by the fire code official, water supply and fire hydrants must be provided at existing facilities when the fire load potential exceeds the water supply availability.
4. § 507.5.1 Additional On-site fire hydrants. When any portion of the facility or building protected is in excess of 150 feet (45 720 mm) from a water supply on a public street, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the facility or building, on-site fire hydrants and mains capable of supplying the required fire flow must be provided when required by the Fire code official. This is covered in Section 508 of the 2013 California Fire Code.
5. § 905.3.0.1 Required Installations. All occupancies, except Group R-3, less than 4 stories in height but greater than 10,000 square feet in sprinklered buildings are required to have a type III standpipe.
6. § 907.9.1.1 Maintenance Required. All fire alarm and fire detection systems in all occupancies except Group R, Division 3, shall be required to have annual maintenance and testing, by a licensed and certified fire alarm company. Any systems failing the annual test, or if a system has caused an excess of 3 false alarms within a 180 day period, shall be immediately repaired. A copy of the maintenance and testing report shall be forwarded to the fire department, fire prevention bureau.
Amend the following:
1. § 903.2.0.1 to "All Occupancies not including Group R-3 and Group U. An Automatic Sprinkler System is required in addition to all applicable items as listed within this section. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all new structures that exceed 2,000 square feet in gross floor area or exceeds two stories in height, and any additional structures attached thereto. No bells are allowed in water flow systems. Only a horn strobe shall be allowed as the water flow audible device."
2. § 903.2.0.2 to Existing Occupancies, not including Group R-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in all existing occupancies, whenever:
1. An addition or remodel causes the occupancy to exceed 2,000 square feet in gross floor area, or exceeds two stories in height.
2. The occupancy is 2,000 square feet, or more, in gross floor area and an addition, alteration, or remodel in excess of 50% of the value of the building is constructed. Existing building value shall be determined as set forth in the Uniform Building Code.
3. §903.2.3 Bullet #1 require an automatic sprinkler system to be provided for throughout all Group E areas greater than 2,000 square feet in area
CONCLUSION:
In accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sections 17922 and 18935, the Building Standards Commission approved the adoption of new model codes relating to fire and life safety in July 2013.
The new codes will become effective at the local level on January 1, 2014. In order to include our local amendments and adequately protect our first responders, business community and citizens, we must complete our adoption process 30 days prior to this date. The adoption of the code into the City Municipal Code provides for an orderly administration of the codes by City Fire and Building Officials.
Attachments:
1. Ordinance No.13-0028 (Fire Code).