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HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 13-2004RESOLUTION NO. 13-2004 CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA A RESOLUTION FINDING AND DETERMINING THE NEED FOR CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE CAI,IFORNIA FIRE CODE, 2001 EDITION WHEREAS, Section 17958 of the California Health & Safety Code authorizes the adoption and amendment by the City of South San Francisco of regulations published by the State in the California Building Standards Code; and WHEREAS, Health & Safety Code §17958.5 permits a city to make such changes or modifications to the California Building Standards Code as deemed reasonable because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions; and WHEREAS, Section 17958.7 requires that a copy of the City's findings, together with the modification or change expressly marked and identified to which each finding refers, be filed with the California Building Standards Commission; and WHEREAS, the City has adopted local amendments to the California Fire Code, 2001 Edition, which have been evaluated and recognized by the City of South San Francisco as tools for addressing the fire problem in the City of South San Francisco, and the concerns and future direction by which the City will establish and maintain an environment which will afford a high level of fire and life safety to all those who work and live within the City's boundaries. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of South San Francisco does hereby declare and find the following: In connection with the adoption of Chapter 15.24 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code, whereas said Chapter adopts and amends the California Fire Code, 2001 Edition, and its Appendices, changes to the California Fire Code, 2001 Edition, are reasonably necessary because of following local climatic, geological or topographical conditions: CLIMATIC: South San Francisco receives an annual average rainfall of approximately 12.1 inches between October and April. During the summer months from June to September, the City experiences a great deal of fog and wind. Winds generally prevail from the west at velocities ranging from approximately 5 to 50 mph. Average velocities are approximately 15 to 25 mph. Temperatures range from approximately 32 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In summary, due to these climatic conditions, driving is extremely hazardous and visibility very poor. Therefore arriving on scene at an emergency may require a long response time. b) c) Winds can have an impact on structure fires of buildings in close proximity to one another, common to South San Francisco. In building fires, winds can literally force fires back into the building and create a blow-torch effect, in addition to preventing "natural" ventilation and cross-ventilation efforts. GEOGRAPHICAL: South San Francisco resides on the San Andreas Fault and is subject to seismic activity. An earthquake can occur at any time, causing severe stress on the fire department's ability to provide emergency response, e.g. water mains and natural gas lines may rupture contributing to the rapid spread of fire. Streets may become blocked by debris which will cause traffic congestion and a delayed response of firefighting personnel and equipment. Non-native vegetation in and near open spaces such as French Bloom, Eucalyptus, Monterey Pine, and grasses combined with steep sloped terrain pose a significant threat of wildfire. The City responds to wildland fires on San Bruno Mountain on an annual basis. The City is bordered to the north by Daly City, Colma and Brisbane. The City of Pacifica is to the west and San Bruno to the south. To the east is San Francisco Bay. To the southeast is San Francisco International Airport that subjects the City to frequent over flights of large commercial aircraft. As a result, the City is the potential site for a significant off- airport incident involving a large loss of life and widespread property damage due to fire. Consequently, automatic or mutual aid from other cities may be overwhelmed or unavailable, since Colma, Brisbane, Pacifica and San Bruno fire departments are staffed by volunteers or consist of one and two stations respectively. TOPOGRAPHICAL: South San Francisco is built on portions of land ranging from Bay fill, lowland flood plain to gently sloping areas and steep hillsides. Many alleys and streets are narrow and winding with congested vehicle parking. New construction is inevitably built on steep hillsides or in areas where access is difficult. Narrow roads make response times longer and make it difficult to place fire apparatus and equipment close to a fire scene. Additionally, some areas have structures built on zero lot lines creating difficulty in controlling fire spread and exposure. Delays in response may also be attributed to traffic patterns where major thoroughfares are often congested with traffic. In order to mitigate the problems that prevent a quick and efficient response to a fire regardless of its cause, use of emergency plans and procedures, fire permits, built-in automatic fire-extinguishing systems, standpipes systems, fire alarm systems, fire apparatus access roads and gas meter markings are required over and above state code requirements. Emergency plans and procedures will assist employees who are responsible for the elderly or infirmed to notify the fire department in the event of an emergency, isolate the fire and evacuate the building occupants. Fire permits will insure proper design, installation of fire protection and life safety systems or the proper use or storage of materials to minimize the incidence or severity of fire. The requirement for installation of fire protection and life safety systems will allow faster notification to occupants to evacuate and allow the fire to be controlled before the firefighters arrive. Fire apparatus access roads and maximum spacing between fire hydrants will ensure that fire apparatus and equipment can place close to a fire scene. Labeling of gas and utility services in multi-tenant buildings will ensure that they can be easily located and shut-off to prevent the likelihood of fire and/or explosion. Additional standpipe outlets will allow firefighters access to a water supply once inside a structure. In addition to the general findings above, the following specific findings are made with respect to the following individual sections contained in Chapter 15.24 of the South San Francisco Municipal Code, adopting and amending the California Fire Code, 2001 Edition: 15.24.010 Fire Code Findings of Fact: Every three years the Western Fire Chiefs Association publishes a new edition of the Uniform Fire Code. The City of South San Francisco is presently using the 1997 Edition. The State of California also uses the Uniform Fire Code as a reference and by adding its own amendments, has adopted it as the California Fire Code. Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, contains all of the Building Standards of the State of California and is divided into ten parts including Part 2, California Building Code (References Uniform Building Code) and Part 9, California Fire Code (References Uniform Fire Code). The City of South San Francisco is presently using the 1998 edition. To maintain consistent current practices in the field of fire safety and building technology, changes in materials, processes, and construction, we recommend adoption of the 2001 Edition of the California Fire Code and appendices as indicated. 15.24.020 Amendments, General Findings of Fact: This section remains unchanged from the prior code adopted by the City. 15.24.030 Division of Fire Prevention-Established Enforcement Duties Findings of Fact: This section establishes the formation of a local fire prevention division and appointment of a Fire Marshal under the supervision of the Fire Chief. The function of this division shall be to assist the Chief in the administration and enforcement of the provisions of the Fire Code and the South San Francisco Municipal Codes. 15.24.040 Authority To Cite Findings of Fact: This section is amended to include the use of administrative citation in addition to other legal remedies, criminal or civil, which may be pursued by the City to address any violation of this code 15.24.050 Violation and Penalties Findings of Fact: Government Code Section 50022.4 provides that when a code is adopted by reference, penalty clauses are not deemed adopted by reference but may be enacted only if set forth in full in the adopting ordinance. Such is the action taken with these two sections, and such is the intent of the City Council. 15.24.060 Appeals 15.24.070 Permit and Service Fees Findings of Fact: These sections are directly related to administrative and permit processes only. These changes confirm permits, appeals, processes, imposition of costs and fees, and are administrative rather than technical in nature. 15.24.080 Permits Required Findings of Fact: The above stated climatic, geographical and topographical conditions warrant more stringent requirements for additional listing of renewable permits (annually renewed) to those already described in Section 105 oft he California Fire Code which provides permission to maintain, store, use or handle materials, or to conduct processes which produce conditions hazardous to life or property, or to install equipment used in conjunction with such activities. Properly constructed and maintained Christmas tree lots will insure the safety of patrons as well as decrease the incidence and severity of fire. A properly functioning fire alarm system gives early warning to building occupants to leave the affected area promptly. When fire occurs in institutions and large family day care facilities multiple fatalities can occur. Proper exiting and other related fire safety issues can only be addressed through a fire inspection. Permit-required confined spaces contain oxygen deficient and flammable atmospheres or other hazardous conditions. Over 50% of fatalities that occur in these locations involve would be rescuers. The fire department is mandated to be knowledgeable of their location and special problems they present during a rescue. Portable tar kettles used to heat tar during :roof surfacing, sealing and/or repair may overheat and cause a fire or boil over if safety controls are not in place and operating. Inspection and the issuance of a permit will help prevent these types of incidents. 15.24.090 Fire Apparatus Access Roads Findings of Fact: This section is amended to include the use of signage, curb color and markings to insure emergency vehicle access. This section will assist in faster response for emergency response personnel due to topographical conditions (narrow and winding streets with congested parking) 15.24.100 Premises Identification Findings of Fact: This section is amended to include address number or letter requirements on all occupancies as well as within a building, e.g. apartment numbers. It also defines stroke and height requirement for the number or letter designation. This section will assist in faster response for emergency response personnel due to climatic conditions (fog) which inhibit visibility as well as locating a victim within a building. 15.24.110 Fire Extinguishing Systems Findings of Fact: Climatic, geographical and topographical conditions warrant more stringent requirements for automatic fire extinguishing systems in the City of South San Francisco than those standards as set forth in the uniform code. In particular: Climatic: During the summer months from June to September, the City experiences a great deal of fog and wind. As a result, driving is extremely hazardous and visibility very poor. Therefore arriving on scene at an emergency may require a long response time. Winds can have an impact on how fast and intense a fire will burn and spread to other buildings that are in close proximity to one another common to South San Francisco. In building fires, winds can also literally force fires back into the building and create a blow torch effect, in addition to preventing "natural" ventilation and cross ventilation. Geology: South San Francisco sets over 2 miles of the San Andreas earthquake fault. This fault can create major ground shaking resulting in multiple fires throughout our community. With only five Engine Companies and no mutual-aid immediately available after an earthquake, we must rely on built-in fire protection to quickly extinguish a large number of incipient fires. Topography: The remaining area of South San Francisco to be built on is largely limited to steep slopes and hillsides. Many streets are narrow and winding with congested parking. This makes it more difficult to place fire apparatus and equipment close to a fire scene. Slopes also make it difficult to place ladders for rescue and to advance hose lines. Response time is increased due to steep grades, narrow streets, and congested traffic. In addition, many buildings are built upon zero lot lines and have no direct rear yard access. Initial fire attack is possible from the front side of the building only. The time it may take for a firefighter to reach the seat of the fire is greatly increased. The opportunity for occupants to safely exit the building is limited as well. The time delay decreases the survival chances of victims in the building and increases the potential for property damage. Fire spread between buildings is more probable. An automatic fire sprinkler system will either extinguish the fire or control it until firefighters can arrive and extinguish it. Automatic fire sprinklers are the proven most effective method of saving lives and property. In order to ensure uniform standards, these changes shall also apply to the fire-extinguishing system requirements set forth in California Building Code Sections 904.2 - 904.2.10.1. 15.24.120 Requirements for Buildings Two or More Stories in Height, but less than State-Mandated High-Rise Buildings (seventy-five feet) 15.24.130 Requirements for Buildings Four or More Stories in Height, but less than State-Mandated High-Rise Buildings (seventy-five feet) Findings of Fact: The above stated climatic, geographical and topographical conditions warrant more stringent requirements for multi-storied buildings in the City of South San Francisco than those standards as set forth in the uniform code. These sections deal with the special problems associated with fires in multi-storied buildings. Due to the vertical nature of multi-story building fires, they require significantly more resources than other types of fires. 15.24.140 Sprinkler Systems and Monitoring and Alarms 15.24.150 Fire Alarm Systems Findings of Fact: Frequent problems with malfunctioning alarm systems, often caused by climatic conditions in the City of South San Francisco; require the fire department to secure information needed to restore a fire alarm system to normal service, to ensure that instructions on such systems are accessible, and to ensure that such systems are well maintained and inspected. 15.24.160 Gas Meters and Piping Findings of Fact: This section deals with the difficulty associated with quickly controlling gas and utility services in multi-tenant buildings following an earthquake to prevent the occurrence or severity of fire and other hazards. 15.24.170 Prohibition Findings of Fact: The more particular ordinance, found within Chapter 10.50 of the Municipal Code, controls and these amendments are made to make the uniform code consistent with the remaining codes of the City. 15.24.180 Emergency Procedures Findings of Fact: The above stated climatic, geographical and topographical conditions warrant more stringent requirements for persons who are responsible to care for the aged and infirm to be knowledgeable of emergency plans and procedures to ensure a prompt and efficient response of firefighting personnel and equipment. 15.24.190 Number and Distribution of Fire Hydrants Findings of Fact: This section remains unchanged from prior code adopted by the City. These changes describe the maximum spacing between fire hydrants. 15.24.200 Standpipe Requirements Findings of Fact: Table 1004-A has been amended to delete requirements based on unsprinkled buildings. Due to Section 15.24.120, Fire Extinguishing Systems (fire sprinklers) of this code, all new construction requires a fire sprinkler system; consequently, the requirements based on unsprinkled buildings do not apply. Additionally, the classes of standpipes and fire hose requirements have been changed in occupancies to reflect the need for better water supply and versatility during fire suppression. Slow response times in South San Francisco due to sloped terrain, fog, narrow streets and multi-storied buildings with large floor space require more versatile standpipe outlets be installed as necessary to mitigate the situation. This amendment is also reflected in an ordinance proposed in the Uniform Building Code, Table 9-A. o The aforesaid local amendments are reasonably necessary in order to lessen the threat to life, safety, and property represented by certain local climatic, geographical, and topographical conditions existing in the City of South San Francisco. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk is hereby directed to cause a copy of this resolution, together with the ordinance making the changes or modifications to the California Fire Code, 2001 Edition, to be filed with the California State Building Standards Commission. I hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the City of South San Francisco at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of February 2004 by the following vote: AYE S: NOES: ABSTAIN: ABSENT: Councilmembers Joseph A. Fernekes, Richard A. Garbarino, and Pedro Gonzalez, Vice Mayor Raymond L. Green and Mayor Karyl Matsumoto None. None. None. ATTEST:/~/c/~;, ~ ~J')?, City Clerk