HomeMy WebLinkAbout38.126 ORDINANCE NO. 38. 126
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA AMENDING
SECTION 3-9.8 OF ARTICLE II OF CHAPTER 3 OF THE
SARATOGA CITY CODE PERTAINING TO EARLY WARNING
FIRE REPORTING SYSTEMS
The City Council of the City of Saratoga does hereby ordain as follows:
SECTION 1: Section 3-9.8 of Article 1I of Chapter 3 of the Saratoga
City Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"3-9.8. Section 1210 Amended. Section 12].0 of the Uniform Building
Co'F~',1982 Edition, is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 1210(a)(1). Find. ings. Reference is hereby made to
Sheets 90, 111, 125 and 126 of the Santa Clara County Cadastral
Planimetrics Maps, showing and delineating thereon an area of the City
which has been designated as a hazardous fire area, three copies of which
Maps have been filed with the Clerk of the City for use and examination by
the public, and which Maps are hereby specifically referred to and
incorporated herein by reference.
Section 9.110 of the Fire Prevention Code of the City of
Saratoga defines, inter alia, a "hazardous fire area" as "any land which is
covered with grass, grain, brush or forest, whether privately or publicly
owned, which is so situated, or is of such inaccessible location, that a fire
originating upon such land would present an abnormally difficult job of
suppression or would result in great and unusual damage through fire or
resulting erosion...." The City Council of the City of Saratoga has found
and determined that the area designated as a hazardous fire area on each
of the foregoing sheets Of the aforementioned Maps does constitute a
"hazardous fire area" within the aforementioned definition. The response
time of emergency equipment to calls for aid in the hazardous fire area is
impaired due to: (1) the non-availability of access to some portions of the
hazardous fire area, (2) the existence of steep, narrow streets and
roadways located in the hazardous fire area, (3) the lack of connecting
streets or roadways in the hazardous fire area, and (4) the unusual
topography of the hazardous fire area. Further, the presence of heavy
vegetation in the hazardous fire m'ea increases the potential for the rapid
spread of any fire which may start in that area, particularly during
seasonal dry spells.
In order to provide timely life safety warning to inhabitants of
residential structures located in the designated hazardous fire area, and to
provide the earliest possible opportunity to alert fire suppression personnel
of any potential fire condition in the hazardous fire area, it is necessary
for the City to amend Section 1210 of the Uniform Building COde, 1982
Edition, pertaining to fire warning and sprinkler systems.
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(2) Fire Warnin~ Systems. Every dwelling unit and every
guest room in a hotel or lodging house used for sleeping purposes shall be
provided with smoke detectors conforming to U.B.C. Standard No. 43-6.
In dwelling units, detectors shall be mounted on the ceiling or wall at a
point centrally located in the corridor or area giving access to rooms
used for sleeping purposes. In an efficiency dwelling unit, hotel sleeping
room and in hotel suites, the detector shall be centrally located on the
ceiling pf the main room or hotel sleeping room. Where sleeping rooms
are on an upper level, the detector shall be placed at the center of the
ceiling directly above the stairway. All detectors shall be located in
accordance with approved manufacturer's instructinns. When actuated,
the detector shall provide an alarm in the dwelling unit or guest room.
When alterations, repairs or additions requiring a
permit and having a valuation in excess of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000)
occur, or when one or more sleeping rooms are added or created in
existing Group R, Division 3 Occupancies, the entire building shall be
provided with smoke detectors located ss required for new Group
Division 3 Occupancies.
In new construction, required smoke detectors shall
receive their primary power from the building wiring when such wiring is
served from a commercial source. Wiring shall be permanent and
without a disconnecting switch other than those required for overcurrent
protection. Smoke detectors may be battery operated when installed in
existing buildings, or in buildings without commercial power, or in
buildings which undergo alterations, repairs or additions regulated by the
second paragraph of this subsection.
A smoke detector shall be installed in the basement of
dwelling units having a stairway which opens from the basement into the
dwelling. Such detector shall be connected to a sounding device or other
detector to provide an alarm which will be audible in the sleeping area.
(3) Early Warning Fire Reporting System, In addition to
the requirements contained in subsection (2) above, an Early Warning
Fire Reporting System shall be installed and maintained in a fully
operational condition in each new dwelling upon which construction is
commenced from and after the effective date of this ordinance in the
hazardous fire area described, defined and delineated in subsection (1)
above. Further, when an existing dwelling located in the described,
defined and delineated hazardous fire area is altered, repaired, added
or expanded so as to increase the floor space under roof by fifty percent
(50%) or more of the amount of floor space under roof, immediately
prior to such alteration, repair, addition or expansion, an Early Warning
Fire Reporting System shall be installed and maintained in a fully
operational condition in each such dwelling. For the purposes of this
paragraph, any alteration, repair, addition or expansion shall be
considered as equalling or exceeding the above fifty percent (50%) limit
where the work of construction or improvement is done at different time
intervals requiring two (2) or more buil~ling permits within a period of
five (5) years after completion of the first improvement, where although
each is for a project emcompassing an addition of less than fifty percent
(50%) of' increased floor space, but which when combined with other
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expansions during said five (5) year period of time, increased the amount
of floor space under roof by fifty percent (50%) or more of that smount
which existed immediately prior to the commencement of the first of
the several alterations, repairs, additions, or expansions.
An Early Warning Fire l~eporting System may be
installed in any dwelling located within the city limits of the City of
Saratoga other than within that hazardous fire area described, defined
and delineated in subsection (1) above.
Each Early Warnir~g Fire Reporting System required or
permitted to be installed pursuant to this section shall include, contain,
and incorporate the following components connected in such a manner as
to be capable of automatically transmitting by standard telephone lines
or such other means as maS~ be designated and required from time to
time by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Saratoga Fire District,
designated alarm signals from any such installation to the Saratoga Fire
District Digital Alarm Communieator Receiver:
(A) A California State Fire Marshal listed and approved solid state
electronic Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter. A Digital Alarm
Communieator Transmitter with provision for connection of supervised
integrating zone circuits can be used alone, or any Digital Alarm
Communicator Transmitter may be used in conjunction with a California State
Fire Marshal listed and approved Fire Alarm Control Panel which meets the
requirements of National Fire Protection Association Document 72A or 74. If
a Fire Alarm Control Panel is used, the connection between the Fire Alarm
Control Panel and the Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter shalI be
through dry relay contacts on the Fire Alarm Control Panel, or other
California State Fire Marshal listed-configuration for the Digital Alarm
Communicator Transmitter used. In addition, the Digital Alarm
Communieator Transmitter and/or Fire Alarm Control Panel used shall
incorporate the following features:
(i) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter shall be
capable of transmitting to the Saratoga Fire District one or more
multiple digit numbers, as may be assigned by the Saratoga Fire District,
via commercial telephone lines or such other means as may be
designated and required, from time to time, by the Board of'
Commissioners of the Saratoga Fire District, and shall communicate
information in such a manner and of such content as to be compatible
with such specifications as may be made and published by the Fire Chief
of the Saratoga Fire District.
(ii) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter shall be
capable of transmitting a separate and distinct code for each of the
following conditions:
Zone 1: Smoke detection zone in alarm
Zone 2: Heat detection zone in. alarm
Zone 3: Manual station z. one in alarm
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Zone 4: Sprinkler zone in alarm
Zone 5: Medical emergency in alarm
Zone 6: Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter
low battery indication
Zone 7: Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter
and Fire Alarm Control Pane]general
trouble indication
Zone 8 or 9: Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter
test signal transmission once every
24 hours.
Th.e functions designated for Zones 6, 7 and 8 or 9 above may be
.placed in that configuration or in an alternative configuration or format
compatible with the Saratoga Fire District Digital Alarm Commumcator
Receiver. ' ~-
If the Digital Alarm Communieator Transmitterand/or the Fire
Alarm Control Panel incorporate Class "A" initiating zones, they shall be
dedicated to fire alarm zones 1 through 4 above.
(iii) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter shall be
capable of communicating an entire alarm signal transmission within
thirty (30) seconds of the time at which the connection of the call is
completed.
(iv) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter, and Fire
Alarm Control Panel if used, shall contain an internal continuously
charging battery, capable of powering the system for a period of at least
twenty-four (24) hours in the standby mode, and five (5) minutes under
alarm conditions.
(v) Electrical supervision' of the heat detection zone,
manual station zone, and the smoke detection zone (and power to the
smoke detectors) shall be provided by the Digital Alarm Communicator
Transmitter or the Fire Alarm Control Panel. A single open or ground
fault condition in one of these zones in the Digital Alarm Communicator
Transmitter, or the Fire Alarm Control Pane], shall be indicated by a
distinctive, audible trouble signal in the dwelling in which the system is
installed. The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter shall also be
capable of transmitting a trouble signal to the Saratoga Fire District
Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver in the event of a single open or
ground fault condition in one of the aforementioned zones in the Digital
Alarm Communicator Transmitter or the Fire Alarm Control Panel.
(vi) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter
employed in the dwelling for transmitting signals shall be capable of
assuming line seizure priority over any other Digital Alarm
Communicator Transmitter employed for other purposes in the same
dwelling. The fire alarm Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter
connections to telephone lines shall be made ahead of those employed for
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burglar alarm or other purposes, and shall electrically disconnect other
Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitters while transmitting signals.
(vii) All Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitters shall be
capable of being programmed to send signals that are compatible with
the Saratoga Fire District Digital Alarm Communicator Receiver. A
(viii) The Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter and the
Fire Alarm Control Panel shall receive their primary power from the
external electrical supply provided to the dwelling and shall be powered
by a separate circuit that shall have its own circuit breaker switch.
(B) California State Fire Marshal and Underwriter's Laboratory, InC.
approved and listed automatic detectors, capable of responding to visible
products of .combustion, arranged to communicate with the Digital Alarm
Communicator Transmitter or the Fire Alarm Control Panel, and installed in
· the following locations at points approved by the Fire Chief of the Saratoga
Fire District in accordance with the standards contained in' National Fire'
Protection Association Document 72E-1982:
(i) On the ceiling or wall at a point located in the corridors
or areas giving access to rooms used for sleeping purposes.
(ii) In each bedroom, located on the ceiling or wall of the
room.
(iii) On the ceiling or wall near the base of any stairway
where sleeping rooms are on an upper level.
(C) California State Fire MarShal and Underwriter's Laboratory, Inc.
approved and listed automatic detectors, of the combination fixed-
temperature rate-of-rise type, arranged to communicate with the Digital
Alarm Communicator Transmitter or the Fire Alarm Control Panel, and
installed in the following locations at points approved by the Fire Chief of the
Saratoga Fire District and in accordance with the standards contained in
National Fire Protection Association Document 72E-1982:
(i) All rooms in the dwelling, including furnace rooms,
excepting those areas specified in subparagraph (B) above, and
bathrooms.
(ii) Attics.
(iii) Garages.
Exceptions to these standards may be permitted by the Fire Chief
of the Saratoga Fire District.
(D) California State Fire Marshal and Underwriter's Laboratory, Inc.
approved and listed audible warning devices· of sufficient number and
adequately located, pursuant to National Fire Protection Association
Document 74-1984, within the dwelling living and sleeping areas so as to cause
a level of audibility of not less than fifteen (15) decibels above ambient noise
levels measured four (4) feet above the floor with bedroom doors closed.
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(b) Sprinkler Systems. · When required by other provisions of this Code,
automatic sprinkler systems and standpipes shall be instal|ed as specified in
Chapter 38 of The Uniform Building Code, 1982 Edition.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of The Uniform Building.
Code, 1982 Edition, as amended, an automatic sprinkler system shall be
installed in the garage and/or carport portion(s) of any new dwelling
constructed in the hazardous fire area designated,. described and delineated in
subparagraph (a)(1) above when said garage and/or carport has a capacity to
accommodate three (3) or more' automobiles. Further, an automatic sprinkler
system shall be installed in the garage and/or carport portinn(s) of any existing
dwelling located in the described, defined and delineated hazardous fire area,
when such d~<elling is altered, repaired, added to, or expanded so as to
increase the floor space under roof by fifty percent (50%) or more of the
amount of floor space under roof, immediately prior to such alteration, repair,
addition, or expansion when said garage and/or carport has a capscity to
.. accommodate three (3) or more automobiles. For the purposes of this
paragraph, any alteration, repair, addition, or expansion shall be considered as
equalling or exceeding the above fifty percent (50%) limit where the work of
construction or improvement is done at different time intervals requiring two
or more building permits within a period of five (5) years after completion of
the first improvement, where although each is for a project emcompassing an
addition of less than fifty percent (50%) of increased floor space, but which
when combined with other expansions during said five (5)year period of time,
increased the amount of floor space under roof by fifty percent (50%) or more
of that amount which existed immediately prior to the commencement of the
first of the several alterations, repairs, additions, or expansions.
Moreover, an automatic sprinker system may be installed in lieu of
.the approved and listed automatic detector, the .combined fixed temperature
rate of rise and/or fixed temperature only type, as required in subparagraph
(a)(3)(C) above, in those portions of the dwelling identified in subparagraph
(a)(3)(C) above. The requirements of subparagraph (a)(3)($) above must still be
complied with regardless of the installation of an automatic sprinkler system.
Any automatic sprinkler systems installed pursuant to this section
shall be installed in accordance with the standards contained in National Fire
Protection Association Document 13D and shall be equipped with water flow
switches that have a built-in retard assembly, which will send an alarm signal
to the Digital Alarm Communicator Transmitter or the Fire Alarm Control
Panel when the sprinkler system is activated.
(c) Early Warning Fire Reporting System--Installation Permit
Required. An installation permit shall be obtained from the Saratoga Fire
District prior to the installation of any Early Warning Fire Reporting System
required or permitted to be installed pursuant to this Section. Sui'table
documentation relative to the proposed installation shall be submitted to the
Saratoga Fire District for approval at the time application is made for such a
permit. This documentation shall include the following:
(1) A complete list of all fire aiarrn equipment and devices to be
install~'d, including:
(A) Manufacturer's make and model numbers;
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(B) Quanities of eaeh type;
(C) California State Fire Marshal listing numbers;
Underwriters' Laboratory, Inc., spacing specifications for
heat detectors;
(E..~) Evidence .of control panel compatibility with connected
smoke detectors.
(2) Point to point wiring diagram or electrical sequence list for each
zone i~ form acceptable to the Saratoga Fire District. Details shall include:
(A) Wiring sequence of each initiating zone, including wire size
and the number of conductors;
(B~ Wiring sequence of each audible circuit, including wire size
and the number of conductors;
(C_..) Identification of the types of initiating. devices used;
(D~) Temperature ratings indicated, when applicabIe;
(E_J) Locations of Class "Br' circuit end of line devices;
(F~ Locations of junction boxes, when installed.
· c: (3) If requested, copies of California State Fire Marshal listing data
sheetsTY'and any other documents deemed pertinent by the Fire Chief of the
Saratoga Fire District.
All such systems shaI1 be installed by a person holding a valid fire
protection engineering license, C-16 classification, issued by the California
Department of Consumer Affairs, or a valid elec.t. rical~lj_c2_nse,_ C-10.
classification~ or~L_v~sl~ecialt?~ lice'nseI C-61 classifications. issu~ by the
California Contractors State L{eens~ BOard. All sueif'systems shall be
installed in a W~rkmanlike manner and in accordance with the specifications
and standards approved by the Saratoga Fire District. Upon completion of the
installation, the licensed installer shall instruct the homeowner, or his or her
designated representative, in the use of the. system and shall provide
applicable manufacturer's operating manuals.
The Saratoga Fire District shall be responsible for reviewing and
approving .or disapproving that portion of any and all building plans submitted
to the City which are subject to this section. The Saratoga Fire District shall
also be responsible .for conducting the final inspection and approving or
disapproving any system installed in a dwelling pursuant to this section. The
Saratoga Fire District may establish a fee for the plan review and inspection
services it renders pursuant to this section. The licensed installer shall
provide the Saratoga Fire District with a set of as built plans for the system."
SECTION 2: If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of
this Ordinance is for any reason held by a Court of competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this
Ordinance, The City Council of the City of Saratoga hereby declares that it would
have passed this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause and phrase
thereof irrespective of the fact 'that any one or more sections, subsections,
sentences, clauses or phrases may be held invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION 3: This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and
effec~ thirty (30) days f~om and after the date of its passage and adoption.
.. T~e ~ove. ~d foregoing Ordin~ee w~ regularly introduced an~6~ter
day
AYES: Comci~rs ~tlon, Cl~9er~' Hlava~ ~yles ~d ~y~ P~elli
NOES: None ' '
MAYOR
A~EST:
. CITY CLERK
The above and foreaoino is a true and correct
copy o~ O~dinance ~_~,_7~_~___ which has been
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