HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 287 Amending Fire Code ORDINANCE NO. 287
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FIRE CODE FOR THE CITY OF SARATOGA.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA DOES ORDAIN AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Findings.
The City Council finds and declares that the City has adopted Residential Building and
Fire Codes for the City of Saratoga that are more restrictive than State law by requiring
the installation of automatic sprinklers in most newly constructed structures in the City.
After consultation with local fire officials the City has determined that these requirements
are unnecessary for carport structures which are constructed of noncombustible materials
and are located at a distance from adjoining structures and properties.
Section 2. Adoption.
Section 16- 20.110 of the Saratoga City Code concerning automatic sprinklers is amended
as shown below (text to be added is shown in bold double underline (example) and text
to be deleted is shown in strikeout (example); text in regular font is unchanged by this
ordinance):
16- 20.110 Amendments to Chapter 9 of the Fire Code: Fire Protection Systems
(a) Section 903.2 is amended to read:
903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new and existing
buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in this Section
or in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.18 whichever is the more restrictive.
For the purposes of this section, firewalls used to separate building areas
shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code and shall be
without openings or penetrations.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new
buildings and structures.
Exceptions:
a. Group A, B, E, F, I, L, M, S and U occupancy buildings (except for
U occupancy garages as regulated in Section 903.2.19) and structures that do not
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exceed 1,000 square feet of building area and that are not located in the Wildland-
Urban Interface Fire Area.
b. Group A, B, E, F, I, L, M, S and U occupancy buildings (except for
U occupancy garages as regulated in Section 903.2.19) and structures that are
located in the Wildland -Urban Interface Fire Area and do not exceed 500 square
feet of building area.
c. Single -level parking structures for one or more vehicles that are
i on, 1•_ hr•• is• ii r t s ofnon- ims ill. 1, •ri.l
lo .t•s 1•a 21 f••tf h• cl• •irtis if .n s h•r_tr r .nd
at least 10 feet from the closest property line; and (iv) not connected to a
covered pedestrian walkw .y extendin fr s m a s it s in
2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing
buildings and structures, when additions are made that increase the building area
to more than 3,600 square feet.
Exceptions:
a. A one -time addition to an existing building that does not total more
than 1000 square feet of building area.
b. Single -level parking structures for one or more vehicles that are
(i) open on at least three sides; (ii) constructed of non combustible materials;
(iii) located at least 20 feet from the closest portion of any other structure and
at least 10 feet from the closest property line; and (iv) not connected to a
covered pedestrian walkway extending from a building.
3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new
basements regardless of size and throughout existing basements that are expanded
by more than 50
(b) Subsection 903.2.19 is added to the Fire Code to read as follows:
903.2.19 Group U. Garage Sprinklers. In each of the following cases, a garage for
the parking of motor vehicles shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler
system:
1. Any newly constructed attached or detached garage.
Exception: Single -level parking structures for one or more vehicles
that are (i) open on at least three sides; (ii) constructed of non combustible
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materials •_iii 1 s cated at least 21 feet from the losest ortion of an other
structure and at least 10 feet from the closest property line; and (iv) not
connected to a covered edestri n walkwa ext ndin from buildin
2. Any existing garage that constitutes a portion of an existing dwelling which is
altered, added to, or expanded so as to increase the floor space under roof by fifty
percent or more of the amount of floor space under roof immediately prior to such
alteration, repair, addition, or expansion. For the purposes of this paragraph, any
alteration, repair, addition or expansion shall be considered as equaling or
exceeding the above fifty percent 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 years after completion of the first improvement,
where although each is for a project encompassing an addition of less than fifty
percent of increased floor space, but which when combined with other expansions
during said five year period of time, increased the amount of floor space under
roof by fifty percent or more of that amount which existed immediately prior to
the commencement of the first of the several alterations, repairs, additions or
expansions.
Exception: Single -level parking structures for one or more vehicles
h. r' •i •n• 1' r•' Ins nil- .ms_ .s
•ri_1 1 ri 1 1 11 1 01 if 1 h•r
structure and at least 10 feet from the closest property line; and (iv) not
connected to a covered pedestrian walkway extendin s r m it in..
3. Any existing garage which is altered, added to, or expanded so as to increase
the size of such garage by either 200 or more square feet or thirty -three or more
percent of the original size, whichever is less.
FException• Single level aR rking structures for one or more vehicles
that are (i) open on at least three sides; (ii) constructed of non combustible
m. •ri_1 1 2 1 lm 1 1 s If l I h•r
structure and at least 10 feet from the closest pro r i Ali i i
connected to a covered pedestrian walkway extendin f 1m it in
The area of a garage shall include all contiguous areas within the structure utilized
for workshop or storage purposes which are not constructed as habitable space in
accordance with the requirements of this Code, whether or not such contiguous
areas are designed or utilized for the storage of motor vehicles.
Any automatic sprinkler system installed pursuant to this Section shall comply
with the standards set forth in National Fire Protection Association Document
13D.
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All garage sprinkler systems installed pursuant to this Section shall be equipped
with water flow switches that are connected to audible warning devices of
sufficient number and adequately located within the dwelling so as to cause, when
activated, a level of audibility of not less than fifteen decibels above ambient noise
levels measured four feet above the floor with bedroom doors closed. If the
dwelling serviced by the garage in which a sprinkler system is being installed is
required to be equipped with an early warning fire alarm system pursuant to
Chapter 16, Article 16 -60 of the Saratoga Municipal Code, the water flow
switches referred to herein shall also be connected to the digital alarm
communicator transmitter or the fire alarm control panel described in Section 16-
60.020 of said Code. However, if the dwelling serviced by the garage is not
equipped with such early warning fire alarm system, the water flow switches shall
be connected to an outside audible alarm that will cause, when activated, a level of
audibility at the property line nearest to the alarm of not less than fifteen decibels
above the ambient noise level at such property line. The provisions contained
herein shall apply to both attached and detached garages.
(c) Section 903.1.1 is amended to read:
903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 sprinkler systems. Where the provisions of this code require
that a building or portion thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic
sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall be installed
throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 except as provided in Section 903.3.1.1.1
and local standards.
1. For new buildings having no designated use or tenant, the minimum
sprinkler design density shall be Ordinary Hazard Group
(d) Section 903.3.1.2 is amended to read:
903.3.1.2 NFPA 13R sprinkler systems. Where allowed in buildings of Group R,
up to and including four stories in height automatic sprinkler systems shall be
installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R and local standards.
(e) Section 903.3.1.3 is amended to read:
903.3.1.3 NFPA 13D sprinkler systems. Where allowed, automatic sprinkler
systems installed in one -and two- family dwellings and townhouses shall be
installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D and local standards.
(f) Section 912.2 is amended to read:
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912.2 Location. With respect to hydrants, driveways, buildings and landscaping,
fire department connections shall be so located that fire apparatus and hose
connected to supply the system will not obstruct access to the building for other
fire apparatus. The location of fire department connections shall be approved by
the fire code official.
Section 3. California Environmental Quality Act.
Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act "CEQA this action is
exempt under 14 California Code of Regulations "CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3)
(the amendments are exempt because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility
that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment).
Section 4. Severance Clause.
The City Council declares that each section, sub section, paragraph, sub paragraph,
sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance is severable and independent of every other
section, sub section, sentence, clause and phrase of this ordinance. If any section, sub-
section, paragraph, sub paragraph, sentence, clause and phrase are held invalid, the City
Council declares that it would have adopted the remaining provisions of this ordinance
irrespective of the portion held invalid, and further declares its express intent that the
remaining portions of this ordinance should remain in effect after the invalid portion has
been eliminated.
Section 5. Publication.
This ordinance or a comprehensive summary thereof shall be published in a
newspaper of general circulation of the City of Saratoga within fifteen days after its
adoption.
Continued Next Page
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The foregoing ordinance was introduced and read at the regular meeting of the City Council
of the City of Saratoga held on the 6 day of July 2011, and was adopted by the following
vote following a second reading on the 17 day of August 2011:
AYES: Council Member Manny Cappello, Emily Lo, Jill Hunter,
Vice Mayor Chuck Page, Mayor Howard A. Miller
NAYS: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST: SIGNED:
air
Ann Sullivan Howard A. Miller
CLERK OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SARATOGA
Saratoga, California Saratoga, CA 95070
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
RICHARD TAYLOR, CITY ATTORNEY
PROOF OF PUBLICATION Filing Stamp
(2015.5 C.C.P.) PROOF OF PUBLICATION
State of California
County of Santa Clara
I am a citizen of the United States and
a resident of the County aforesaid: I
am over the age of 18 years, and not
party to or interested in the above
entitled matter. I am the principal clerk
of the printer Saratoga News
1095 The Alameda, San Jose, CA a
newspaper of general circulation in the
City of Saratoga, CA, printed in the
City of San Jose, CA County of Santa
Clara, and which newspaper has been
adjudged a newspaper of general
circulation by the Superior Court of the
County of Santa Clara, State of h
California, Case number 3281 -48,
a i s,� 6'
dated June 2, 1975 that the notice of cot i
which the annexed is a printed copy
(set in type not smaller than nonpareil
has been published in each regular
and entire issue of said newspaper
and not in any supplement thereof on
the following dates, to wit: pato
Ainri
1 certify declare) under penalty of
perjury that the foregoing is true and
correct.
Dated: Ao r i
San Jose, California
h. h. L. S
Kathleen Wrightson