HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 645Exhibit A
Chapter 7
FIRE CODE
Sections:
4-7.101 Title.
4-7.102 Adoption of Fire Code and Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
4-7.103 Local Modifications to the California Fire Code.
4-7.104 Modifications to the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
4-7.101 Title.
This chapter shall be known as the City of Atascadero Fire Code.
4-7.102 Adoption of Fire Code and Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
(a) Two (2) documents, three (3) of which are on file in City offices, identified by the Seal
of the City of Atascadero, marked and designated as the 2019 Edition of the California
Fire Code and the 2018 Edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code
published by the International Code Council are hereby adopted, including chapters
and sections not adopted by agencies of the State of California, and including
appendices thereto, as the Fire Prevention Regulations of the City of Atascadero. The
provisions of such are hereby referred to, adopted, and made a part hereof as if fully
set out in this chapter except as modified hereinafter (2019).
(b) Adopt all appendix sections of the 2016 California Fire Code except Appendix J.
4-7.103 Local modifications to the California Fire Code.
(a) Adopt Appendix D without Table D103.4 and Figure D103.1
(b) Amend Chapter I, Division II, Section 101.1 to read as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Atascadero,
referred to as “this code.”
(c) Amend Chapter I, Division II, Section 108.1 to read as follows:
108.1 Board of appeals established. In order to hear and decide appeals of orders, decisions or
determinations made by the fire code official relative to the application and interpretations of this
code, there shall be and is hereby created a board of appeals, consistent with Title 8, section 1.02
of the Atascadero Municipal Code. The fire code official shall be an ex officio member and shall
act as secretary to said board but shall have no vote upon any matter before the board. The board
shall adopt rules of procedure for conducting its business.
(d) Amend Section 311.2.2 Fire Protection by deletion of Exceptions 1, 2 and 3.
(e) Amend Section 503.1.1 to read as follows:
503.1.1 Buildings and facilities. Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be provided for
every facility, building or portion of a building hereafter constructed or moved into or within the
jurisdiction. The fire apparatus access road shall comply with the requirements of this section
and shall extend within 150 feet (45,720 mm) of all portions of the facility and all portions of the
exterior walls of the first story of the building measured by an approved route around the exterior
of the building or facility. Additionally, all roads and driveways shall comply with Atascadero
Fire Department standards.
Exception: The fire code official is authorized to increase the dimension of 150 feet (45,720
mm) where:
1. Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed because of location on property,
topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades or other similar conditions, and an approved
alternative means of protection is provided.
2. There are not more than two Group R-3 or Group U occupancies.
(f) Delete Section 505.1:
(g) Amend Section 507.2.2 to read as follows:
507.2.2 Water tanks. Water tanks are not permitted for private fire protection.
(h) Delete section 605.11
(i) Amend Section 609.2 to read as follows:
609.2 Where required. A Type I hood shall be installed at or above all commercial cooking
appliances and domestic cooking appliances used for commercial purposes that produce grease
vapors. Hood systems shall be tied into existing alarm systems.
(j) Amend Section 901.7 to read as follows:
901.7 Systems out of service. Where a required fire protection system is out of service, the fire
code official shall be notified immediately and, where required by the fire code official, the
building shall either be evacuated or an approved fire watch shall be provided for all occupants
left unprotected by the shut down until the fire protection system has been returned to service.
Where utilized, fire watches shall be provided with at least one approved means for notification
of the fire department and their only duty shall be to perform constant patrols of the protected
premises and keep watch for fires. The person assigned to fire watch shall maintain a written log
of their activities during their assigned shift and the log shall be provided to the fire code official
upon request.
(k) Delete Sections 903.2 through 903.2.19 and replace as follows:
903.2. Where required. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed
throughout all new buildings, and/or buildings that are increased in size that meet the following
conditions below:
1. Buildings containing Groups B and M occupancies where floor area is greater than or
equal to 500 square feet (46.45 m2) and located less than or equal to 10 feet from adjacent
buildings on the same property and less than or equal to 5 feet from adjacent property lines.
2. Buildings containing Group U occupancies where floor area is greater than or equal to
1,000 square feet (92.9 m2) and located less than or equal to 10 feet from adjacent buildings on
the same property and less than or equal to 5 feet from adjacent property lines, unless part of a
mixed-occupancy building containing a Group R, Division 3 occupancy.
3. Group U occupancy buildings that are not open on at least three sides and greater than
or equal to 3,000 square feet.
4. Throughout an existing building other than a Group R, Division 3 occupancy or a U
occupancy when accessory to a Group R, Division 3 occupancy whenever additions exceed ten
(10) percent of the total floor area of the existing building, and the total combined floor area will
exceed 2,000 square feet (185.8 m2), or a second story or greater is added.
5. Throughout an existing Group R, Division 3 occupancy or Group U occupancy when
accessory to a Group R, Division 3 occupancy whenever:
a. Additions exceed ten (10) percent and total combined floor area will exceed 3,000
square feet (278.7 m2); or
b. The total combined floor area will exceed 5,000 square feet (464 m2).
6. Group B and M occupancies whenever single or multiple additions will exceed 1,000
square feet (92.9 m2) beyond the size of the structure on the effective date of this regulation, or
the total combined floor area will exceed 5,000 square feet (464.5 m2), or a second story or
greater is added.
7. Group A, B, E, F, M and S occupancies where one of the following conditions exist in
existing buildings when modification or tenant improvements are being considered:
1. The fire area exceeds 5,000 sq. ft. (464 m2).
2. The fire area has an occupant load of 100 or more.
3. The fire area is located on the floor other than a level of exit discharge serving A,
B, E, F, M and S occupancies.
4. The structure exceeds 5,000 sq. ft. (464 m2), contains more than one fire area
containing A, B, E, F, M and S occupancies and is separated into two or more buildings by
firewalls of less than four-hour fire resistance rating without openings.
8. In A-5, F-1 and S-1 building occupancy as follows:
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-5 Occupancies in
the following areas: concession stands, retail areas, press boxes and other accessory use areas in
excess of 1,000 square feet (90 m2).
2. A Group F-1 Occupancy used for the manufacture of upholstered furniture or
mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m2).
3. Woodworking Operations. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided
throughout all Group F-1 occupancy fire areas that contain wood-working operations in excess
of 2,500 square feet in area which generate finely divided combustible waste or which use finely
divided combustible materials. A firewall of less than four hour fire-resistance rating without
openings, or any firewall with openings, shall not be used to establish separate fire areas.
4. A Group S-1 occupancy used for the storage of upholstered furniture or
mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet (232 m2).
9. Any commercial occupancy, A, B, E, F, M, and S that is converted to an R occupancy
adjoining other commercial uses.
903.2.11 Additions to existing buildings equipped with an automatic fire sprinkler
system. For the purpose of requiring the automatic fire sprinkler systems specified in this
chapter, the floor area within the surrounding exterior walls shall be considered as one building.
903.2.21 Flow switch. All sprinkler systems including NFPA 13, 13R and 13D shall require a
flow switch that is connected to a local bell and is highly encouraged to have an inspector test
valve at the most hydraulically remote location per Atascadero Fire Department standards.
903.2.13 Automatic fire-extinguishing system. An automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be
installed as set forth in Section 903.2 of the California Fire Code as amended in Section 4-7.103
of the Atascadero Municipal Code.
(l) Add Sections 907.11 through 907.11.2 to read as follows:
907.11 False alarms. The fire code official is authorized to seek cost recovery for a fire
department response to an alarm system activation which is determined to be a false alarm
caused by system malfunction, system misuse or other non-emergency causes.
907.11.1 False alarm frequency. The cost recovery fee will be charged for all responses after
the second false alarm in a calendar year.
907.11.2 False alarm fee. The amount of the cost recovery fee will be as set forth in the City of
Atascadero User Fees Schedule. Additional fees may be charged for extraordinary
circumstances.
(m) Amend Section 1204.2 to read as follows:
1204.2 Access and pathways. Roof access, pathways and spacing requirements shall be
provided in accordance with Sections 1204.2.1 through 1204.3.3. Pathways shall be over areas
capable of supporting firefighters accessing the roof. No portion of a pathway shall be located
on a portion of a gable roof overhanging the gable rafter or truss. Pathways shall be located in
areas with minimal obstructions. Such as vent pipes, conduit or mechanical equipment.
Exceptions:
1. Detached, non-habitable Group U structures including, but not limited to, detached
garages serving Group R-3 buildings, parking shade structures, carports, solar
trellises and similar structures.
2. Roof access, pathways, and spacing requirements need not be provided where the fire
code official has determined that rooftop operations will not be employed.
(n) Amend Section 1204.2.1.1 to read as follows:
1204.2.1.1 Pathways to ridge. Not fewer than two 36 inch wide (914mm) pathways on each
roof plane on which modules are located, or on adjacent roof planes or straddling the same and
adjacent roof planes, from lowest roof edge to ridge, shall be provided on all buildings.
Exception:
1. These requirements shall not apply to structure designed and constructed in
accordance with the California Residential Code.
2. These requirements shall not apply to roofs with slopes of 2 units vertical in
12 units horizontal or less.
(o) Amend Section 1204.2.1.2 to read as follows:
1204.2.1.2 Setbacks at ridge. A setback of not less than 36 inches (914mm) is required on both
sides of a horizontal ridge.
(p) Delete Section 1204.2.1.3
(q) Amend Section 1204.2.2 to read as follows:
1204.2.2 Emergency escape and rescue openings. Panels and modules installed on Group R-3
buildings shall not be shall not be placed on the portion of a roof that is below an emergency
escape and rescue opening. A pathway of not less than 36 inches (914mm) wide shall be
provided from the emergency escape and rescue opening to the eave directly below and a 36 inch
wide (914mm) shall be provided directly in front of the full length of the wall line containing the
emergency escape and rescue opening(s).
(r) Amend Section 1204.3.2 to read as follows:
1204.3.2 Interior pathways. Interior pathways shall be provided between array sections to meet
the following requirements:
1. Pathways shall be provided at intervals not greater than 150 feet (45,720 mm)
throughout the length and width of the roof.
2. A pathway of not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) wide in a straight line to roof standpipes
or ventilation hatches.
3. A pathway not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) wide around roof access hatches, with not
fewer than one such pathway to a parapet or roof edge.
4. A pathway of not less than 4 feet (1219 mm) wide to and around each piece of
powered mechanical equipment.
(s) Amend Section 1204.4 to read as follows:
1204.4 Ground-mounted photovoltaic panel systems. Ground-mounted photovoltaic panel
systems shall comply with Section 1204.1 and this section. Setback requirements shall not apply
to ground-mounted, free-standing photovoltaic arrays. A clear, brush-free area of 10 feet (3048
mm) shall be required around ground-mounted photovoltaic arrays and under the array. Arrays
shall be located a minimum of 20 feet (6096 mm) from other structures and shall not be located
so as to impede access to and around a structure in any manner. Mounts shall be of non-
combustible construction. No storage shall be permitted under the panel arrays. Arrays shall not
be located upon biological conservation easements, riparian or vernal pool area.
(t) Amend definition of Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area in Section 4902.1 to read as
follows:
WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA. A geographical area identified by the
City of Atascadero as a “Fire Hazard Severity Zone” in accordance with the Public Resources
Code, Sections 4201 through 4204, and Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189, or
other areas designated by the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires, as
designated on the map titled Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area, dated January 1, 2021, on file
in the offices of the Atascadero Fire and Emergency Services Department and Community
Development Department.
4-7.104 Modifications to the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code.
The following are local modifications to the 2015 Edition of the Wildland-Urban Interface
Code (WUI). Interpretations of the Fire Code shall be made by the City of Atascadero Fire Chief
or their designee.
(a) Delete Appendix C, E and G.
(b) Amend Section 101.1 to read as follows:
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Wildland-Urban Interface Code of the
City of Atascadero, hereinafter referred to as “this code.” References throughout this code to
the International Building Code shall mean California Building Code. References throughout
this code to the International Fire Code shall mean California Building Code.
(c) Add Section 101.1.1 to read as follows:
101.1.1 Code official designated. For the purposes of this code, the code official shall be the
fire code official or building official as established in the building construction and fire codes
adopted by the City.
(d) Amend Section 302.1 to read as follows:
302.1 Declaration. Wildland-Urban Interface areas shall be established by the Fire Hazard
Severity Zones designated by the State of California or as declared by the City Council.
(e) Amend Chapter 5 to read as follows:
Section 501. Chapter 5 is deleted in its entirety. Ignition Resistant Construction shall be as
set forth in Chapter 7A of the California Building Code as amended in Section 8-3.101 of the
Atascadero Municipal Code.