REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
April 19, 2018
FROM: KERRI L. DONIS, Fire Chief
Fire Department
BY: THEODORE F SEMONIOUS, Deputy Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
***BILL NO. B-13 - (Intro. 4/5/2018) (For adoption) - Adding Sections 10-50503.7, 10-50605.11.1.2.1, 10-50605.1.2.2, 10-5005.1.2.2.1, 10-1605.11.5, 10-605.11.6, 10-50903.2.8, 10-50908.8, 10-50916.11.4, and amending Section 10-50605.11 of the Fresno Municipal Code relating to Fire and Life Safety Regulations (Subject to Mayor’s veto)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the introduction of the ordinance relating to amendments to Section 10, Article 5, Fire and Life Safety Regulations.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Every three years, the California Building Standards Code (CBSC) is reviewed (and modified where applicable) then adopted by the California Building Standards Commission. In 2016, the Commission voted to adopt the 2016 edition of the CBSC which includes the 2016 edition of the California Fire Code. The CBSC went into effect January 1, 2017. The City of Fresno Municipal Code contains these standards, which are adopted or modified as necessary to ensure the safety of the community. On occasion the California Fire Code is amended with intervening code cycle changes. The proposed changes are adding Sections 10-50503.7 electrified security fences, 10-50605.11.1.2.1 pathways to ridge, 10-50605.1.2.2 setbacks at ridge, 10-50605.11.1.2.2.1 reserved for future use, 10-50605.11.5 disconnecting equipment, 10-50605.11.6 disconnecting equipment labeling, 10-50903.2.8 newly built R2.1 occupancies, 10-50908.8 emergency alarm system interconnection, 10-50916.11.4 fire alarm system connections, and amending Section 10-50605.11 solar photovoltaic power systems. Staff is introducing the attached ordinance to be considered for adoption.
BACKGROUND
The 2016 CBSC incorporated the 2015 edition of the International Fire Code, as amended with necessary California amendments. The 2016 CBSC became effective on January 1, 2017, and was mandated by the California Building Standards Commission for statewide adoption and enforcement. The City of Fresno has the authority to make necessary modifications to the State Code as needed.
The majority of these intervening code cycle changes being made to the Fresno Municipal Code are either items currently being regulated through policies of the Fresno Fire Department (FFD) or were deemed to reduce the current level of fire protection to certain occupancies.
• Section 10-50503.7 is a new section not in the Fire code but recommended for approval to codify existing FFD policy and the California Civil Code. It cleans up enforcement (including citations) when installations have occurred without the benefit of the review and permit process. This section will require permits and control installations of electrified security fences.
• Section 10-50605.11 solar photovoltaic power systems, is editorial in nature only, having no regulatory effect.
• Section 10-50605.11.1.2.1 solar photovoltaic power systems, pathways to ridge, deals with the prescriptive requirement for two 36" pathways on separate roof planes, including one on the street side of the building. The FFD amended language has little impact on the construction industry or building owner. This is a firefighter safety issue first and foremost as it provides uniform access to the top of a structure during extinguishment operations. Under the extremes of firefighting conditions with potential for limited visibility, a uniform access and egress point for the firefighter is essential. It also provides a simple formula for the solar designer to comply with, speeding plan review times for staff.
• Section 10-50605.11.1.2.2 solar photovoltaic power system, setbacks at the ridge. The FFD amendment to this section eliminates the additional time and complexity required during plan review. The model code provides for the allowance of percentage calculations to be used in the determination of alternative setbacks. It provides the same 36” requirement on each side of the ridge as the previous section did for access to the ridge. This provides a uniform expectation for firefighters operating on a roof, and will decrease the burden on plan review staff.
• Section 10-50605.11.2.2.1 pertains to alternative setbacks at the ridge and has been deleted and reserved in its entirety.
• Section 10-50605.11.5 (Disconnecting equipment), amends a current FMC section to eliminate the word “indicating”.
• Section 10-50605.11.6 (Disconnecting equipment labeling) is an addition to the FMC cleaning up existing language found in FFD policy. The language in this addition is taken from the Electrical Code.
• Section 10-50903.2.8 is mostly model code with the exception of newly built R2.1 occupancies. This section is amended to require the previously required and more protective NFPA 13 sprinkler system. Group R2.1 occupancies generally cover multi-client buildings which house clients on a 24-hour basis, who because of age, mental disability or other reasons, live in a supervised residential environment that provides personal care services. Allowing a less protective NFPA 13 R system does not protect the structure and may displace occupants for a longer time causing additional burden on the systems in place to care for these individuals. The impact to the industry is low due to the limited amount of this type of occupancy constructed annually (generally less than 5 per year).
• Sections 10-50908.8 (Emergency alarm system interconnection) and 10-50916.11.4 (Fire alarm system connections) simply codify existing FFD policy and correct what is widely believed to be an error in section 10-50908.8 which has been brought to the State Fire Marshal's attention for correction in the final CFC edition.
It is of the opinion of the Department that the proposed changes will continue to provide the citizens of Fresno the highest level of fire protection available.
Local amendments proposed for adoption are limited to those that are essential to effectively administer code responsibilities in daily operations of the fire department and to maintain previous amendments approved by Council relating to fire and life safety. Staff recommends adoption of the standards as proposed.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This is not a project for the purpose of the California Environmental Quality Act.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this proposed ordinance change.
FISCAL IMPACT
This ordinance will have no impact on the General Fund.
Attachment: Ordinance -Relating to Fire and Life Safety Regulations