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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD-015 - OrdinancesORDINANCE NO. 15 AN ORDINANCE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE FOOTHILL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION OF AUTOMATIC FIRE DETECTION AND AUTOMATIC FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS IN COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS The Board of Directors of the Foothill Fire Protection District ordains as follows: SECTION 1: INTENT 1.1 It is the intent of this Ordinance to prescribe regulations consistent with nationally recognized good practice for safeguarding, to a reasonable degree of fire and life safety, commercial/industrial buildings. SECTION 2: DEFINITIONS 2.1 Automatic Fire Detection System For the purpose of this ordinance, "automatic fire detection system" shall mean an integrated system of detectors, wiring, receiving and transmitting devices, either automatic and/or manual, installed for the purpose of supervision, detection and actuation of fire detection signaling. These systems shall comply in all respects with the requirements for such contained in the Uniform Fire Code, as then currently adopted by the Foothill Fire Protection District, together with the then current Uniform Building Code and National Fire Protection Association standards and requirements. Such systems are also known as smoke detection, heat detection or manual pull systems. 2.2 Automatic Fire Protection Systems For the purpose of this ordinance, "automatic fire protection system" shall mean an integrated system of underground and overhead piping, including a water supply such as a gravity tank, fire pump, reservoir, pressure tank or ,connection by underground piping to a public water main, which system complies in all respects with the requirements for such systems contained in the Uniform Fire Code, as the~ currently adopted by the Foothill Fire Protection District, together with the then current Uniform Building Code and National Fire Protection Association standards and requirements. Such systems are als© known as automatic fire sprinkler systems or sprinkler systems. Ordinance No. 15 Page Two 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 SECTION 3: 3.1 3.1.1 3.1.2 Fire District For the purpose of this ordinance, "fire district" shall mean the Foothill Fire Protection District and all of its officers, personnel, departments, divisions, services and other activities within its jurisdiction. Fire Chief For the purpose of this ordinance, "fire chief" shall mean the fire chief of the Foothill Fire Protection District or his/her designate. Uniform Building Code Whenever the Uniform Building Code (UBC) is referenced, it shall refer to and mean the latest edition thereof adopted by the City Council for the City of Rancho Cucamonga or by the Board of Supervisors for the County of San Bernardino. Uniform Fire Code Whenever the Uniform Fire Code is referenced, it shall refer to and mean the latest edition thereof adopted by the Board of Directors for the Foothill Fire Protection District. REQUIRED INSTALLATION Automatic Fire Detection Systems Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Uniform Fire Code or in any other applicable code, plans submitted after the effective date of this ordinance shall indicate that automatic fire detection systems will be installed and properly maintained in accordance with tlhe requirements of this ordinance :in: All new occupancies, except groups A, E and R, whose total aggregate floor area (footprint plus all subsequent floors) is 5000 square feet and up to, but not exceeding 7499 square feet. All existing occupancies, except group A, E and R, whose total aggregate floor area (footprint plus all subsequent floors), upon remodel and/or addition will be at least 5000 square feet but not exceed 7499 square feet.. Ordinance No. 15 Page Three 3.1.3 3.1.4 3.1.5 3.2 3.2.1 3.2.1.1 3.2.2 All new group B2 occupancies used as drinking and dining establishments, E and R1 occupancies whose occupant loads are less than 50. All existing group A, E and R1 occupancies whose occupant load is at least 50, when any alteration or remodel would increase the total aggregate floor square footage. EXCEPTION: Automatic fire protection systems may be used in lieu of automatic fire detection unless the automatic fire detection is required by any other code, ordinance or regulation. Quick Response Sprinklers (QRS) may be used where applicable and where allowed by code. Should any of the above listed occupancies expand, remodel or alter their building to a point that exceeds 7,499 square feet of total aggregate area, an automatic fire protection system shall be required to be installed in the entire building. The existing automatic fire detection system can then be left as is, expanded to meet the new square footage or removed, at the option of the owner/occupant with the approval of the fire district, unless it is required by any other code, regulation or law. Automatic Fire Protection Systems 'Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in the Uniform Fire Code or in any other applicable code, plans submitted after the effective date of this ordinance shall indicate that automatic fire protection systems will be installed and properly maintained in accordance with the requirements of this ordinance in: All new occupancies whose total habitable floor area (footprint plus all subsequent floors) is 7500 square feet or more. EXCEPTION: Groups A, E and R3 (see Section 3.2.2 Modifications for the use of rated plastic pipe and quick response heads will be allowed according to National Fire Protection Association standards. The use and installation of the rated plastic pipe systems shall be accomplished according to current NFPA standards. All new group A and E occupancies whose occupant load ihas been determined to be 50 or more persons. Ordinance No. 15 Page Four 3.2.2.1 3.2.3 3.2.3.1 3.2.4 3.2.4.1 3.2.5 SECTION 4: 4.1 4.2 Modifications for the use of rated plastic pipe and quick response heads will be allowed according to National Fire Pro~tection Association standards. The use and installation of the rated plastic pipe systems shall be accomplished according to current NFPA standards. All existing occupancies, except groups A, E and R3, which are modified to increase the total habitable floor area to 7500 square feet or more. Modifications for the use of rated plastic pipe and quick response heads will be allowed according to National Fire Protection Association standards. The use and installation of the rated plastic pipe systems shall be accomplished according to current NFPA standards. All existing group A, and E occupancies which are modified to increase the total habitable floor area · to 5000 square feet or more. Modifications for the use of rated plastic pipe and quick response heads will be allowed according to National Fire Protection Association standards. The use and installation of the rated plastic pipe systms shall be accomplished according to current NFPA standards. All commercial/industrial buildings, including group A, E, and R1, constructed along the foothills area known as the "Greenbelt Area" as established and defined by the County of San Bernardino. SPECIAL CONDITIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS The total floor area of the occupancies listed in Section 13 of this ordinance shall be computed without regard to separation walls. All. fire and area separation walls shall conform to the requirements of the Uniform Building Code (UBC, Section 503 and 505e). No automatic fire sprinkler system required by this ordinance shall be installed without prior approval of the plans for the installation, testing and maintenance of the system. Such plans shall conform to the requirements of all applicable codes as found in Sections 2.2, 2.5 and 2.6 of this ordinance. Ordinance No. 15 Page Five 4.3 SECTION 5: 5.1 5.1.1 5.1.1.1 5.1.1.2 5.1.1.3 5.1.1.4 SECTION 6: 6.1 Connections for sprinkler systems, standpipe or combined standpipe systems shall be located no closer than 15 feet nor more than 50 feet from an approved fire hydrant. Distance may be increased to 100 feet with approval of the fire chief. OMISSIONS AND EXEMPTIONS Sprinklers may be omitted from buildings or rooms, subject to the approval of the fire chief, where sprinklers are considered undesirable because of the nature of the contents of such areas or in rooms or areas which are of non-combustible construction with non-combustible contents and which are not considered to be a fire exposure problem to or by other areas. In any room or area of the building where the application of water is considered undesirable or may complicate fire fighting or rescue attempts, additional or alternate fire protection systems may be required. These systems shall be approved and installed according to fire district standards. Such room or area may include: Electrical vaults, generator and transformer rooms. Safe deposit or other vaults of fire-resistive construction, when used for the storage of records, files and other documents, when stored in metal cabinets or on metal shelving. Communication equip~nent areas as defined in the UBC. Other areas with specific prior approval from the fire chief based on a review of justifiable fire protection engineering criteria. ALTERNATE MATERIAL OR METHOD Alternate Material or Method The fire chief, with notice to the appellant, may approve any alternate material or method, provided they find that the proposed design and use of operation satisfactorily complies with the intent of these provisions and the materials, methods of work performed, or operations to be employed are, for the purpose intended, at least equivalent to that prescribed by these provisions in quality strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety. Ordinance No. 15 Page Six 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 Testing for Compliance The fire chief may require tests as proof of compliance with the intent of these provisions or alternates thereto to be made by an approved agency at the expense of the person or persons requesting approval of alternate methods, materials or operations. Expert Opinion If technical expertise is unavailable within the fire district to determine the acceptance of new technology, products, process~ facilities, materials and uses attending design, operation or use of a building or premises subject to the provisions herein contained, the fire chief may require the appellant or his authorized representative to provide, without charge to the Foothill Fire Protection District, a technical opinion and report prepared by a qualified engineer specialist, labo~atory or fire safety specialty organization acceptable to the Fire Chief and the appellant, to thoroughly analyze the fire safety properties of said design, operations, or use in prescription, approval and adoption of the necessary recommended changes. Variance Whenever there are practical difficulties in strict application of these provisions, the fire chief may modify the provisions upon application, in writing, by the owner, lessee, developer or his authorized representative, provided that the spirit and intent of the provisions shall be complied with and the public safety secured. Particulars of any such modification or deviation from these provisions, when granted or allowed, shall be rendered by a written decision of the fire chief and entered upon the record of the fire district with a signed copy furnished to the appellant. Appeals Whenever the chief disapproves an application or refuses to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal the decision of the chief to the Board of Appeals within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed. Ordinance No. 15 Page Seven 6.6 Exemptions 6.7 SECTION 7: 7.1 SECTION 8: 8.1 8.2 8.3 Exemptions from this ordinance may be granted after a hearing by the Foothill Fire Protection District Board of Directors after receipt of a letter of application for exemption from the owner of any building wherein installation of the automatic sprinkler system would be inappropriate or could otherwise create a potentially adverse condition. This section shall only apply when all other Subsections (6.1-6.5) of Section 6 have been complied with and satisfaction by the owner has not been obtained. Complete written documentation of those steps, including dates, conversations and results, must be submitted with the letter of application for exemption. The application of this section shall not prohibit the exercise of the substitution option granted in Section 508 of the Uniform Building Code. VALIDITY If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this ordinance is, for any reason, held to be invalid, such holding or holdings shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this ordinance. The Board of Directors 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 be declared invalid. PENALTY It shall be unlawful and a misdemeanor for any person, firm or corporation to fail to comply with the requirements of this ordinance. Each such person, firm or corporation shall be deemed guilty of a separate offense upon each day during any part of which any violation of any of the provisions of this code is committed, continued, permitted or maintained by such person, firm or corporation, and shall be punishable therefore as herein provided. The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions. Ordinance No. 15 Page Eight 8.4 SECTION 9: 9.1 9.2 ss The Foothill Fire Protection District hereby authorizes the fire chief or his duly authorized agents to issue citations for violation of this ordinance in the same manner as county, city or city and county are authorized to as provided by Chapter 5C (Section 853.6) of the Penal Code. PUBLICATION Prior to the expiration of fifteen working days from its passage, the fire chief shall cause this ordinance to be published in a newspaper of general circulation, as required by law. This Ordinance was introduced at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Foothill Fire Protection District, Rancho Cucamonga, California, held on the 28th day of April, 1988 and was adopted on the 12th day of May, 1988, by the following vote, to wit: AYE: Alexander, Eggleston, Latipow, Lyons NOES: NONE ABSENT: Wheatle¥ Kevin P. ggles~, President Pro Tem ~J,~. ~e~s Michae2f, Sec e~y STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO ) CITY OF RANCHO CUCAMONGA ) I, L. DENNIS MICHAEL, Secretary in and for the Foothill Fire Protection District, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No. 15 of said District was introduced at a meeting of said District held on the 28th day of April, 1988, and passed thereafter on the 12th day of May, 1988, by the following vote: AYES: Alexander, Eggleston, Latipow, Lyons NOES: None ABSENT: Wheatley ~%. D~nniL~4ichael, retary ss