Section 903.2.8 of the California Fire Code is deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:
“903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area as follows:
1. New Buildings: An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout.
2. Existing Buildings: An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout when one of the following conditions exists:
a. Additions are made to a building equipped with an automatic sprinkler system whether or not the building was required to have a sprinkler system.
b. When the addition is 33% or more of the existing building area as defined in Section 202, and greater than 1,000 square feet within a two-year period.
c. When an existing Group R occupancy is being substantially renovated, and where the scope of the renovation is such that the Building Code Official or Fire Code Official determines that the complexity of installing a sprinkler system would be similar as in a new building.
d. Additions, alterations, or repairs are done where the additions, alterations, or repairs have a valuation of 50% or more of the buildings valuation prior to the additions, alterations, or repairs. The cumulative value of additions, alterations, and repairs done within any three-year period is the valuation used to determine the 50% threshold compliance with this section. The valuations used for existing building and for the additions, alterations, and repairs is the valuations established in the City's resolution for computation for building permit fees.
For the purposes of this section, firewalls, fire barriers, or fire partitions shall define separate buildings.
Exceptions:
1. Existing Group R-3 occupancies converted to R-3.1 occupancies not housing bedridden clients, not housing non-ambulatory clients above the fire floor, and not housing clients above the second floor.
2. Existing Group R-3 occupancies converted to Group R-3.1 occupancies housing only one bedridden client and complying with Section 435.8.3.3 of the California Building Code.
3. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Section 13113, occupancies housing ambulatory children only, none of whom are mentally ill children or children with intellectual disabilities, and the building or portions thereof in which such children are housed are not more than two stories in height, and building or portions thereof house such children have an automatic fire alarm system active by approved smoke detectors.
4. Pursuant to Health and Safety Code, Section 13143.6, occupancies licensed for protective social care which house ambulatory clients only, none of whom is a child (under the age of 18 years), or who is elderly (65 years of age or over).”
(Ord. 213, passed 10-6-2021; Am. Ord. 227, passed 11-9-2022)