The following section and subsections of the California Fire Code are hereby added or amended as follows:
(A) Section 104.1 General. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the administration and the enforcement of this Code. Under his direction, the Fire Department shall enforce all ordinances of the jurisdiction and the laws of the State pertaining to:
(B) Section 111.1 Board of appeals established. Any person (appellant) who is aggrieved by the determination of the Fire Chief as to the suitability of any alternate materials or methods of construction, and/or as to the reasonable interpretations of the provisions of this Code may appeal to the City Manager or his designee (hearing officer) for a final determination. Such appeal must be in writing and must be filed with the City Clerk not less than ten days after notice of the determination of the Fire Chief is served by first class mail upon the appellant. A filing fee for an appeal will be charged in an amount established by the City Council, from time to time, by resolution. If any appeal is made, the hearing officer, in reviewing the Fire Chief’s decision, shall call upon him for testimony or written reports necessary to become fully informed on the subject of the appeal. Formal rules of evidence shall not be employed, but the hearing officer shall conduct these meetings in such a manner as to give all concerned a reasonable opportunity to make a presentation of all relevant facts and arguments. The hearing officer may conduct or cause to be conducted any investigations or tests by any specific means he deems necessary. The hearing officer may sustain, overrule or modify the determination of the Fire Chief in accordance with the provisions of this Code or the ordinance appealed, and his decision shall be final upon notification to the Fire Chief and the appellant of his determination.
(C) Section 112 Violations. It is hereby declared that any violation of the Fire Code constitutes a public nuisance, and in addition to any other remedies provided by the Fire Code for its enforcement, the administrative authority may bring civil suit to enjoin the violation of any provisions of this Fire Code. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of the Fire Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 or by imprisonment in the city or county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each separate day or portion thereof during which violations of the Fire Code occurs or continues shall be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
(D) Section 903.2 Where Required & 9032.8 Group R.
(1) New Buildings and Structures. An automatic fire extinguishing system or other approved combined system shall be installed in all new occupancies and locations for which any building permit is issued after the effective date of this section.
(2) Existing Buildings and Structures. All buildings and structures existing as of the effective date of this section, regardless of the type of construction, type of occupancy, or area, shall be provided with an automatic fire extinguishing system conforming to the most current requirements of the California Fire Code, State Fire Marshal regulations, and requirements of the National Fire Protection Association Codes and Standards, upon the occurrence of any of the following conditions:
(a) Addition(s) to any building creating a total area exceeding 4,000 square feet in floor area between unpierced area separation walls, and in occupancies and locations as set forth in Section 903.2; or
(b) Additions, alterations or repairs to any building which exceed 25% of the existing square footage of the building, within any 12-month period; or
(c) Whenever a change in occupancy or use increases the fire hazard to the structure or the life safety of the occupants.
(E) Section 906.1 Where required. Portable fire extinguishers of a 3-A-40-B.C type shall be installed in all occupancies and locations as set forth in the Fire Code and as required by the Fire Chief.
Exceptions:
(1) Other portable fire extinguishers may be installed, if approved by the Chief.
(2) Group R Division 3 and Group U occupancies are exempt.
(F) Appendix B, TABLE B105.2.
TABLE B105.2
REQUIRED FIRE-FLOW FOR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY
DWELLINGS, GROUP R-3 AND R-4 BUILDINGS AND TOWNHOUSES
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (Design Standard) | MINIMUM FIRE-FLOW (gallons per minute) | FLOW DURATION (hours) |
No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1 (2) |
Section 903.3.1.1 or Section 903.3.1.2 of the California Fire Code | 50% of the value in Table B105.1(2) but not less than 1500 | Duration in Table B105.1(2) |
(‘65 Code, § 4-4.104) (Ord. 461-C.S., passed 12-5-95; Am. Ord. 502- C.S., passed 6-3-99; Am. Ord. 531-C.S., passed 10-15-02; Am. Ord. 575-C.S., passed 11-20-07; Am. Ord. 587 C.S., passed 12-7-10; Am. Ord. 607-C.S., passed 11-19-13; Am. Ord. 630-C.S., passed 12-6-16; Am. Ord. 686, passed 11-15-22)