HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-11-22 Ordinance 5101Ordinance No. 5101
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adopting a
New Chapter 16.06 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code,
California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, and Local
Amendments and Related Findings
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Title 16 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is amended to adopt a
new Chapter 16.06 to read as follows:
16.06.010 2010 California Residential Code adopted.
The California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, Title 24, Part 2.5 of the California Code of
Regulations, together with those omissions, amendments, exceptions and additions thereto, is
adopted and hereby incorporated in this Chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as
iffully set forth herein. One copy of the California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, has been filed
for use and examination of the public in the Office of the Building Official of the City of Palo
Alto.
Wherever the phrases "California Residential Code" or "Residential Code" are used in this code
. or any ordinance of the city, such phrases shall be deemed and construed to refer and apply to the
California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, as adopted by this Chapter.
16.06.020 2010 California Residential Code Appendix Chapters adopted.
The following Appendix Chapters of the California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, are adopted
and hereby incorporated in this Chapter by reference and made a part hereof the same as if fully
set forth herein:
A. Appendix G -Swimming Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs
B. Appendix H -Patio Covers
16.06.030 Cross -References to California Residential Code.
The provisions of this Chapter contain cross-references to the provisions of the California
Residential Code, 2010 Edition, in order to facilitate reference and comparison to those
prOVISIons.
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16.06.040 Enforcement --Citation Authority.
The employee positions designated in this section may enforce the provisions of this chapter
by the issuance of citations; persons employed in such positions are authorized to exercise the
authority provided in Penal Code section 836.5 and are authorized to issue citations for
violations of this chapter. The designated employee positions are: (1) chief building official;
(2) assistant building official; (3) building inspection supervisor; and (4) code enforcement
officer.
16.06.050 Local Amendments.
The provisions of this . Chapter shall constitute local amendments to the cross-referenced
provisions of the California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, and shall be deemed to replace the
cross-referenced sections of said Code with the respective provisions set forth in this Chapter.
16.06.60 Chapter 1, Division II amended -Administration.
Chapter 1, Division II of the California Residential Code is amended to read:
DIVISION II
ADMINISTRATION
The provisions of Chapter 1 (Scope and Administration), Division II (Scope
and Administration), of the California Building Code, 2010 Edition, as locally
amended and adopted, shall apply to this code.
16.06.070 Section R202 amended -Dermitions added.
Section R202 of the California Residential Code is amended to include the following definitions:
DUAL SENSOR PHOTOELECTRIC/lONIZATION SMOKE DETECTOR OR
ALARM. A smoke alarm or detector that utilizes both photoelectric and
ionization methods in a single device.
IONIZATION SMOKE· DETECTOR OR ALARM. A smoke alarm or detector
that uses a small amount of radioactive material to detect invisible particles
generated by flame.
PHOTOELECTRIC SMOKE DETECTOR OR ALARM.·A smoke alarm or
detector that uses a light-source to detect the presence of smoke.
WILDLAND .. URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA is a geographical area
identified by the State of California as a "Fire Hazard Severity Zone" in
accordance with Public Resources Code Sections 4201 through 4202 and
Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, or other areas designated by
the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires. Within the city
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limits of the City of Palo Alto, "Wildland-Urban Fire Interface Area" shall also
include all areas west of Interstate 280, and all other areas recommended as a
"Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone" by the Director of the California
Department of Forestry.
16.06.080 Section R313.2 amended -One-and two-family dwellings automatic fire
sprinkler systems.
Section R313.2 of the California Residential Code is amended to read:
R313.2 One-and two-family dtfeUings automaticfire sprinkler systems. Approved
automatic sprinkler systems in new one-and two-family dwellings and in existing
modified one-and two-family dwellings shall be provided in accordance with this
section.
1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new
residential buildings and structures.
Exception: New detached Group U occupancies, buildings or structures that do
not exceed 1,000 square feet of building area.
2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all existing
buildings when modifications are made that create an increase in fire area beyond
3,600 square feet or that create an increase in the number of stories to two (2) or
more.
Exception: One-time additions to existing buildings made after January 1, 1994
that do not exceed 500 square feet in building area.
3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new
basements regardless of size and throughout existing basements that are
expanded by more than 50%.
4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new buildings
located in the designated Wildland-Urban Interface Fire areas.
Exception: Any detached non-residential accessory structures to single family
residences that have a fire area of 500 square feet or less.
5. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all existing buildings
located in the designated Wildland-Urban Interface Fire areas when modifications
are made that increases the fire area.
Exception: One-time additions to existing buildings made' after January 1, 1994
that do not exceed 500 square feet infire area.
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16.06.090 Section R314.1 amended -Smoke detection and notification.
Section R314.1 of the California Residential Code is amended to read:
R314.1 Smoke detection and notification. Listed single-and multiple-station
smoke alarms complying with UL 217 shall be installed in accordance with the
provisions of this code and the household warning equipment provisions of NFP A
72.
Smoke alarms more than 10 years old shall not be considered as satisfying any
requirement of this code or of the Health and Safety Code Section 13113 and
shall be immediately replaced by the owner with a smoke alarm that complies
with this section.
Smoke alarms and smoke detectors installed on or after January 1, 2011 in
compliance with this code or with the provisions of the Health and Safety Code
Section 13113 shall also meet the following requirements:
1. Smoke detectors or smoke alarms located within 20 feet of a kitchen or room
containing a wood-burning stove or fireplace shall be photoelectric detectors
or alarms.
2. In any other required locations dual sensor photoelectric/ionization detectors
or alarms, shall be installed. A photoelectric smoke detector or alarm
installed together with an ionization smoke detector or alarm may be used as
a substitute for a dual sensor photoelectric/ionization detector or alarm.
Exception: A fire alarm system with smoke detectors located in accordance with,
and meeting the requirements of, this section may be installed in lieu of smoke
alarms. Upon actuation of the detector, only those notification appliances in the
dwelling unit or guest rooms where the detectors are actuated shall activate.
16.06.100 Section R322.1 amended -General.
The following paragraph is added to Section R3 22.1 of the California Residential Code:
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Palo Alto Flood Hazard Regulations. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
section, all construction or development within a flood hazard area (areas
depicted as a Special Flood Hazard Area on Flood Insurance Rate Maps
published by the Federal Emergency Management Agency) shall comply with the
City of Palo Alto Flood Hazard Regulations (Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter
16. 52). Where discrepancies exist between the requirements of this code and said
regulations, the provisions of said regulations shall apply.
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16.06.110 Section R329 added -Sound Transmission.
Section R329 is added to the California Residential Code to read:
SECTION R329
SOUND TRANSMISSION
R329.1 GeneraL For building standards and regulations governing sound
transmission, reftr to Section 1207 of the California Building Code.
16.06.120 Section R403.1.8 amended -Foundations on expansive soils.
SectionR403.1.8 of the CalifomiaResidential Code is amended to read:
R403.1.8 Foundations on expansive soils. Foundatfons and floor slabs for
buildings located on expansive soils shall be designed in accordance with Section
1808.6 or Table 1809.7 of the California Building Code.
16.06.130 Table R602.10.1.2(2) amended -Bracing Requirements Based on Seismic
Design Category.
Footnote d is added to Table R602.l O. 1.2(2) to read as follows:
d In Seismic Design Categories Do, DJ and D2, Method GB is not permitted and the
use of Method PCP is limited to one-story single-family dwellings and accessory
structures.
16.06.140 Section R902.1.4 amended -Roofmg requirements in a Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire Area.
Section R902.1.4 of the California Residential Code is amended to read:
R902.1.4 Roofing requirements in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. The
entire roof covering on new structures and existing structures on which more than
50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within anyone-year period, and any
roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of roofs on existing
structures, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class A. Roofing
requirements for structures located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area shall
also comply with Section R327.5.
16.06.150 Section RI003.9.2 added -Repairs, replacements and alterations.
Section RI003.9.2 is added to the California Residential Code to read:
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RI003.9.2 Repairs, replacements and alterations. When any repair, replacement
or alteration to the roof of an existing structure is performed, a spark arrester
shall be installed on the existing chimney in accordance with Section R1 003.9.1.
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EXHIBIT" A"
FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS
TO CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE
Section 17958 of the California Health and Safety Code provides that the City may make
changes to the provisions of the California Building Standards Code. Sections 17958.5 and
17958.7 of the Health and Safety Code require that for each proposed local change to those
provisions of the California Building Standards Code which regulate buildings used for human
habitation, the City Council must make findings supporting its determination that each such
local change is reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical
conditions.
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A. Explanation of Administrative Amendments
16.06.060 Chapter 1, Division II amended -Administration.
Finding: This amendment brings the administrative provisions of the California Residential
Code into compliance with those of the California Building Code as locally amended and
adopted, the Palo Alto Municipal Code and the organization of the City of Palo Alto.
B. Explanation of Amendments to conform California Residential Code, as amended locally,
to California Fire Code, as amended locally
16.06.070
16.06.080
16.06.090
16.06.140
16.06.150
Section R202 amended -Definitions added.
Section R313.2 amended -One-and two-family dwellings automatic fire
sprinkler systems.
Section R314.1 amended -Smoke detection and notification.
SectionR902.1.4 amended -Roormg requirements in a Wildland-Urban
Interface Fire Area. .
Section RI003.9.2 added -Repairs, replacements and alterations.
Finding: These amendments make the provisions of the California Residential Code, 2010
Edition; as amended locally, consistent with those of the California Fire Code, 2010 Edition,
as amended locally pursuant to Section 18941.5 of the Health and Safety Code. The Findings
for these amendments are more specifically set forth in Exhibit "A" of the City'S Ordinance
adopting the California Fire Code, 2010 Edition. In general, these amendments have been
recognized by the City of Palo Alto as tools for addressing the fire problems, concerns and
future direction by which the authority can establish and maintain an environment that will
afford a level of fire and life safety to all who live and work within the City's boundaries.
Based on the specific findings that identify the unique local climatic, geologic and topographic
conditions within the City of Palo Alto, these amendments are also considered reasonable and
necessary. The experience of several disastrous fires within the city, in addition to other fires
in Santa Clara, Monterey, San Mateo, Alameda and Contra Costa Counties have
demonstrated the need for additional I fire protection features in new buildings and those that
are under construction. Implementation of these amendments may reduce the severity and
potential of loss of life and property due to fire.
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C. Findings for Substantive Local Amendments
16.06.100 Section R322.1 amended -General.
Finding: This section is amended to conform to other provisions of the Palo Alto Municipal
Code and to comply with the National Flood Insurance Program (implementing the National
Flood Act of 1968, as amended), and federal regulations adopted thereunder, for the purpose of
promoting public health, safety and general welfare and to minimize public and private losses
due to flood conditions in the mapped Flood Hazard areas of the City.
16.06.110 Section R329 added -Sound Transmission.
Finding: This section merely makes reference to and incorporates the provisions of California
Building Code Section 1207 to provide design guidance and requirements for sound
transmission within buildings. It is included in lieu of Appendix Chapter K thai was not
adopted by any State agencies.
16.06.120 Section R403.1.8 amended -Foundations on expansive soils.
Finding: This amendment is necessary and justified due to. the documented existence of
expansive soil conditions throughout much of Palo Alto as shown on published geotechnical
and geologic hazard maps in the City's Comprehensive Plan. The prescribed minimum
foundation requirements are based on sound engine~ring practices.
16.06.130 Table R602.10.1.2(2) amended -Bracing Requir~ments Based on Seismic
Design Category.
Finding: This amendment limits the bracing methods that can be used for walls within certain
seismic design categories and is based on sound engineering principles. The amendment is
necessary because the greater San Francisco Bay region is a densely populated area with many
buildings constructed over and near a vast array of fault systems capable of producing major
earthquakes, including but not limited to, the 1989 Lorna Prieta Earthquake. These fault
systems place structures within the City of Palo Alto at greater risk of damage or collapse due
to earthquakes.
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