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Home My WebLink AboutRESO 6488• ORIGINAL RESOLUTION NO. 6488 RESOLUTION O~ THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ADOPTING FINDINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE 1985 UNIFORM FIRE CODE WHEREAS, this Council has enacted the 1985 Uniform Fire Code with certain local amendmentsJ and WHEREAS, this Council has considered the findings for said code which are attached hereto as Exhibit •A•; NOW, THEREFORE 1 the Counci 1 of the City of Palo Al to does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION 1. The findings for the 1985 Uniform Fire Code, as amended, attached hereto as Exhibit •A•, are hereby adopted. SECTION 2. The Council finds that the adoption of thi~ Reso- lution will have no significant adverse environmental impact. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: February 3, 198~ AYES: Bechtel. Cobb, Fletcher, Klein. Levy. Patitucci. Renzel, Slutorius, Woolley NOES: None ABSENT: None ABSTENTIONS: None ATTE~ ?~j IV'' ~~ ~-:rt<-"/~ A1:. ~JlQVED AS ~ F~ ,"lf-~1'==(.../ ~ ·~ d eity ~ttorney UBI8IT •A" FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE 1985 UNIFORM FIRE CODE l. PAMC 15.04.010 Findings: This section adopts the 1985 edition of the Uni- form fire Code. 2. PAMC 15.04.012 UFC 3.105 -Violetions and Penalties !indings: This amendment to the code establishes the effect and intent of code enforcement. 3. PAMC 15.0~.013 UFC 3.106 -Enforcement/Citation Authority Findings: This amendment conforms the Fire Code with the requirements of Penal Code S836.S, as authorized in ordinance No. 3184. •• PAMC 15.04.020 UFC 2.lOl(i) -Responsibility for Enforcement Findings: This amendllent delineates the Fire Chief's respon- sibility for the plan review of building construc- t ion, whether it be new construction, an addition, or a remodel of an older structure. The purpose of such a review is to ensure that all fire and life-safety requirements, which pertain to local conditions (e.g., location of th~ structure in a hazardous fire area, or in an area of limited ac- cess, or in an area of limited water supply), are included in all building plans. This plan-review will also ensure that all applicable state-man- dated conditions (set forth in the Health ' Safety Code and the California Administrative Code) are met. S. PA.MC 15.04.025 UFC 2.202(c) -Investigations/Peace officer status for •fire law• enforcement personn•l l Findings: This amendment will provide peace officer authori- ty to certain designated members of the fire de- partment, and will promote the continuity and ef- ficiency of fire law enforcement investigation. 6. PAMC 15.04.050 UFC 2.302 -Board of Appeals Findings1 This section of the Uniform Fire Code is deleted in order to conform the code's procedures to those procedures in the Palo Alto Municipal code which are currently in use. 7. PAMC 15.04.070 UFC 4.101 -Permits Findings: This amendment provides the same language pertain- ing to local permit fees that is currently in the Palo Alto Municipal Code.. This listing of re- quired permits is consistent with local fire pre·· vention practices in the City of Palo Alto. 8. PAMC 15.04.080 UFC 4.102 -Permit Fees Established Findingsa This amendment establishes the fee setting autho- rity of the City Manager, consistent with local procedures outlined in the Palo Al to Municipal Code. 9. PAMC 15.04.085 UFC Section 4.106 -Multiple Permits Findinga1 Section 4.106 is needed to clarify handling of permits required b!,' both title 17 and title 15 P.A.M.c. and to simplify records keeping. 10. PAMC 15.04.090 UFC Section 9.118 -Definition poisonous gas This amendment provides a more specific definition following u.s. Department of Transportation classifications allowing such gases to be more easily identified on field inspections. 2 11. PAMC 15.04.110 UFC 10.207(m) -Required Verticle & Horizontal Curves for Fire Access Ways Findingsr This amendment requires that builders providing access roadways for construction projects and developments, consider the local topographical conditions and the apparatus design limitations of City firefighting equipment, when they con- struct such access roadways. 12. PAMC 15.04.140 UFC 10.301 (f) and (9) -Fire Hydrant Placement & Color Findings: This amendment clearly outlines the location and color requirements of fire hydrants in the City of Palo Alto, allowing consideration of the local topography. It also allows the Fire Chief the flexibility to permit different placement of hydrants should local conditions require it. 13. PAMC 15.04.150 UFC 10.306(e),{f) and (g) -Private Firm Alarm System Condi- tions Findings: This amendment permits private-firm fire alarm systems to connect tc1 the City of Palo Alto Co1111BUnications Center, and it outlines the local conditions, specifications, and permits required for such a connection. This amendment will ensure effective communication between the citizens of Palo Alto and the local f i~e department. 14. PAMC 15.04.160 UFC 10.306(h) -Smoke Detectors Findings1 This amendment, requiring all dwelling units to be equipped with a smoke detector, will assist local fire prevention and safety efforts within the City of Palo Alto. 15. PAMC 15.04.170 and 15.04.172 UFC 10.308(b)(5) and (b)(6) and UFC 10.309 Fire-Extinguishing systems 3 Autoaaatic i"indingsc This amendment addresses the local need for built- in fire protection when, in the opinion of local fire officials, a building represents a particular fire-defense probl~m. This amendment will permit the use of state of the art design criteria in residential occupancies. It will expand the permitted installation of the life safety concept into apartments and condominiums of limited height and hold down the costs of installation by permitting tested and approved plastic materials. 16. PAMC 15.04.174 UFC 10 .315 -Labeling of Product -conveying hood and duct systems Findings: This amendment will assist Palo Alto fire prevention inspectors to ensure proper and continued maintenance of these duct and hood systems after the initial installation period. 17. PAMC 15.04.180 UFC 11. "301 (e) -False Fire Alarms Findingss This local amendment conforms to the Municipal Fee Schedule by the assessment of a service charge for those establishments which continually transmit false alarms to the municipal fire& alarm system because of inattention to, or lack of preventati~e maintenance of, their system. This amendment is designed to reauce costly false alarms without City system. Early detection is 11.ecessary for control of local fire problemsr therefore, retaining the fire alarm connections is very important to the Palo Alto fire-defense program. 18. PAMC 15.04.185-15.04.186 UFC 12.113 and 12.114 -Exit Illumination and EYit Signs Findingsi These amendments provide uniformity with other provisions of the Palo Alto Municipal code, the State Administrative Code (Title 8), and other uniform codes, so as to maintain consistency in enforcement. These amendments also take into consideration the current state of the art with regard to exit-sign illumination, including eaergency power supplies for such lighting. 4 19. PA~C 15.04.188 UFC 32.115 Exit illumination in tents ~indingss This amendment makes the use of tents or air supported structures for assembly purposes subject to the same requirements for exit way illumination as other places of assembly. 20. PAMC 15.04.189 UFC 35.103(a) -Unoccupied tenant spaces Findings: This amendment conforms department practices of fire protection to be in partial occupancy of construction. the code to local fire requiring all required place prior to approving any building under 21. PAMC 15.04.190 UFC 49.114 -Electric Arc Welding & Cutting Findinqs: This a1t1endment provides uniformity with the National Codes, and, therefore, is a requirement for ISO grading engineers to evaluate the local code's effectiveness. 22. PAMC 15.04.200 UFC 79.ll3{c) and (e) -Tanks out of service Findings: This amendment makes mandatory the removal of abandoned tanks, while allowing for some relief in exceptional situations, with approval by the Chief. This will help to eliminate the possibility of toxic substances leaking into the ground from abandoned storage tanks. 23. PAMC 15.04.204 UFC 79. 501 -Restricted Storage Location of Flammable and Co!llbustible Liquids Findings: This amendment prohibits the outside, above-ground storage of flammable and combustible liquids anywhere in the City of Palo Alto except when authorized by the Fire Chief for agricultural land uses, and then, only in certain, limited quantities. 5 24. PAMC 15.04.208 UFC 79.903(b) Supervision of dispensing at service !!,ndingss stations This amendment clarifys the code intent that self service service station owners must provide an attendant whose duty it is to supervise the fuel dispensers and that the attendant must be stationed where the dispensers can be observed at all times. 25. PAMC 15.04.210 UFC 80.103(j) -Earthquake Barriers for Shelves Findings: This amendment to the code is designed to prevent certain hazardous materials from falling off of shelves, and then breaking and spilling their contents during earthquakes, which are a co11111lon occu~rence in the Palo Alto area. Such breakage or spillage could cause serious contamination, explosion, or fire. 26. PAMC 15.04.215 UFC 80.108 -Poisonous Gas Findings: The •aigh tech• Industrial community in Palo Alto uses many hazardous materials most of which are well regulated in Title 17.. This amendment is needed to further control the storage of gases not covered in T-17. The technology for rendering harmless all the dangerous gases which could be released to the environment is slow in development. However the method.s of scrubbing, absorbing or diluting many of such gases is available and can be adapted to meet the requirements of this amendment. It will provide incentive for users of gases to develop new technology in ord~r to comply. 27. PAMC 15.04.220 CFC 82.lOS(a) -Location of Storage Containers of LPG Findings: This amendment permits local fire authorities to restrict the storage and the use of liquif ied petroleum gases within the City, to only those certain specified uses tailored to the local conditions and requirements. 6 ·. 28. PAMC 15.04.230 UFC Appendix II-Ar No. 7 Amended -Spark Arr~sters Required Findings: This amendment conforms the local code to Sl3005 of the California Administrative Code, and to S4442 of the Public Resources Code, both of which are applicable and enforceable locally by the Fire Department. 29. PAMC 15.04.240 UFC Appendix II-A1 No. 16 Amended -Clearance of Brush or Vegetation Growth From Structures This amendment provides guidelines for citizens desiring to build on property located within the Hazardous Fire Area and at some distance from Municipal Fire protection. These guidelines will enhance local fire protection efforts by providing an area around structures which is relatively free from highly combustible vegetation. Together with other preventive measures in the code, this amend- ment will help prevent uncontrolled wild fires in the local high-hazard area caused by a small structural fire and help prevli!nt wild fire from reaching structures~ The result will be improved cost savings and environmental protection. 30. PAMC 15.04.250 UPC Appendix II-A, No. 24 added -Fire Protection Require- ments Findings: This amendment provides g~idelines for people who build or desire to build, on property located within the Hazardous Fire Area, at some distance from Municipal Fire protection. The intent of this amendment is to ensure that these people de- sign their building in such a way that early de- tection of the fire, early nqtif ication to the Fire Department, and the rapid.evacuation of the occupants will occur. Together with other preven- tive measures, this amendment will help prevent fires in the high Hazardous Fire Area caused by one small fire in a structure, which could cause the entire area to burn, resulting in a staggering impact upon the environment and upon public re- sources. 7 -- 31. PAMC 15.04.280 Duties are discretionary Find in,.S.!: This amendment brings the code into conformity with other provisions of the Palo Alto Municipal Code. 3 2 • PA.MC 15 • 0 4 • 2 9 0 Fire Flow Table Findings: ·rhis amendment adds to the code the engineering table used nationally to determine the requir.:td fire flow in calculating fire protection require- ments for specific building areas. This amendment permits designers and builders to provide for more efficient and for more scientific fire protection in all proposed buildings. 8