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Home My WebLink AboutRESO 5807·e • ORIGINAL . ' RESOLUTION NO. 5807 ----- RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO ADOPTING FINDINGS FOR AMENDMENTS TO THE 1979 UNIFORM FIRE CODE WHEREAS, this Council has enacted the 1979 Uniform Fire Code with certain local amendments; and WHEREAS, this Council has considered the findings for said code which are attached hereto as Exhibit "A"; NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows: SECTION 1. The findings for the 1979 Uniform Fire Code~ as amended, attached hereto as Exhibit "A" are hereby adopted. SECTION 2. The Council finds that the adoption of this Resolution will have no significant adverse environmental impact. INTRODUCED AND PASSED: June 16' 1980 AYES: Eyerly, Fazz;no, Fletcher~ Henderson, Levy, Renzel, _Sher, Witherspoon NOES: None ABSENT: Brenner ABSTENTIONS; None APPROVED: cftyc£9k APPROVED AS TO FORM: i2.a Q. a~ City%t\torney EXHIBIT "A" FINDINGS FOR LOCAL AMENDMENTS TO THE 1979 UNIFORM FIRE CODE 1. P AliC 15 • 0 4 • 0 10 Findings: This section adopts the 1979 edition of the Uniform Fire Code, inserting the proper dates. 2. PAMC 15.04.020 UFC 2.lOl(i) -Responsibility of Enforcement Findings: This local amendment clearly identifies the Fire Chief is responsible for plan reviews of all new, additions and r~model construction for the purpose of determining that all fire and life safety requirements are included that pertain to local conditions i.e., locatL:..:i in hazardous fire area, area of limited access and water and those applicable state mandated conditions set forth in the Health and Safety Code and the California Administrative Code Titles. 3. PAMC 15.04.030 UFC 2.102 -Rules and Regulations Findin_g_s: This amendment brings the UFC into compliance with the Palo Alto Municipal Code lauguage permitting the adoption and enforcement 0f regulations. 4. PAMC 15.04.040 UFC 2.201 -Inspection and Unsafe Buildings Findings: These amendments to the model code clearly and specifically identify those conditions that may render a building deficient in fire and life safety measure~ and the role of the fire chief and building owner/manager in abating and controllin9 those conditions. These amend~ents ~hould eliminate confusion and clearly place responsibilities. 5~ PAMC 15.04.050 UFC 2.302 -Board of Appeals F indin_g_ s : The section in the model code is deleted so that the UFC procedure is consistent with existing Palo Alto Municipal Code procedures currently in use. 6. PAMC 15.04.060 UFC 2.303 -Compliance with recognized standards .. Findj.ngs i. These standards are amended to delete those that are no longer in print or have been superseded and to include those new standards and most recent editions that reflect the current state of the art, and are commonly used by code enforcement agencies in our local. This should eliminate confusion by those using the code keeping it current and consistent with those in use in the general area. 7. PAMC 15.04.070 UFC 4.101 -Permits Findings: This amendment provides the same language pertaining to local permit fees that is currently in the Palo Alto Municipal Code. Also the listing of permits required is consistent with fire prevention practices in Palo Alto. 8. PAMC 15.04.080 UFC 4.102 -Permit fees established Findings: This addition establishes the fee setting authority of the City Manager, in keeping with the Palo Alto Municipal Code. 9. PAMC 15.04.090 UFC 12.114 -Emergency Lighting Findings: This amendment provides uniformity between the Palo Alto Municipal Code Section 16.04.299 (UBC 3312 d-1), the CAC Title 8, and NFPA 101 Life Safety Code and the H.E.C. for the purpose of consistency in enforcement. Additionally, the amendments takes into consideration the latest state of the art to exit illumination, etc. 10. PAMC 15.040100 UFC 10.206 -Obstruction of Fire Protection Equipment ~indin_s:s_: These amend.re.ants to the model code specifically refer to items that interfere with Fire Department use of fire protection equipment i.e., fire hydrants, sprinkler and standpipe system connections, etc. and identify those remedies found effective locally in the past. 11. PAMC 15.04.110 UFC 10.209 -Required Verticle and Horizontal Curves for Fire Access Ways Findings: Adding this amendment to the model code permits local topography conditions and locally owned and operated fire apparatus design limitations to be considered by those re- quired to provide access roadways for construction pro- jec~s and developments. Said limitations are specific and expressed in engineering terms for use by planners, archi- tects and buildel'.'ls, during design phases~ -2 - . . , 12. PAMC 15.04.120 UFC 10.210 -Access to facilities to be kept open Findings: This local amendment adds specific language to the code that clearly expresses in detail the r~~ponsibility of those people having "required fire access lanes" and what constitutes ob-truction and enforcement require- ments. 13. PAMC 15.04.130 UE'C 10. 211 Access -Exterior Stairway ~indings: This local amendment provides that where required by the applicable codes, i.e~, fire code, UBC and CAC, certain keys shall be kept in a single accessible location for use by the Fire Department under emergency conditions. This section has proven economically valuable in the prevention of unnecessary damage through forcible entry and permits the Fire Department to operate elevators, and air movement systems within buildings. 14. PAMC 15.04.140 UFC 10.212 -Key Safe Findings: This is a companion amendment to UFC 10.211, which permits the installation of a single secure location, accessible only to the Fire Department where required building keys can be located. The key safe system has been in use and has proven effective. 15. PAMC 15.04.150 UFC 10.301/307 -Installation and Maintenance of Fire Protection Life Safety systems and appliances. Findings: These .Dnendments add sectiond to the code that clearly identify the fire protection systems that are involved, the responsible department for their review, inspection and approval and permits the Fire Department to control the installation so as to meet recognized fire protection standards. 16. PAMC 15.04~170 UFC 10.309(b) 7 Fire Sprinklers Required Findings: This addition to the code addresses the need for built in fire protection when that building represents a fire defense problem that may exceed or tax the capability of the Fire Department. 17. PAMC 15.04.180 UFC ll.302(e) -Fire Alarms -3 - ~ . .. Findings: This local amendment supports the Municipal Fee Schedule through the establishment of a service chage to be assessed to those establishments which continually cause false fire alarms to be transmitted over fire alarm connections because of inattention and/or lack of pre- ventive maintenance. This is an effort to obtain com- pliance and reduce costly false alarms without removing the private fire ~:~~-= system connection or by assessing other legal remedies und.'""'r law. Early detec :ion is necessary for control of ~he local fire prob~ems, hence, retaining the fire alarm ccnnection j '.::': .:!..iuperative. 18. PAMC 15.04.190 UFC 49 .114 -Electric Arc welding and C'1+'!..1ng Findings: This amendment provides uniformity with the National Codes and, therefore, is a requirement for ISO grading engineers to evaluate the local fire code's effectiveness. 19. PAMC 15.04.200 UFC 79.103.5 -Permit required for flammable liquid tanks Findings: The requirements of a fee and permit to install such tanks is in keeping with the responsibility of the f ~re chief in enforcing applicable standards of hazardous installations. 20. PAMC 15.04.210 UFC 80.103(f) -Earthquake barriers for certain shelves Findings: This addition to the code protects certain hazardous materials from falling from shelves breaking and spilling their contents during earth tremors common to this area, which could contribute to serious conta~ination, explo- sion and fire. 21. PAMC 15.04.220 UFC 82 .104 ~~-) Findings: These amendments permit local authority to control the storage and use of LPG by contractors, where natural gas mains are available. These also assure safe installa- tion under permit scrutiny where LPG is permitted. 22. PAMC 15.04.230 UFC Appendix E -Amended Item No. 7 Spark Arresters Requires Findings: This amendme~t brings the local code into conformity with the California Administrative Code, Section 13005, and the State Public Resources Code, Section 4442, both of which are applicable and enforceable locally by the Fire Department. -4 - • .. . .. 23. PAMC 15.04.240 UFC Appendix 13, Item 16 -Clearance of brush or vegetation growth f rorn structures Findings: This new amendment has provided guidelines for people who build or desire to build on property located within the Hazardous Fire Area and some distance and time from Municipal Fire protection to design their struct~re in such a way that early detection, early notification to the Fire Department, rapid evacuation of occupants will occur and enable the occupant to confine the fire to as small an area as possible prior to the arrival of fire service. This, when ccupled with other preventive actions required by the code, i.e. green belting, clearance around structures, access roadways, etc. should prevent uncontrolled wild fires in the high hazard area caused by one small fire in a structure causing the entire area to burn at a stagger~ng cost and impact on the environment and to the public. 24. PAMC 15.04.250 UFC Appendix E, Item 24 -Fire Protection Requirements Findings: This new amendment has provided guidelines for people who build or desire to build on property located within the Hazardous Fire Area and some distance and time from Municipal Fire protection to design their structure in such a way that early detection, early notification to the Fire Department, rc>.pid evacuation of occupants will occur and enable to occupant to confine the fire to as small an area as possible prior to the arrival of the fire service. This, when couples with other preventive actions required by the code, i.e., green belting, clearance around structures, access roadways, etc. should prevent uncontrolled wild fires in the high hazard area caused by one small fire in a structure causing the entire area to burn at a staggering cost and impact on the environment and to the public. 25. PAMC l5e04.260 UFC 3.105 -Violations and Penalties Findings: This ad~ition to the code establishes the effect and intent of code enforcement. ' 26. PAMC 15.04.270 UFC 3.106 -Enforcement/Citation Findings: This addition aligns the fire code with the Penal Code 836.S and the citation authority ordinance 3184. 27. FPB 23 -Fire Flow Table Findings: This amendment adds to the code the engineering table used nationally to determine the required fire flow in calculating fire protection requirements for specific building areas. This permits designers and buildings to provide for fire protection in the proposed buildings without major impact in the ccnmuni ty. -5 -