HomeMy WebLinkAbout0151.091,
February 21, 1991
THE HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
Pa:'" "), Al tOI California
Hembers of the Council:
Report lp Bri .t
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The attached High-Rise Or~inance, Appendix I-B of the unifor.m Fire Code I
provides ainimal fire protection requirements to existing high rise
buildinqs in Palo Alto. staff recommends that council approve Appendix
1-5, as amended, as part ot the Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 15.04
BackqJogp4
The first reading of this ordinance occurred on Kay 21, 1990. The second
readinq of the High-Rise Ordinance, Appendix I-B was inadvertently not
agendized for council's adoption .. council's action at this time will
fulfill the adoption requirements identified in FAMe 2.04.330.
Staff recom.ends that Council approve Appendix I-B, as amended, as part
of the Palo Alto Municipal Code Chapter 15~04
Respectfully Submitted,
tq;~
PHILIP CONSTANTINO
Fire
Ordinance
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Attachment I
ORDINANCE NO.
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
AKEIIDING CHAPTER 15.04 (THE. UNIFORM FIRE COOE) OF
THE PALO ALTO "tlNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO LIFE:
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING HIGH-RISE
BUILDINGS
The Council of the City of Palo Al to does ORDAIN as
follow .. :
SECTION 1. The Table of Contents to the Uniform Fire Code.,
1. bereby amended to r.aa as toll ow.:
•• Ct:iODCiI
15.04.010
15.04.012
15.04.013
15.04.020
15.04.025
15.04.050
15.04.060
15.04.070
15.04.080
15.04.083
15.04.085
15.04.110
15.0L 120
15.04.140
Cbaptu 15.04
IIJIU'ORK rIU COli •
Adoption of the Uniform Fire Code (1988
Ed. )
Violations and Penalties
Enforcemant ana Citation Authority
section 2.101 (i) ~dded--Life safety Plan
Reviev
Subsection (a) added to Section 2.202-
Investigations
section 2.302 deleted--Board of Appeals
section 3.105 added·-Order to Expose or
stop Work
Subsection (d) added to section 4.102-
perait Fees
section 4.106 ~ended--"ultiple Permits
section 4.108 amended--Permit Required
section 4.108(d)1 added--Day Care Permits
Subsection 10.201(_} added--Required
vertical a~d Horizontal Curves for Fire
Access Ways
section 10.210 added--Gurney ACCS5S
Requirements for Elevators
Subsections (9) and (h) added to section
lO.301--Fire Hydrant spacing
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15.04.150
15.04.170
15.04.180
15.04.183
15.04.186
15.04.189
15.04.192
13.04.195
].5.04.197
15.04.2(){)
.1.5.04.203
15.04.205
15.04.207
15.04.209
15.04.213
15.04.216
15.04.219
Sub.ection leI amende~, If) and 191 added
to Secticn lC.306--Private Fire Alarm
SYltem.
Subsections Ibl5 and Ib)6 added to Sectior.
10. J06--Au'tom.atic Fire Extinqul&hing
Systems
Section 10.307 a •• nded--Sprin~ler System
Alarms and Control Valves
Section 10.114 added--Labellnq of Product
Conveylnq Hood ~ Duct Sy.t~s
Subsection(e) added to Section 11.302-
Preventable PaIse Fire Alarms
section 12.107 amended--Exit Illumination
Section 12.108(e) amended--Exit Signs
section 14.105{c) &~ed to Special
Provisions
Subsection 1 •. 106Ca} amended--Maintenance
section 32.113 aaended--Exit Illumination
Section 3%.114 aaaed--Exit Signs
Subsection 35.107 added--Unoc~upied Tenant
Spaces
Se~ion 36.104 adde~--Dry-elean
Containment
Section 49.114 added--Electric Arc Welding
and CUttinq
Section 79~lOl(.) Exception 4 amended-
Fuel Oil Tanks
Section 79.101(b) amended--Liquids with
Unusual Burning Characteristics
section 79.106 amended--Change of Contents
Section 79~112 amended--Cleaning with
Flammable Liquid
SectiGn 79~113 aaen4ed--Waste petroleum
Products and Flammable or combustible
Liquids
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15.04.223
15.04.225
15.04.235
15.04.238
15.04.241.
15.04.242
15.04.243
15.04.244
15.04.245
15.04.246
15.04.249
15.04.251
15.C'.255
15.0 •. 259
15.04.263
15.04.267
15.04.271
15.04.215
Soction 80.115(e)1 amended--'l'anks
Temporarily OUt of Service
Subsection 79.115 Cd)1 amended--Tanks OUt
of Service 90 Days
sectIon 79.115Cd) lA amended--Xaintaininq
'l'anl<s
Sub.ection 79.115(d)1 8 (V) added-
Removing Tanb
Section 7~.115(f) aaended--Vnderqro~nd
Tanks OUt Of Service One Year
Subsection 79.201Ce] 2 (iii) added-
Educational, Institutional and Office
Fl~able storage
section 19.201(L}3 amended--Construction
Subsection 79.201(b) added--Listed
Refrigeration
seetIon 79.402 amended--Plans
section 79.501 aaended--Restricted
Location for L,ill1lids
section 79.601(a) amended--Location
Subsection 7D.tiOl(d) amended--Leaking
Ta.nks
section 79 Division VIII amended-
Dispens ing. Mixing and Handling
section 79.802(b) amended--Dispensinq
Equipment
section 79.802(e) amended--Control of
Spills or connection to Sewers
section 79.802(f) added--Recycle Equipment
section 79.806(b) a •• nded--Dispensinq
section 79.809 added--Handli"9
Subsection 79.903 (b) exception "ended-
SupervisiDn of Service Stations
section 79.907(a] amended--Control and
connection to Sever
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15.04.279
15.04.283
15.Q4.2S1
1~.04.290
15.04.29)
15.04.295
15.04.300
15.04. )02
15.04. )03
15.04.306
15.04. 301
15.04. 313
15.04. 316
15.Q4.319
15.04.323
15.04.326
15.04.330
15 .. 04.333
15.04.335
15.04.339
section 79.90'(b) amende~--crankca5e
Ora in i"",
Section 80 .. 103(8) amended--G~neral
Section 80.301(a) amended--Scope
Subsection 'O.301(b)2 amended--Tanks Out
of Service 90 Days
Sub •• ction aO.301(b} 4 amended-
Un~uthori~ed Discharqe
Section SO .. 301li) &$ended--Shelf Storaqe
section 80.301Ij) amended--M&ximum
Quantity on Site
section 8o.30Ire) amended--General
Section 50.301{m) ~mended--Ventilation
Section !O.301(r) amended--Electrical
Wiring and Equipment
Subsection 80.J03(~j6 0 (tv) amende~-
Portable Tanks and cylinders
Se~tion 80.401(a) amended--Scopa
Section ao.401(b)7 amended--Above9~ound
Tanks
Subsection SO.401Ik) 2 amended--Limit
Controls, Temperature
Secti~n BO.40l(r) amended--Fire
extinguishing Systems
section SO.4D2(b) 2 B amended-
Ventilation
Subsection 80.C02(b) 3 F (viii~ a~ended-
Process Equipment
Section 80.~02(b) 3 G added--Special
Requirements for Interior Hi9h1y Toxic or
Toxic Gas Generation Equipment
Section SO.~02(c) 9 added--Special
Requirements for Exterior Highly Toxic or
Toxic Gas Generation Eq~ipment
Subsection 'O.(03,c] 7 aQde~--Carts
Through Corridors
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15.04.342
15.04.349
15.04.355
15.04.360
15.04.365
15.04.370
15.04.375
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section 82.105(0) amended--Storaqe and Use
ot Liquofied PetroleUA Gas
'~!Xl:"'~':';lJ.tellit.ty
~m;;rt,! ~2~,"'1,.t.~ .. 1l1~1se
paragraph 7 (b) of appen~ix IIA amended-
Spark Arresters Required
paragraph 16(a) 6 of appendix IIA added-
Brush Clearance
paragraph 24 of Appendix IIA addcd--Fire
protection Requirement.
Duti~s Are Discretionary
paragraph 4 of Appendix III-A amended-
Fire Flow Requireaents
Fire Flow Worksheet
Listinq of occupancies According to
Relative Hazards
SEctION 2. Section 15.04~lOl of the Palo Alto Municipal
COde is hereby amended to read as follo~s:
15.0'.D10 A4option of the Dn1fora Fire eo4e. The ·uniform
Fire Code, 1988 Edition-of the International Conference of
Buildifl9 Officials and western Fire Chiets t Association, 5360 South
Workman xill Road, Whittier, California 906C'1 is adopted, inclUding
appendices IZB, Z-C, II-A, II-B, II-C, 11-0, III-A~ III-C, 111-0,
IV-A, V-A, VI~A, VI-B, VI-C, VI-O end companion standards N~s. 10-1
through 82-2. Three copies of the Uniform Fire Cede are on file
and open to public inspection in the office of the City Clerk. one
copy of the secondary Codes set forth within the Unitorm Fire Code,
and the aaendments set forth in this Chapter, are on tile and open
tc publjc inspection 1n the Fire Department Administration OfCice.
Whenever the phrase ·Uniform Fire Code-appei':rs in this
COde or in any ordinance of the City, BUch phrase shall be deeDed
and construed to refer to and apply to the ·Uniform 7ire Code, 198e
Edition-as adopted and amended by this Chapter.
SECTiON 3. Section 15.04.345 is hereby added to the Palo
Alto MuniCipal Code to read as follows:
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15.04.3t5 App.~4ix I-a .. eade4--Lif. safety aequiraaants
~or EXiotiD9 Hi9b-Ri •• BUi14iDgo.
APPSJil)U I-a
LIFE SAFETY REOOI~8 FOR EXIBTI.~
aIGB-RISE aOILDIBas
2.1 GEllERAI.
(8) purpo.e. The purpose of this appendix is to
provic!e a reasonable deqreG: of lliafety to persons occupying existing
high-rise buildings by requiring .ini~um standards for exit
corridors, exit stairways and elevator shafts, monitored alarm
systems and emerqency plans.
(b) Scope. The requirements shall a?ply to all high~
rise builclings constructed prior to the adoption date of this
appendix which have floors used for human occupancy located more
than 75 teet above the lowest level of approved fire ~epart~ent
vehicle access or other physical configuration that qualifies a
building as high rise by local or~inance.
(el Permit_ Required. 1. Building permits shall be
obtained as requi~ed by the Building Code.
2. Not less than 30 daye prior to submitting
plans for a building-permit, a preplan review 2I",eeting shall be
held l including the owner's design team, building official und the
chief, to determine the adequacy of the life-safety emergency
systems concept for the building. The life-safety emergency
systems shall be reflected on the plans for the building and become
a perroanent part of the building department 's reco~ds. The
building official and the chief may require sufficient documenta
tion, based upon engineering analy&is, that the concept meets the
intent of nationally recognized good practices and such guidelines
as the building official and Chief have published.
(d} :!nforCJu.nt. The provisions of this appendix
sholl be enforced by the chief.
(e)
conform with the
time periods:
Ccmplia:nce. All buildinqs shall be maoe to
requirewents of section 2.2 within the following
1. Subsections (k), (1) and (a) shall be
co~pleted within six months of the adoption date of this appendix.
2. The. owners of builcHngs affected by this
appendix or their representatives shall submit plans to the
buildinq official showing: intended methods of com.pliance with
Subsections (a} through (j) within six Eonths of adoption date of
this appendix~
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J. Sub •• ctlon. <el, (h). and (i) shal! be
completed within one year of the edoption date or this appendix.
4. Subsections Cal, (bl, Cc), (d), (fl. (9) and
(j) .ball be completed within three year. of the adoption date of
thb .pp"Mix.
.Ot.811: Reqardles. of any specific compliance date
atipulated above, a buildin9 ahall not be d ... ed in violation of
thb appenllix until such dote baa expired.
Cf) be.pUo.... TM Fire Cbief .... y qrant certain
exceptions to-tbe requirements of this Appendix I-B, under t ..... 'le
folloving circumstances:
1. The Pire Chief ... y allow the use of
alternate materials or aethods of co_p11anee upon a finding that
the use of sucb alternate .aterials or •• thods of compliance yill
provide levels of fire and life safety equal to or qreater than
those othe:r1lo"ise required. in this Appendix I-B.
2. The Fire Chief ..ay waive individual
requirements of this Appendix 1-8 or grant reo_as-onable extensions of
ti.e in which to comply with said requirements upon • findin9 that
lIuch requirements are not practical or possible.. or pose an
unreasonAble hardship.. The determination of whether compl iance is
not practical or possible, or an unreasonable hardship, shall be
based upon an overall ~valuation of the following factors:
Cal The amount of tire and life safety that
would be lost if the require.ents were waived or deferred;
(bl The cost of co.plyinq with the
requirements;
{c) The financial hardship and disruption
to occupants and users of the buildinq in question;
(d) The type and nature of the use of the
buildinq in question: and
(e) Such other fActOrs a. in the j udqmen'c
of Fire Chief will result in providing a reasonable deqree of
safety as required by this Uniform Fire Code, to p4!;rsons occupying
or USing the building.
3.. The Fire Chief ma.y 9rant reasonable
extensions of ti=e, up to two additional ¥ears, within which to
COIIply vlth the requirement. ot Subsections 2.2 Cal, Cb), Cc). Cd).
(fl, (9) and (jl of this Appen~ix I-B, upon making. f1ndi"9 of
bardship based upon the factors set forth in subsection C21 of this
subsection 2.1(f), or upon the aqreeDent of the building owner that
within said time, the bUildinq will be 100\ oprinklered. as defined
In the applicable NFPA standards.
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4~ rhe Fire Chief &hall prepare written notice
of determinati~n to grant or not to qrant exceptions pursuant to
this paraqraph.. The Fire Chief shall distribute the notice of
4eterm:1nation in the next available council packet; shall ZI1.!:il
notice, posta9~ prepaid, to the affected building owner; and shall
publish such notice once in a nevspaper of qeneral circulAtion not
later than five (5} days after the distribution ot the notice on
the city council packet. The notice shall state the addr~ss and
general description of the subject property and the nature of the
d.etermination. The notice Elhall also state t.hat the details
reg'ardinq the decision viII be available in the Fire Chietts
office, and that an appeal ~ay be taken within ten flO) days after
the date of publication of the notice.
(9) App •• l.~ l~ Any per&on aggrieved or affected
by any determination ~ade by the Fire Chief pursuant to Paragraph
2.1(f) of Appendix I-6 Ray appeal that determination in accordance
vith this Paragraph 2.1{g).
2. An appeal from the deciaion of the Fire
Chief shall be initiated within ten (10) days after the publication
of notice, as provided in Paragraph 2.1(t}, by the tiling at the
office of the city Manager of a written, dated appeal, signed by
all parties named as appellants, statinq the names and official
mailing addresses of all appellant{s) participating in the appeal
and their relationship to the ~atter being appealed~
3~ The appeal shall contain a statement of all
facts slJpporting the 'Contention of the appellant(s} and all reasons
why the decision of the Fire Chief should be rever5ed~ modifiea or
set aside ..
set forth
appeals.
4. The appeal shall be accompanied by e fee, as
in the Municipal Fee Schedule for Fire Department
5~ Upon receipt of any appeal, the City Manager
or designee shall set a date for a hearin9~ Such hearing shall be
held within fifteen (15J days of receipt of the appeal. A notice
of the time and place of the hearinq shall be qiven to Ue
appellant(s) by the City Manager or designee in writing. The
notice shall be mailed~ postage prepaid, addressed to the
appellant(s) at the addressees) listed on the appeal, or it shall
be delivered to the appellant(s) personally, at least ten (10) days
prior to the haarinq date. If the appellant is other than the
building owner~ the building owner shall also be notitie6 of the
hearing.
6. The City Manager or designee {other than any
personnel from tJ~e Fire DepartmentJ, shall bear the appeal. At the
ti~e and place set for the hearing, the City Manager or designee
shall receive all te6timonial~ documentary and tangible evidence
bearing on the issues. The City Manager or designee aay continue
the heari~9 fro. ti~e to time. The City Manager or designee may
approve, .odify or disapprove the determination of the Fire Chief.
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Within three (J) working days of the close of the hearir&9, the City
Manager or designee shall render a decillion in vr1tlnq~ The
decision shall be maile~, postage prapaid, to the appellant(s} at
the aadress(es) 11ate~ on the appeal or delivered to the
appellant(,,) penonillly. If 1;."e appellant is otber tban the
building owner, the building owner sball a150 be notified of the
declo ion.
7 . The decision of the City ¥.anager or ~el5i9nee
• hall be final.
(h) peDalty. Failure to comply with Subsection (o}
above is unlawful and any person, firm or corporation, whether as
principal, agent, employee or otherwise, violating any provisions
ot the above requirements sball be guilty oL a .i.d ... anor~ Such
person, firm or corporation Is guilty of a separate ottense for
eacb and every day during' any portion ot which any violation of
these requlrements is COlUI!itted, continued or :pE.rmitteo1 by such
person, firm or corporation.
(i) Severeillty'. Should any section, subsection,
paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this appendix be declared
unconstitutional or invalid for any reason I such decision shall no~
affect the validity of the remaining portions of these
requirelllents.
2.2 RBOVI~S
(a) AU~o •• tlc sprinkler.. All requir.~ eKit
corridors, atairvells, elevator lobbies, public assembly areas
occupl.~ by 100 or ~ore persons and commercial kitchens shall be
protected by an approved automatic sprinkler system meeting the
design criteria of V.B.C. Standilr~ No. 38-1. One sprinkler head
shall be provided on the room side of every corridor opening.
Exception, Sprinkler beads may be omitted in
.tai~ells of noncombustible construction.
(b) corrio!or Door.. All doors opening into required
exit corridors shall be in oonfor.aance with the Building Code.
Za:captloDl: Existing 1-J/. inch bonded," solid-core
wood doors, if equipped with self-closures, need not be replaced.
(c) Corri4or OpeDiDgO. All opening" into required
exit corridor, other than doors, shall be in conformance with the
Building Code.
(d) Bait .tairway.. All high-rise buildings shall
have a miniBus of two approved exit sta.irways. The Fire Chief may
allow a mir.,i.ua of one _pproved: stairway upon a finding th3t
additional automatic sprinkler protection is provided that meets
tbe spirit of this Appendix and provides at least the equivalent
protaction of that prescribed in this Appendix. ,
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(e) .. it 8tairwell Door.. All stairwell door. ~hich
are to be locked from the stairwell side shall automatically
unlock, without unlatchin9$ when the ~lara 6Y5tem Activates.
(f) Elevator Lo~bJ •• paratioD. All elevators on all
floors shall open into el~vato~ lobbies ~hich are separated trom
the ramalnder of the building as i. required for corri~or construc
tion in the Building Code. The Fire Chief ~ay waive thi. require
ment upon a findin9 that additional automatic sprinkler protection
is proviaed that meets the spirit of this Appendix and provides at
least the equivalent p,Qtection of that prescribed in this
Appendix.
(9)
be equippea for
Building Code.
Elavator Recall. All a~tomatic elevators shall
emerge.ncy operation in confol'lDance ~ith the
(h) Fire Alarm 8yot_o. All high-rise buildings
shall have. an ala.rm system meeting the requireme.nts of" this
section. All required fire alarm systems shall be desiqned to be
heard clearly by all occupants within the building but in no case
shall it be less than EO db, or 15 db above ambient noise lev~ls,
as measured in the A scale, 'Within all habitable areas of the
building. All required alarm systems shall operate automatically
by smo~e or products or combustion detectors and by manual p~ll
stations as approved by the chief.
(i~ ~ir. Alarm Supervision. All fire alarm systems
shall be connected to an approved central station or the local tire
department dispatch office in conformance with the Fire Code as
approved by the chief~
(j) hit IllWllbaUoZl. Exits shall be illuminated at
any time the building is occupied with lights havinq an intensity
of not less than 1 footcandle at floor level~ Such lightin9 shall
have an independent alternate source of supply such as an emergency
battery pack.
(k) EJDer9'eney 'P1&:1. T:"e "Bianagement for all buildings
shall establish and maintain a written fire and life safety
emergency plan which has been approv~ by the chief. The chief
shall develop written criteria and quid~lines upon which all plans
shall be based.
(l) postiDq of EaerqeDcy ,lu 04 nit Plu,8. Copies
of the emergency plan and exiting plans (including elevatQr and
stairway placardinq) shall be posted in locations approved by the
chief.
(m) ~lr. Drills.. The aanaqement of all buildings
shall conduct fire drills for their stalf and employees at least
every 120 days~ The fire department .ust be advised of such drills
at least 24 hours in advance. A written record of each drill shall
be maintained in the building management office and made available
to the fire depart.ent for review.
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lili:C71Q!! 5. The city Council berq adopta the findings tor
local .. endmentll to a<Sd Appendix 1-8 to the 1988 Oniton> Fire Cod.,
attached hereto aa Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this
reterenee ..
SEctiON 6.. The provisions Of this ordinance are •• ver&ble.
If any provi8ion of this ordinance or its application to any person
or clrcuastance ia h.1~ invalid, the invali~lty .ball not aff.~t
other provisions hereby adopted Which can be qiven .fte~ without
the invalid provision or application.
SEmON 7.. The Council finds that none of the provisions
of this ordinance will have a significant environmental impact.
SECTION'. This Ordinance .hall become effective upon the
coamencement of the thirty-Unt day after the ~aJ' of its adoption.
DITROOOCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
110£S:
AlIS'rEN'!'IONS,
ABSEN'l':
AT'I'EST'
city Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORl1:
Sr. Assistant city Attorney
""c.05/10/90bdc
A~PROVEO:
Mayor
City Manaqer
FIre Chief
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FINDINGS FDR LOCAL AMEIIO!!ElI'I'S '1'0 THE 1988 FIP.E CODE,
AS Ft1RTIIER A.'mlWED TO ADD APPEN 01 X 1-B TO SAID CODE
Findinqs of fact:
A. Pursuant to Section 17958~S of th."California Health and
Safety Code, t.t::Iie report contained herein i& sub3.itted as the
-Findinq$ of Fact-docwnent with reqard to the adoption of the
·Uniform Fire Code, 1988 Edition~ and DlIendments.. Under this
adoptinq ordinance,. specific aaendments have be.en established which
are ~ore restrictive in nature than those adopted by the state of
t:81ifornla (state Bulldinq Code standards, state Bousinq and
comaunity Development Codes) commonly referred to as Calitornia
Code of Requlations, Titles 19, 24 and 25.
8. These amendments to the Uniform Fire Code, 1988 Edition,
have been recognized by the City of Palo Alto as tools tor
addressing the fire problem, concerns and future direction by which
the authority can establish and .aintain an environment Which will
afford a level of fire and life safety to all who live and work
within the City's boundaries.
c. Under the provisions gf Se.ction 17958.5 of the He-alth and
safety Code J local amendments shall be based upon the followinq:
climatic, qeological/qeographical, and topographical =nditions.
The findings of fact contained herein shall address each ot these
situations and sball present the local situation which J either
.1nqularly or in combination, caused the established amendments to
be adopted.
1. CLIMATIC:
The district, on an averaqe J experiences an annual
rainfall of 16--18-0 This rainfall can be expected between October
and April of each year.. However, during the swmae-r IlOnths there is
little J if any, measurable precipitation. During this dry period
the temperatures are usually between 70·-90· with light to gusty
w.sterly winds~ These dryinq winds, combined with the natural
vI!getat1on 'Which is dominant throuqhout the area J create a
hazardous fuel condition which has caused extensive grass and
brushland fJres. with .. ore and more d.evelopment encroaching into
these wooded and qrass covered areas, wind-driven fires could have
aevera consequences J a. has been deDonstrated on several occasions
in Palo Alto and other areas of the state~
Because of the weather patterns, a normal rainfall
cannot always be relied upon. Thi. can result in vater rationing
and water allocation systems, as de.onstrated by the drouqht years
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of 1987-19SS.
due to the
consumption.
water shortages can also be expecte~ in the future
current ",'ater storag'2 capacities and iT,creased
2. GEOLOGICAL/GEOGRAPHICAL:
a} G@ogrephic Location. Palo Alto is located at
the northern most part of Santa Clara County. Palo Alto is a major
focus of the ·Silicon Valley,· the center for an expanding and
cb.anginq electronics industry, as -well as pharnaceuticel,
biomedical, and qenetic r~search.
bJ Seismic;; l,oeatiep. Pal'O Alto is situated on
alluvial soils between San Francisco Bay and the San Andreas Fault
z.one~ The Cityts location makes it particularly • ... .llnerable to
da1!Oaqe to taller and older stX'1Jctu-res caused by seismic events.
The relatively young geological proces&es that have created the San
Francisco Bay Area are still active today. Seismically, t~e City
sits bet'We.en t'Wo active earthq"..lake faults (san Andreas and the
Hayward/Calaveras), and numerous potentially active faults.
Approximately 55\ of the Cityts land surface is in the hiqh-to
moderate seismic hazard zones.
c) Seis~ic and Fire HaZArds. Fire following an
earthquake has the potential of causing qreater loss of life and
damage than the earthquake itself.
The majority of the City's high rise structures
are located in seismic risk zones. Should a siqnificant seismic
event occur, Public Safety resources would have to be prioritized
to mitigate the grea.test threat, and may not be available for every
structural ~ire. In such events individual structures, including
high rise buildings, should be equipped to help in mitigating the
risk of damage.
other variables may tend to intensify the
situation:
(lJ The extent of damage to the water syst_e:n j'
(2J The extent of isolation due to bridqe
and/or freeway overpass collapse:
(3 J 'The extent of roadway damage and/or amount
of debris blocking the roadways:
(4} Climatical conditions (hot, dry weather
with high winds}:
(5)
traffic on roadways and
nonaal business hours;
(6)
El1itary assistance;
Time ot day will influence the amount of
could intensify the risk to life durinq
The availability of timely mutual aid cr
2
•
-;. ....
d) Mixed Indy.tr!all High Rise uscl.
ria. .tru~tYr.a are located near hiqh-risx
neceasitatinq special precautions.
Many high
industrles~
e) Tr§n§port1tfon$ Palo Alto 1. dissected by a
.ajar .tate highway (EI CSAino Roall and two major freeways (1-280
an<S 11. S. 1011. Which potentially could affeet response tilo .. of
fire suppression equip_ant.
f) Soil Condition§. Palo Alto liea at the
southern end of San Francisco Bay L~ i. built atop the alluvial
deposits that surround the lDar'9in. of the Bay. Th.2 alluvium vas
created by t.'>e tloodinq of the .... ny streams emptying into the San
Francisco Bay depression, an~ from intermittent sea ~ater
inundation that has occurred over the last 2 or 3 million years.
The areas closest to the Bay are overlain by unconsolidated fine
.ilty clay, XnOYll as Bay MUd Which variell in thickness from a feW'
.teet to as mucb as 30 feet.. Generally, the older aore ste.ble
alluviUlll is to the south and the younger less stable .aterial Is to
the north.. Bedrock lies beneath ~~e area at depth qenerally 300·
or 'SOre.
9) Build:lng pesign. Il4ny of the older high rise
buildings are at des1gns which greatly limit accessibility by Fire
DepartBent resources.
3. TOPOGRAPHICAL,
The findings of fact tor the topoqraphical element,
as would be expected, are cl05el)" associated wi th the
geological/geographical element. With the elevation chanqes within
the district, development is ot course followinq the path of least
resista"ce, creating a meandering pattern. This then does not lend
itself to .. good systematic street and road layout, which would
praaote easy traffic flow.. It has, in fact, resulted In few major
crosstown thoroughfares which tend to be heavily congested,
priaarily during commute hours and seasonal periods of the year.
This creates 1::Iarriers ,..hich reduc. the response time of tire
equipment and other emergency services. The topography of the
district is being burdened by aajor structures.. Employment areas
are throughout the district. '!"he people who work in these
coaplexes have added to the t~affic congestion throughout the City,
~eraby reducing the fire department t • response time capabilities ..
Inherent delays caused by the traffic patterns to
.any of these types of projects, ]lake it necessary to mitiqate this
preble. by requirinq addition.l built-in automatic fire protection
8yatem.s, that provide early detection and .initial control until the
arrival of the fire departaent.
D. As a result of the findings of facts which identifies the
various clImatic, qeol09ical/qeographjcal and topoqraphical
elements, thoDe additional requirements as specified in the
aaendments to. the adoptiD9 ordinance for the Uniform. Fire Code 1988
Edition. by the City of Palo Alto aro considered reasonable and
3
nec •• l5ary modifications. The experience of sever.al disastrous
tires vithin the City in addition to santa Clara, Monterey¥ San
Xateo and Contra costa counties have demonstrated the need (or
ether fire protection features. While it is clearly understood
that the adoption of such requlationllii may not prevent the-!ncid.~nce
of fire, the implelllent.e.tion 1:If these various amendments to the code
may reduce the sev~rity and potential of loss of life and property~
5/15/90