HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 12-15-1980 CITY OF PETALUMA COUNCIL MEETING
For Agenda Item
Dated December 15, 1980
STAFF TO BE CONTACTED
Chief Sharps
Fire Marshal Thomas
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION
Adoption of 1979 Uniform Fire Code with amendments.
RECOMMENDATION
Adoption
BACKGROUND The Uniform Fire Code and building codes are revised every three
years. Neither code is intended to stand alone. The Uniform Fire Code, Uniform
Building Code, Mechanical, Plumbing and National Electrical Codes give the City a
complete and comprehensive program of model codes that are compatible with each other.
The 1979 Building Code has already been adopted by the Council.
ALTERNATIVES
Continue with the 1976 Uniform Fire Code which is not fully compatable with the
1979 Building Code.
CONSEQUENCES OF NOT ACTING
Some administrative problems with new construction requirements.
ACTION FOLL014ING ADOPTION
Enforcement of 1979 Uniform Fire Code.
OUTLINE OF AMENDMENTS TO 1979 UNIFORM FIRE CODE
AND PETALUMA MUNICIPAL CODE
1. Section 17.20.060 - Municipal Code: This section was changed from the
1976 Amendment which prohibited explosive storage in Fire Zones one and
two. Explosive storage is now prohibited in all areas except those areas
zoned M-G "General Manufacturing". This aligns the Fire Code with Petaluma
Zoning Regulations.
2. Section 4.108 - This section is added at the request of the City Attorney
to establish fees for those permits required by the Uniform Fire Code.
The actual fees will be set by Council resolution and will not be affected
by future Fire Code changes.
3. Section 10.309 A - This section is amended to strengthen the current
Fire Sprinkler Requirements in the Uniform Fire Code. The words
"Non Residental" have been deleted from our present Code and the new
regulation will now include apartment and condomimium buildings at
10,000 sq. feet in area. Under current Building and Fire Codes these
occupancies can be built beyond the fire flow abilities of the present
fire fighting force. The lifp, safety concern for these occupancies is
additional reasons for this Amendment.
4. Section 11.207 - This section is added to allow for regulation of the
construction of flammable parade floats.
5. Section 79.7036 - This section has been added to the Code to strengthen
the existing requirements which call for supervision of all public
service stations. The City Attorney has added a section that clarifies
the definition of private service stations.
6. Article 85 - This article addes portions of the 1979 Electrical Code to
the Uniform Fire Code. Recent company inspections have found 35% of
our Code violations in the electrical area. This addition would expand
the fire inspection area and assist the Building Department.
ADDENDUMS TO OUTLINE OF AMENDMENTS TO 1979 UNIFORM FIRE CODE
1. Section 11.201E - This section is added to strengthen the code to
require domestic fire sprinkler protection to buildings where
combustible construction and wall openings are in close proximity
to trash storage areas..
There is a fire exposure hazard when trash areas are located near
buildings and the current code does not provide for protecting
these areas.
• The following changes represent the differences between the 1976 Uniform
Fire Code and the 1979 Uniform Fire Code.
1. SECTION 10.208 - Requires new and existing building address numbers
to be displayed.
2. SECTION 10.302a - Requires that fire protection systems and equipment
be maintained in accordance with recognized standards.
3. SECTION 10.303a - Prohibits use of toxic vaporizing liquid (carbon
tetrachloride) fire extinguishers.
4. SECTION 10.313 - Requires that fire protection equipment for commercial
cooking facilities be serviced every 6-months, instead of every 12-months.
5. SECTION 10.401 - Requires that area separations and draft stops be
maintained as specified in the Uniform Building and Fire Codes,
6. SECTION 10.402 Requires that fire assemblies (fire door-windows, etc.)
in fire walls be maintained as specified in the Uniform Building and
Fire Codes.
7. SECTION 11.201a - Permits fire breaks to be established in open spaces
where total removal of all vegetation is impractical due to size of
environmental factors.
8. SECTION 12.106f - Requires that in building four or more stories in
height, floor levels shall be posted in enclosed stairways.
9. SECTION 25.102 - Requires constant competent adult supervision at places
of assembly.
10. SECTION 30.102a - Requires fire apparatus access roadway to within 150-
feet of all portions of lumber yards.
11. SECTION 30.104 - Requires fire hydrant to be installed within 150-feet
of all areas of lumber yards.
12. SECTION 32.105 - Requires specific pressure differential for air
supported structures.
13. ARTICLE 33 - Change article relative to cellulose nitrate film Storage
and handling by removing requirement from Uniform Fire Code and references.
Uniform Building Code Standard 48-1.
14. SECTION 45.106b - Requires constant ventilation of spray finishing booths
and area, and requires an electrical interlock between electrical equip-
ment and ventilation system.
15. SECTION 45.106g - Requires ventilation systems in spray finishing
booths and areas to have air intake ducts to within 6-inches of
floor.
16. SECTION 45.308a - Requires dip tanks containing flamable or combustible
liquids to be equipped with covers.
17. SECTION 47.103 B and C - Specifies flammability rate of fumigants,
relative to when electric services shall be shutoff.
18. SECTION 47.109 - Requires that all premises fumigated shall be returned
to safe condition after fumigation.
19. TABLE 47.103A - List characteristics of some common fumigants.
20. SECTION 74.108b - Specifies detailed requirements for 20 minutes rated
fire assemblies for doors to room where non-flamable medical gases are
stored.
21. SECTION 75. 104b - Provides that the Chief may approve cyrogenic fluid
container and equipment not in compliance with recognized standards,
and specifies data to be submitted to the Chief.
22. SECTION 75.202 A and E - Requires and specifies maximum relief venting
for cryogenic fluid container and equipment.
23. SECTION 75.204 - Requires that insulation for oxygen container be non-
combustible and non-reactive to oxygen enriched air.
24. SECTION 75.401c - Specifies methods for joining cryogenic fluid piping.
25. SECTION 77.201 H - Prohibits storage of ignition and detonation devices
in same storage magazine with explosives, etc.
26. ARTICLE 79 - Total rewrite of article to coordinate with National Fire
Protection Association Standard #30, and Uniform Building and Fire Code
Standards,
27. SECTION 80.104a - Specifies Type 07 storage area atmospheres where
oxidizing materials may be stored.
28. ARTICLE 81 - Total rewrite of article to coordinate with National Fire
Protection Association Standards 231 and 231c, and the Uniform Building
and Fire Code Standards.
29. ARTICLE 84 - Total rewrite of article with requirement to post "Safety
Film Only" Sign. Increases fire extinguisher size requirements.
Eliminates need for projectionist to have local permit. Specified
storage and use of nitrate and safety film.
30. APPENDIX B-la - Rewrite of method of protection section for corrosion
protection of underground flammable liquid storage tanks.
31. APPENDIX B-4a - Permit Chief to approve corrosion resistant flammable
liquid storage tanks.
32. APPENDIX H - Adds to code method of identification of floor level in
building four or more stories high - required by Section 12.106f.
City of Petaluma
Memorandum December 30, 1980
TO: Robert H. Meyer, City Manager
FROM. Robert L. Sharps, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: 1979 Uniform Fire Code
In keeping with our past practices, the Fire Department provided copies of our
proposed new 1979 Fire Code amendments to the Chamber of Commerce and a local
insurance agency prior to Council adoption.
At the introduction of the code amendments on December 15, 1980, Rich Yonash
spoke in favor of the Fire Department's proposed amendments, but expressed
concern regarding our existing 1976 code which was adopted in 1979. After the
Council meeting, the Fire Marshal and I talked with Mr. Yonash regarding our
rememberances of our committee discussions on the Community Fire Protection
Plan.
It was our position with the 1976 Fire Code that we should not allow area
separations that could increase the size of unsprinklered buildings. Although
there was discussion by Mr. Yonash that a fire wall should be sufficient for
the containment of a fire in a 10,000 square foot area, we maintain that the
area separation should not be allowed because of known problems in maintaining
the fire requirements of area separations. We also held to this recommendation
because of our concern that the Committee was recommending an increase of
basic allowable unsprinkled area above our recommended 5,000 square feet to
10,000 square feet. This 10,000 square foot area represented a fire flow
(water delivery) beyond the capability of our on duty fire suppression force.
The proposed 1976 Fire Code amendments were presented to the Chamber prior to
their adoption in April, 1979. It was my understanding at that time that it
had met their approval.
I advised Mr. Yonash that I would be glad to discuss the Community Fire Protection
Plan with the Chamber at their convenience. I still have my same fire concerns
regarding the older downtown area. In 1979 the Chamber spoke in opposition to
requiring early warning fire protection for this area and said that the building
owners should be able to voluntarily improve their own buildings fire protection.
The item before the Council at this time is the 1979 Fire Code and accompanying
amendments, not the reconsideration of the 1976 Fire Code amendments. It is
my recommendation that the 1979 Fire Code and amendments be presented to the
Council on January 5, 1981 for their action.
el
Robert L. Sharps
Fire Chief
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