CHAPTER 14
FIRE PREVENTION
Sections:
14.1 High risk fire area and special provisions related to roof types.
14.3 Fire code adopted—Where filed.
14.1 High risk fire area and special provisions related to roof types.
1. High Risk Fire Area. “High risk fire area” is defined as those properties located south of Monterey Road, extending to the city border, and west of Meridian Avenue, extending to the city border.
2. Special Provisions Related to Roof Types. Except as permitted below, roof covering assemblies shall be Class A.
The following exceptions shall only apply to structures not located within the high risk fire area as defined in subsection (1) of this section:
Exceptions:
a. Replacements within any 12-month period of time that are not more than 25 percent of the total roof area of any individual structure shall be not less than Class C;
b. Replacements within any 12-month period of time that are not more than 50 percent of the total roof area of any individual structure shall be not less than Class B;
c. Entirely noncombustible roof assemblies of masonry or concrete construction;
d. Clay or concrete roof tile installed on an entirely noncombustible substructure;
e. Roof assemblies of ferrous or copper shingles or sheets installed on an entirely noncombustible substructure;
f. Where the fire chief makes a written finding that a less fire resistive roof covering is permissible based on existing conditions.
In no case shall any roof covering be less fire resistive than required by Chapter 15 of the current South Pasadena building code or Chapter 9 of the current South Pasadena residential code. (Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)
14.2 Fireworks—Prohibited.
The manufacturing, possession, storage, sale, use and handling of all fireworks, including, without limitation, “safe and sane” fireworks, is prohibited.
Exception: Fire official is authorized to permit special events pyrotechnics with fire department supervision when the event is permitted by the city. (Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)
14.3 Fire code adopted—Where filed.
Chapters 1 through 80 and Section 503 of Chapter 5 and Appendices Chapter 4, B, BB, C, CC, D, H, I, K, and N of 2022 California Fire Code, Title 24 Part 9 of California Code of Regulations, as published by the California Building Standards Commission, are hereby adopted by reference pursuant to the provisions of Sections 50022.1 through 50022.10 of the Government Code of the state of California as though fully set forth herein, and made a part of the South Pasadena Municipal Code with the same force and effect as though set out herein in full, including all of the regulations, revisions, conditions and terms contained therein except that those certain sections thereof which are necessary to meet local conditions as hereinafter set forth in SPMC 14.4 are hereby repealed, added or amended to read as set forth therein.
In accordance with Section 50022.6 of the California Government Code, not less than one copy of said Title 24, Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations together with any and all amendments thereto proposed by the city of South Pasadena has been and is now filed in the office of the fire chief and shall remain on file with the fire chief, shall collectively be known as the City of South Pasadena Fire Code and may be cited as Chapter 14 SPMC. (Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)
14.4 Fire code—Modified.
Chapters 1, 6 and 9 of Title 24, Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations (2022 California Fire Code) adopted by reference as the fire code of the city of South Pasadena are hereby amended, deleted or added as follows:
1. Section 101.1 is amended in its entirety to read:
101.1 Title. These regulations adopted by reference and amended as in Section 14.3 and 14.4 shall be known as the Fire Code of City of South Pasadena, hereinafter referred to as “this code.”
2. Section 104.6 is deleted in its entirety.
3. Section 105.2.3 is amended in its entirety to read:
105.2.3 Time limitation of application. An application for a permit for any proposed work or operation shall be deemed to have been abandoned one year after the date of filing, unless such application has been diligently prosecuted or a permit shall have been issued.
4. Section 105.2.4 is amended in its entirety to read:
105.2.4 Action on application. When requested in writing by the applicant prior to or not more than 90 days after the expiration of application, the fire official may extend the time for action by the applicant. The time for action by the applicant shall not be extended beyond the effective date of a more current Code.
5. Section 105.3.1 is amended in its entirety to read:
105.3.1 Expiration. An operational permit shall remain in effect until reissued, renewed or revoked, or for such a period of time as specified in the permit. Construction permits issued by the fire official under the provisions of this Code shall expire automatically by limitation and become null and void one year after the date of the last required inspection approval by the fire official, or if work authorized by such permit is not commenced within one year from the issuance date of such permit. Before such work can be commenced or recommenced, a new permit shall be first obtained.
Supplementary permit(s) shall not expire so long as the associated building permit remains active.
6. Section 105.3.2 is deleted in its entirety.
7. Section 105.4.6 is deleted in its entirety.
8. Section 105.6.14 is deleted in its entirety.
9. Section 105.7.21 is deleted in its entirety.
10. Section 106.1 is amended in its entirety to read:
106.1 Fees. Plan review fees and permit fees shall be as adopted by separate resolution and/or ordinance. Plan review fees shall be paid at the time of plan review submittal. In addition to the aforementioned fees, the fire code official may require additional charges for review required by changes, additions or revisions of approved plans or reports, and for services beyond the first and second check due to changes, omissions or errors on the part of the applicant. Permit fees shall be paid at the time of permit issuance.
11. A new section 109.4 is added to read:
109.4 Board of Appeals Fees. A filing fee established by separate fee resolution or ordinance shall be paid to the fire official whenever a person requests a hearing or a rehearing before the appeals boards provided for in this section. All requests to appeal determinations, orders or actions of the fire official or to seek modifications of previous orders of the appeals boards shall be presented in writing.
12. A new section 109.5 is added to read:
109.5 Any aggrieved party may appeal any of the following decisions of the fire code official no later than 60 calendar days from the date of action being appealed:
1. Disapproval of any application.
2. Refusal to grant any permit applied for when it is claimed that the provisions of this code do not apply.
3. Interpretation of this code.
4. Determination of suitability of alternate materials or types of construction or methods.
13. Section 110.4 is amended in its entirety to read:
110.4. Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install, alter, repair or do work in violation of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than five hundred ($500.00) dollars or by imprisonment not exceeding six (6) months, or both such fine and imprisonment. Each day that a violation continues after due notice has been served shall be deemed a separate offense.
14. Section 112.4 is amended in its entirety to read:
112.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or unsafe condition, be liable to a fine of not less than five hundred ($500.00) dollars or more than one thousand ($1,000.00) dollars.
15. A new section 114 is added to read:
114 Definitions. In additions to the definitions specified in Chapter 2 of this Code, the following certain terms, phrases, words and their derivatives shall be construed as specified in this section. Terms, phrases and words used in the masculine gender include the feminine and the feminine the masculine. In the event of conflicts between these definitions and definitions that appear elsewhere in this Code, these definitions shall govern and be applicable.
BUILDING CODE shall mean the City of South Pasadena Building Code.
ELECTRICAL CODE shall mean the City of South Pasadena Electrical Code.
FIRE CHIEF shall mean the Chief Officer of the City of South Pasadena Fire Department.
FIRE CODE shall mean the California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9, as adopted and amended by the City of South Pasadena, depending on the context.
FIRE CODE OFFICIAL shall mean the Fire Chief or other member of the fire service appointed by the Fire Chief, charged with the administration and enforcement of this Code.
MECHANICAL CODE shall mean the City of South Pasadena Mechanical Code.
PLUMBING CODE shall mean the City of South Pasadena Plumbing Code.
RESIDENTIAL CODE shall mean the City of South Pasadena Residential Code.
16. Section 605.8.2 is amended in its entirety to read:
605.8.2 Spark Arrestor. Each chimney and incinerator in conjunction with any fireplace or heating appliance in which solid or liquid fuel is used shall be maintained with an approved spark arrestor having openings not larger than one-half inch and constructed of iron, heavy wire mesh or other noncombustible material.
17. Section 903.2.1.1, Group A-1, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
18. Section 903.2.1.2, Group A-2, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
The fire area exceeds 2,250 square feet.
19. Section 903.2.1.3, Group A-3, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
20. Section 903.2.1.4, Group A-4, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
The fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
21. Section 903.2.3, Group E, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 6,000 square feet in fire area or with a calculated occupant load of 100 persons.
22. Section 903.2.4, Group F-1, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
A Group F-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
23. Section 903.2.4, Group F-1, Item number 3 is amended in its entirety to read:
The combined area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors including any mezzanines, exceeds 12,000 square feet.
24. Section 903.2.7, Group M, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
Group M fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
25. Section 903.2.7, Group M, Item number 3 is amended in its entirety to read:
The combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors including any mezzanines, exceeds 12,000 square feet.
26. Section 903.2.8, Group R, Exception, Numbers 1 through 4 are deleted.
27. Section 903.2.9, Group S-1, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
A Group S-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.
28. Section 903.2.9, Group S-1, Item number 3 is amended in its entirety to read:
The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors including any mezzanines exceeds 12,000 square feet.
29. Section 903.2.9.1, Repair Garages, Item number 1 is amended in its entirety to read:
Buildings having two or more stories above grade plane, including basements, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 5,000 square feet.
30. Section 903.2.9.1, Repair Garages, Item number 2 is amended in its entirety to read:
Buildings no more than one story above grade plane, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6,000 square feet.
31. A new Section 903.2.11.7 is added to read:
Buildings three or more stories in height. Regardless of occupancy type, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all buildings or structures three or more stories in height above grade plane.
Exception:
Open parking structures.
32. A new Section 903.2.11.8 is added to read:
Structures exceeding 6,000 square feet in fire area. Regardless of occupancy type, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all buildings or structures, exceeding 6,000 square feet in total fire area.
Exception: Open parking structures.
33. A new Section 903.2.11.9 is added to read:
Additions and alterations. All existing buildings and structures, regardless of the type of construction, type of occupancy or area, shall be provided with an automatic sprinkler system conforming to Section 903.3 and this code upon the occurrence of any of the following conditions:
1. An addition of over 750 square feet to any building or structure which creates a fire area large enough that if the existing building or structure plus proposed work were being built new today, an automatic sprinkler system would be required under this code;
2. Any addition to an existing building which has fire sprinklers installed.
3. Within any twelve (12) calendar month period of time, any alteration, including repairs, to any existing building or structure, where the valuation of the proposed work exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the valuation of the entire building or structure, as determined by the Building Official, and where such alteration, including repairs, creates or alters a fire area large enough that if the existing building or structure were being built new today, an automatic sprinkler system would be required by this code.
4. Within any twelve (12) calendar month period of time, combination of any addition and alteration to any existing building or structure where the valuation of the proposed work exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the valuation of the entire building or structure, as determined by the Building Official, and where such addition and alteration creates or alters a fire area large enough that if the existing building or structure were being built new today, an automatic sprinkler system would be required by this code.
5. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout any existing Group R Occupancy building when the floor area of the Alteration or Combination of an Addition and Alteration, within any twelve (12) calendar month, is 50% or more of area and or valuation of the existing structure and where the scope of the work exposes building framing and facilitates sprinkler installation and is such that the Fire Code Official determines that the complexity of installing a sprinkler system would be similar as in a new building.
34. Section 907.2 is amended in its entirety to read:
907.2 Where required—new buildings and structures. An approved fire alarm system installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 72 shall be provided in new buildings and structures in accordance with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.23 and provide occupant notification in accordance with Section 907.5, unless other requirements are provided by another section of this code.
Regardless of the Occupancy Group an approved manual, automatic or manual and automatic fire alarm system complying with Sections 907.2.1 through 907.2.29 shall be provided in all new buildings with a fire area exceeding 3,000 square feet and where other sections of this code allow elimination of fire alarm system, such exceptions shall not apply.
A minimum of one manual fire alarm box shall be provided in an approved location to initiate a fire alarm signal for fire alarm systems employing automatic fire detectors or water-flow detection devices. Where other sections of this code allow elimination of fire alarm boxes due to sprinklers or automatic fire alarm systems, a single fire alarm box shall be installed at a location approved by the enforcing agency.
Exceptions:
1. The manual fire alarm box is not required for fire alarm control units dedicated to elevator recall control, supervisory service and fire sprinkler monitoring.
2. The manual fire alarm box is not required for Group R-2 occupancies unless required by the fire code official to provide a means for fire watch personnel to initiate an alarm during a sprinkler system impairment event. Where provided, the manual fire alarm box shall not be located in an area that is accessible to the public.
3. The manual fire alarm box is not required to be installed when approved by the fire code official.
(Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)
14.5 Effect of adoption.
The adoption of the city fire code and the repeal, addition or amendment of ordinances by this code shall not affect the following matters:
1. Actions and proceedings which began the effective date of this code.
2. Prosecution for ordinance violations committed before the effective date of this code.
3. Licenses and penalties due and unpaid at the effective date of this code, and the collection of these licenses and penalties.
4. Bonds and cash deposits required to be posted, filed or deposited pursuant to any ordinance.
5. Matters of record which refer to or are connected with ordinances the substances of which are included in this code; these references shall be construed to apply to the corresponding provisions of the code. (Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)
14.6 Penalty—Violations.
1. General Penalty—Continuing Violations. Every act prohibited or declared unlawful and every failure to perform an act required by this code is a misdemeanor or an infraction as set forth in the said respective pertinent sections of this code and any person causing or permitting a violation of any such section of said code shall be subject to the penalties ascribed to each such section as set forth herein.
2. Violations Including Aiding, Abetting, and Concealing. Every person who causes, aids, abets or conceals the fact of a violation of this code is guilty of violating this code.
3. Enforcement by Civil Action. In addition to the penalties provided herein, the said code may be enforced by civil action. Any condition existing in violation of this code is a public nuisance and may be summarily abated by the city. (Ord. No. 2368, § 2, 2022.)