Albany Municipal Code § 11-5 Fire Prevention Requirements

[7-20-2020 by Ord. No. 2019-11]

a. Development requirements. This section shall be applicable whenever any land is developed or a building is constructed, renovated, remodeled, or undergoes major repair, or tenant improvement which would require:

1. Provision of a water supply for fire protection;

2. Provision of access for fire apparatus;

3. An occupancy for the storage, handling, or use of any hazardous substance, material, process or device;

4. Occupancy group classification for which a fire department has responsibility for enforcement of laws or ordinances for firesafety or for the preservation of property or lives; or

5. Provisions to control the spread of fire.

b. Key boxes. Where access to or within a structure or an area is restricted because of secured openings or where immediate access is necessary for life-saving or firefighting purposes, the Fire Code Official is authorized to require a Knox® Rapid Entry System to be installed in an approved location. The Knox® Rapid Entry System shall be of an approved type listed in accordance with UL 1037 and shall contain keys to gain necessary access as required by the Fire Code Official. If any of the following items listed in Subsection b.1 through b.7 is located at an occupancy, then a Knox® Rapid Entry System shall be required. This shall apply to residential buildings containing three or more units with accessory areas.

1. Fire suppression and standpipe systems. When a building within the City limits is protected by an automatic alarm fire suppression and/or standpipe system, it shall be equipped with a Knox® Rapid Entry System, installed at a location approved by the Fire Code Official or designee.

2. Automatic alarm systems. When a building within the City limits is protected by an automatic alarm system, it shall be equipped with a Knox® Rapid Entry System, installed at a location approved by the Fire Code Official or designee.

3. Multifamily residential structures. Multifamily residential structures comprised of three or more units which access to the building or common areas or mechanical or an electrical room within the building is denied through locked doors.

4. Automatic gates. When a property is accessed through a gate or cross-arm that impedes ingress through required fire lanes by means of a key or swipe card, it shall be equipped with a key switch to be installed at a location approved by the Fire Code Official or designee.

5. Security padlock. When a property is protected by a locked fence or gate and where immediate access to the property is necessary for life-saving and firefighting purposes, it shall be equipped with a security padlock to be installed at a location approved by the Fire Code Official or designee. It shall then be the responsibility of the responsible party to see that the fence or gate is secured properly so that the security padlock is accessible.

6. Construction sites. When a construction site is to be secured by a locked fence or gate during the duration of construction or until said fence or gate is removed, it shall then be the responsibility of the construction company to see that the fence or gate is secured properly so that the security padlock is accessible.

7. Security of Fire Department connections (FDC). When a building is protected by an automatic sprinkler and/or standpipe system and the Fire Department connection is exposed to vandalism, the Fire Code Official or designee shall require that a security cap be installed.

c. Knox® Rapid Entry System.

1. Knox® Rapid Entry System storage cabinet contents. Any facility, firm, or corporation that handles, uses, or stores hazardous material and/or the total aggregate is more than 55 gallons of liquid, 500 pounds of solid, or 200 cubic feet of gas shall have a Knox® Box HazMat Cabinet for Albany Fire Department use. A weatherproof cabinet shall be installed when appropriate. Exception: not required for underground storage tanks (UST). The cabinet shall contain a binder for the HazMat Knox® Box with the following items:

(a) List of responsible parties' phone numbers (i.e., plant manager, owner, all principal employees, management types, and major chemical manufacturers).

(b) An aerial preplan of the facility, to include room numbering, extinguishing systems [outside stem and yoke (OSY)], post indicator valves (PIV), Fire Department connections (FDC), drains, secondary containment, ventilation systems, and hydrant locations.

(c) Alphabetical list of chemicals, room number location, and approximate quantity and strength (i.e., 50%, 60%, 85%, etc.).

(d) Safety Data Sheet (SDS) of all chemicals in alphabetical order.

2. Keys in HazMat Knox® Box:

(a) Keys to all locked doors with plastic identification tags corresponding to the complex aerial preplan.

3. Location of HazMat Knox® Box:

(a) The Knox® Box location will be determined by the Fire Code Official or designee.

4. Knox® Rapid Entry System key box contents. The key boxes shall contain, but not be limited to, the following items as designated by the Fire Code Official or designee. The key box shall contain the following items:

(a) Labeled keys to locked points of egress, whether in the interior or exterior of such buildings.

(b) Labeled keys to the locked mechanical rooms.

(c) Labeled keys to any fence or secured areas.

(d) Labeled keys to any other areas that may be required by the Fire Code Official or designee.

(e) A card containing the emergency contact people and phone numbers for each occupancy.

(f) Hazardous Materials Safety Data Sheet (SDS).

(g) Aerial preplan.

5. Alert decals. Alert decals approved by the Fire Code Official or designee, to alert fire companies of the presence of security features covered by this chapter, will be displayed on any outside doors or windows as designated by the Fire Code Official or designee.

6. Knox® Rapid Entry System maintenance. The operator of the building shall immediately notify the Fire Code Official or designee and provide the new key when a lock is changed or rekeyed. The key to such lock shall be secured in the Knox® Rapid Entry System.

d. Change in occupancy classification. No change shall be made in the use or occupancy of any building unless such building is made to comply with the requirements of the California Fire Code for the use or occupancy. Changes in use or occupancy in a building or portion thereof shall be such that the existing building is no less complying with the provisions of this code than the existing building or structure was prior to the change. Subject to the approval of the Fire Chief, the use or occupancy of existing buildings shall be permitted to be changed and the building is allowed to be occupied for purposes in other groups without conforming to all of the requirements of this code for those groups, provided the new or proposed use is less hazardous, based on life and fire risk, than the existing use.