Alhambra Municipal Code § 903.2 Fire Code

(Q) Section 903.2.3 Group E Item No. l 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.

(R) Section 903.2.4 Group F-1 Item No. l is amended in its entirety to read:

Where a Group F-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.

(S) Section 903.2.4 Group F-1 Item No. 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.

(T) Section 903.2.7 Group M Item No. l is amended in its entirety to read:

1. Where a Group M fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.

(U) Section 903.2.7 Group M Item No. 3 is amended in its entirety to read:

3. The combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 12,000 square feet.

(V) Section 903.2.9. Group S-1 Item No. 1 is amended in its entirety to read:

1. Where a Group S-1 fire area exceeds 6,000 square feet.

(W) Section 903.2.9. Group S-1 Item No. 3 is amended in its entirety to read:

3. The combined area of all Group S-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 12,000 square feet.

(X) Section 903.2.9.1. Repair Garages Item No. 1 is amended in its entirety to read:

1. Buildings having two or more stories above grade plane, including basements, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 5,000 square feet.

(Y) Section 903.2.9.1. Repair Garages Items No. 2 is amended in their entirety to read:

2. Buildings no more than one story above grade plane, with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 6,000 square feet.

(Z) Section 903.2.9.1. Repair Garages Items No. 4 is amended in their entirety to read:

4. A Group S-1 fire area used for the repair of commercial trucks or busses where the fire area exceeds 2,500 square feet.

(AA) Section 903.2.10 Group S-2 enclosed parking garages. Item No. 1 is amended in its entirety to read:

1. Where the fire area of the enclosed parking garage exceeds 6,000 square feet.

(BB) Section 903.2.11.3 is amended in its entirety to read:

Exceptions: Open parking structures.

(CC) Section 903.2.18 exception deleted.

(DD) Section 903.3.1.1 is amended in its entirety to read:

1. 903.3.1.1. NFPA 13 Sprinkler Systems Detailed Requirements. Where the provisions of this code require that a building or portion thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 as amended in Chapter 80 and the conditions, restrictions and modifications as set forth below except as provided by section 903.3.1.1.1.

2. In buildings three or more stories in height and/or two or more stories below the highest level of fire department access, and with a common stairway, separate control valve(s) capable of independently controlling the fire sprinkler system on each floor and each basement level shall be provided and installed in the stairway.

3. A 10% safety factor shall be provided for all hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems.

(EE) Section 903.3.1.1.2 deleted in its entirety.

(FF) Section 903.3.1.2 is amended in its entirety to read:

903.3.1.2 NFPA 13R Sprinkler Systems Detailed Requirements. Automatic sprinkler systems in Group R occupancies up to and including four stories in height in buildings not exceeding 60 feet in height above grade plane shall be permitted to be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13R as amended in Chapter 80 and the conditions, restrictions and modifications as set forth below.

1. A 10% safety factor shall be provided for all hydraulically calculated sprinkler systems.

2. All fire areas shall be sprinklered including, but not limited to, bathrooms, closets, attached carports, garages, corridors, penthouse equipment rooms, attics, elevator machine rooms, storage rooms, covered driveways and usable space underneath stairways.

3. A water flow alarm shall be provided in each dwelling unit. The alarm shall be of sufficient intensity to be clearly audible in all rooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. A horn/strobe may be required inside the dwelling unit for the hearing impaired and to meet the audibility requirements.

4. A supply of spare sprinklers and a special sprinkler wrench shall be maintained on the premises. If more than one type or temperature rating of sprinkler is installed in the building, the spare amount of each type shall be maintained in accord with the requirements of the NFPA 13R as amended in Chapter 80.

The number of stories of Group R occupancies constructed in accordance with Sections 510.2 and 510.4 of the Building Code shall be measured from the horizontal assembly creating separate buildings.

(GG) Section 903.3.1.2.3 is deleted in its entirety.

(HH) Section 903.3.1.3 is amended in its entirety to read:

Section 903.1.3 NFPA 13 D sprinkler systems Detailed Requirements.

Automatic sprinkler systems installed in one-and two- family dwellings; Group R3 shall be permitted to be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13D, as amended in Chapter 80 and with the conditions, restrictions and modifications as set forth below:

NFPA 13D shall not be allowed to be installed in Residential Buildings including townhomes where more than two units are physically connected.

1. With a common water supply connection serving one or more dwelling units, five gallons per minute, per unit shall be added to the sprinkler system demand in order to determine the size of common piping, the total water supply requirements, and the size of the water meter.

2. Sprinkler systems connected to a water supply upstream of the main domestic shutoff valve shall be provided with a main shutoff valve to control both the fire sprinkler and the domestic systems. The fire sprinkler system piping shall not have a separate control valve.

3. Local water flow alarms shall be provided on all sprinkler systems. The alarm shall be of sufficient intensity to be clearly audible in all rooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. A horn/strobe may be required inside the dwelling unit for the hearing impaired and to meet the audibility requirements.

4. Sprinklers shall be required in all attached garages and accessory structures. Sprinklers shall be listed residential sprinklers or quick response sprinklers having the same orifice size as the sprinklers in the dwelling unit.

5. Sprinklers shall be required in all garages and accessory structures with less than five feet of clearance from eave to eave. Sprinklers shall be listed residential sprinklers or quick response sprinklers having the same orifice size as the sprinklers in the dwelling unit.

6. Sprinklers may be omitted from attics and crawl spaces which are not used or intended for living purposes or storage. When a forced-air unit is installed in an attic, one or more intermediate temperature residential or quick response sprinklers, of like orifice size as the dwelling unit, shall be installed above the mechanical unit. Fire sprinkler protection shall be required in bathrooms with combustible shower pans, enclosures and/or tubs.

7. A 10% safety factor deduction from the existing static pressure shall be included in the hydraulic calculations.

8. All overhead piping shall be hydrostatically tested for leakage at 150 psi for two hours and shall be inspected prior to the installation of drywall or insulation.

9. A supply of at least two spare sprinklers of each type installed in the system and a special sprinkler wrench(s) shall be maintained on the premises.

(II) Section 903.3.5 Water Supplies- is amended in its entirety to read:

903.3.5 Water supplies. Water supplies for automatic sprinkler systems shall comply with this section and the standards referenced in Section 903.3.1. The potable water supply shall be protected against backflow in accordance with Health and Safety Code Section 13114.7. For connections to public waterworks systems, the water supply test used for design a fire protection systems shall be adjusted to account for seasonal and daily pressure fluctuations based on information from the water supply authority and as approved by the fire code official.

1. Where a dedicated fire service line is required, the minimum fire service size shall be 4" (four inches).

2. All fire service sizing shall be approved by the Utilities Department, in accord with its Guidelines for Fire Service Sizing. A size increase or decrease may be required or granted, respectively, if available water supply and/or hydraulic calculations support such a change.

3. At least one 2-1/2 inch fire department connection shall be required on all dedicated fire service systems, along with a listed control valve and backflow prevention assembly.

(JJ) A new subsection 903.4.2.1 is added read to read as follows: