Fremont Municipal Code § 903.3 Fremont Fire Code

903.3.1.3.1 NFPA 13D in Group R-3 Occupancies. An automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in all Group R-3 occupancies including garages, detached garages, and other attached rooms.

When an Automatic Fire Extinguishing System is required, the system in R-3 occupancies up to 12,000 square feet may be installed to a modified NFPA 13D standard as follows:

A modified NFPA 13D system shall include areas such as garages, carports, bathrooms, concealed spaces, closets, water heater closets, laundry rooms and attic spaces, under walkways, overhangs or balconies over four feet in depth, at each floor under stair landing that is wholly or partially enclosed; and meet the following requirements:

1. A one-inch water meter or larger may be required to meet AFES hydraulic calculations.

2. For new residences over 5,000 square feet, hydraulic calculations shall be required for all sprinkler heads in the most remote fire area up to a maximum of four sprinkler heads. For new residences of less than 5,000 square feet, hydraulic calculations shall be required for all sprinkler heads in the most remote area up to a maximum of two sprinkler heads.

3. Five gallons per minute for domestic use shall be added at the domestic and fire water supply split point.

4. In residences with high, sloped, beamed, soffited, cathedral ceilings or smooth flat ceilings greater than nine feet, additional fire sprinkler head discharge calculations may be required.

5. Each system shall have a single control valve arranged to shut off both the domestic and sprinkler systems.

6. In residential sprinkler projects, the fire chief with the concurrence of the building official may grant alternate methods of construction.

Exceptions. This section does not apply to:

a. Any structure exempt from permit requirements per the currently adopted California Building Code or the California Fire Code is exempt from the requirements for fire sprinklers.

b. All exterior decks without roof covering adjacent to R-3 occupancies, unless otherwise required by the Fire Chief or Building Official. This exemption shall not apply to R-3 occupancies in the Wildland Urban Interface.

903.3.2 through 903.3.5.2 {CFC text not modified}

903.3.5.3 Underground water supply. The location of the fire department connection, post indicator valve and the routing of the water supply for multi-building facilities or buildings over 300,000 square feet shall be evaluated on an individual basis.

Underground fire lines to the automatic sprinkler risers and fire hydrants to buildings over 300,000 square feet shall have separate loops. The same two points of connection to the public water supply can be utilized with separate piping to each loop of each building. Post Indicator Valve (PIV) shall be located after each backflow preventer and a Fire Department Connection (FDC) sufficient to provide the fire flow demand after the PIV at one point of connection.

903.3.6 {CFC text not modified}

903.3.7 Fire department connections. A fire department connection shall be provided for all buildings, or when the Fire Code Official deems them necessary. The type and location of fire department connections shall be approved by the Fire Code Official.

Exception: Group R-3 occupancies less than 12,000 square feet do not require fire department connections.

903.3.10 Floor control valves. Floor control valves and waterflow detection assemblies shall be installed at each floor. An exterior control valve shall be provided for all buildings except Group R, Division 3 occupancies.

Exception: Group R-2 without an interior hallway, R-3 and R-3.1.

903.3.11 Underground corrosion protection. A corrosion protection plan, including details and specifications for all ferrous underground piping must be designed and provided by a corrosion engineer certified by the National Association of Corrosion Engineers (NACE) or its equivalent.

Exception: underground piping systems with cathodic protection on all ferrous piping.

903.3.12 Control Valves. Control valves and flow switches shall be installed on each floor. All control valves shall be monitored by a Central Station.

903.3.13 Stages. All stages shall be provided with an automatic fire extinguishing system. Such systems shall be provided throughout the stage and in dressing rooms, workshops, storerooms and other accessory spaces contiguous to such stages.

903.3.14 Stairs. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in enclosed usable space below or over a stairway in all occupancies.

903.3.15 Speculative Warehousing. The sprinkler system shall be designed to discharge at the following rates:

1. Where clear ceiling heights are 20 feet or less, 0.33 gallons per minute, per square foot, over a minimum area of 3,000 square feet.

2. Where clear ceiling heights are between 20 and 30 feet, 0.495 gallons per minute, per square foot, over a minimum area of 3,000 square feet.

3. Where clear ceiling heights are over 30 feet, 0.60 gallons per minute, per square foot, over a minimum of 3,000 square feet.

903.3.16 Modification to existing automatic fire extinguishing system (AFES). All changes or additions to any existing automatic fire sprinkler systems or underground fire lines must comply with all regulations within this section.

903.4.2 Monitoring. Alarm, supervisory and trouble signals shall be distinctly and descriptively different, transmitted to the control panel, local annunciator and automatically transmitted to an approved central station, remote supervising station, or proprietary supervising station as defined in NFPA 72 and the most current version of Fire Department Standard 25A. When approved by the fire code official, signals may sound an audible signal at a constantly attended location.

903.4.3 Alarms. Approved supervised audible and visual device(s) shall be connected to every automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler water-flow alarms devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Audible notification devices shall be provided inside each tenant space in a normally occupied area and on the exterior of the building in an approved location. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall activate the building fire alarm system. Visible alarm notification appliances shall not be required except when required by Section 907.

Group R-3 occupancies shall have local alarms. Local alarms shall be of sufficient intensity to be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed.

1. An exterior audible and visual alarm shall be installed on the front 1/3 of the building facing public or private street access.

2. Interior alarm devices (minimum DCBL rating of 88) may be recessed into the wall, centrally located between sleeping rooms in hallway.

3. Such alarms shall be audible in all sleeping rooms with doors closed.

903.4.4 Central Station Monitoring. An approved central alarm monitoring company shall mean approved by the State Fire Marshal or a nationally recognized testing laboratory. All alarm transmitting devices and systems shall be installed and maintained in accordance with nationally recognized standards. Valve supervision, water-flow alarm and trouble signals shall be distinctly different and shall be automatically transmitted to an approved central station, remote station or proprietary supervising station as defined by national standards or, when approved by the building official with the concurrence of the fire chief, sound an audible signal at a consistently attended location.

Exceptions:

a. Underground key or hub valves in roadway boxes provided by the municipality or public utility need not be supervised.

b. Monitored systems are not required for Group R, Division 3 occupancies.