Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 33 FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION Section

3305 PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE

Section 3303.5 is amended to read as follows:

Where required by the fire code official or the site safety plan established in accordance

with Section 3303.1, a fire watch shall be provided for building demolition and for building construction. Fire watch is not intended to facilitate occupancy during ongoing construction in a new building.

Section 3303.7 is added to read as follows:

Section 3303.7 Fire Walls.

When firewalls are required in combustible construction, the wall construction shall be completed (with all openings protected) immediately after the building is sufficiently weather protected at the location of the wall(s).

Section 3307 FIRE DEPARTMENT SITE ACCESS AND WATER SUPPLY

Section 3307.1.2 is amended to read:

3307.1.2 Stairways Required. Each level above the first story in multi-story buildings that require two exit stairways shall be provided with at least two usable exit stairways after the floor decking is installed. The stairways shall be continuous and discharge to grade level. Stairways serving more than two floor levels shall be enclosed (with openings adequately protected) after exterior walls/windows are in place. Exit stairs in new and in existing, occupied buildings shall be lighted and maintained clear of debris and construction materials at all times.

Exception: For multi-story buildings, one of the required exit stairs may be obstructed on not more than two contiguous floor levels for the purposes of stairway construction (i.e., installation of gypsum board, painting, flooring, etc.).

Section 3307.1.4 is added to read:

3307.1.4 Required Means of Egress. All buildings under construction shall have at least one unobstructed means of egress. All means of egress shall be identified in the written site safety plan as required by Section 3303.1.

Add Section 3307.6 to read:

apparatus by means of roadways having an all-weather driving service of not less than 20 ft. of unobstructed width. The roads shall have the ability to withstand the live loads of fire apparatus and have a

minimum 13 ft. six in. of vertical clearance. Dead end fire access roads in excess of 150 ft. in length shall be provided with approved turnarounds.

When approved by the Fire Code Official, temporary access roadways may be utilized until such time that the permanent roadways are installed. As a minimum, the roadway shall consist of a compacted subbase and six (6) inches of road base material (Class 2 aggregate base rock) both compacted to a minimum 95% and sealed. The perimeter edges of the roadway shall be contained and delineated by curb and gutter or other approved method. The use of geotextile reinforcing fabric underlayment or soils lime-treatment may be required if so, determined by the project civil engineer. Provisions for surface drainage shall also be provided where necessary. The integrity of the roadway shall be maintained at all times.

SECTION 3313 COMPLETION BEFORE OCCUPANCY.

Section 3313.1 is added to read:

Section 3313.1 Completion Before Occupancy. In buildings where an automatic sprinkler system is required by this code or the California Building Code, it shall be unlawful to occupy any portion of a building or structure until the automatic sprinkler system installation has been tested and approved.

In new buildings of combustible construction where, automatic fire sprinkler systems are required to be installed, the system shall be placed in service as soon as possible. Immediately upon the completion of sprinkler pipe installation on each floor level, the piping shall be hydrostatically tested and inspected. After inspection approval from the Fire department, each floor level of sprinkler piping shall be connected to the system supply riser and placed into service with all sprinkler heads uncovered. Protective caps may be installed on the active sprinklers during the installation of drywall, texturing and painting, but shall be removed immediately after this work is completed. For system activation notification, an exterior audible waterflow alarm shall be installed and connected to the sprinkler waterflow device prior to installation of the monitoring system.

For buildings equipped with fire sprinkler systems that are undergoing alterations, the sprinkler system(s) shall remain in service at all times except when system modifications are necessary. Fire sprinkler systems undergoing modifications shall be returned to service at the end of each workday unless otherwise approved by the fire department. The General contractor or his/her designee shall check the sprinkler control valve(s) at the end of each workday to confirm that the system has been restored to service.