Los Altos Municipal Code Ch. 9 Fire Protection and Life

Section 901 GENERAL

Section 901.6.2 is amended as follows:

901.6.2 Integrated testing. Where two or more fire protection or life safety systems are interconnected, the intended response of subordinate fire protection and life safety systems shall be verified when required testing of the initiating system is conducted. In addition, integrated testing shall be performed in accordance with Sections 901.6.2.1 and 901.6.2.2.

901.6.2.1 High-rise buildings. For high-rise buildings, integrated testing shall comply with NFPA 4, with an integrated test performed prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy and at intervals not exceeding 10 years, unless otherwise specified by an integrated system test plan prepared in accordance with NFPA 4. If an equipment failure is detected during integrated testing, a repeat of the integrated test shall not be required, except as necessary to verify operation of fire protection or life safety functions that are initiated by equipment that was repaired or replaced. For existing buildings, the testing timeframe shall be specified by the integrated systems test plan prepared in accordance with NFPA 4 as approved by the fire code official.

901.6.2.2 Smoke control systems. Where a fire alarm system is integrated with a smoke control system as outlined in Section 909, integrated testing shall comply with NFPA 4, with an integrated test performed prior to issuance of the certificate of occupancy and at intervals not exceeding 10 years, unless otherwise specified by an integrated system test plan prepared in accordance with NFPA 4. If an equipment failure is detected during integrated testing, a repeat of the integrated test shall not be required, except as necessary to verify operation of fire protection or life safety functions that are initiated by equipment that

was repaired or replaced. For existing buildings, the testing timeframe shall be specified by the integrated systems test plan prepared in accordance with NFPA 4 as approved by the fire code official.

Section 901.6.3 is amended to read as follows:

901.6.3 Records Information. Records of all system inspections, tests and maintenance required by the referenced standard shall be maintained on the premises for a minimum of five years. See 907.7 & 907.8 for fire alarm system inspection, testing and maintenance documentation requirements.

Section 903.2 Where required.

Section 903.2.18 Group U private garages and carports accessory to Group R-3 occupancies.

Section 903.2 is amended to read as follows:

Section 903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in new and existing buildings and structures shall be provided in the locations described in this Section or in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.12 whichever is the more restrictive and Sections 903.2.14 through 903.2.21.

For the purposes of this section, firewalls and fire barriers used to separate building areas shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code and shall be without openings or penetrations.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new buildings and structures, other than Group R occupancies, except as follows:

Buildings and structures not located in any Wildland-Urban Interface and not exceeding 1,200 square feet of fire area.

Buildings and structures located in any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area and not exceeding 500 square feet of fire area.

Group S-2 or U occupancies, including photovoltaic support structures, used exclusively for vehicle parking which meet all of the following:

Noncombustible construction.

ii.

Maximum 5,000 square feet in building area.

iii.

Structure is open on not less than three (3) sides nor 75% of structure perimeter.

iv.

Minimum of 10 feet separation from existing buildings, or similar structures, unless area is separated by fire walls

Canopies, constructed in accordance with CBC 406.7.2, used exclusively for weather protection of vehicle fueling pads per CBC 406.7.1 and not exceeding 5,000 square feet of fire area, complying with California Building Code 706.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all new buildings with a Group R fire area.

Exception: Detached Accessory Dwelling Unit, provided that all of the following are met:

The unit meets the definition of an Accessory Dwelling Unit as defined in the Government Code Section 65852.2.

The existing primary residence does not have automatic fire sprinklers.

The accessory detached dwelling unit does not exceed 1,200 square feet in size.

The unit is on the same lot as the primary residence.

The unit meets all apparatus access and water supply requirements of Chapter 5 and Appendix B of the 2022 California Fire Code.

An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed in new manufactured homes (as defined in California Health and Safety Code Sections 18007 and 18009) and multifamily manufactured homes with two dwelling units (as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18008.7) in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all existing buildings, when additions are made that exceed fifty (50) percent and/or seven hundred and fifty (750) square feet of existing floor areas (area calculations shall not include existing basement floor areas).

An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all new basements regardless of size and throughout existing basements that are expanded by more than 50%.

An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout existing buildings and structures when alterations or additions are made that create conditions described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.18.

Any change in the character of occupancy or in use of any building with a fire area equal to or greater than 3,600 square feet which, in the opinion of the fire code official or building official, would place the building into a more hazardous division of the same occupancy group or into a different group of occupancies and constitutes a greater degree of life safety 1 or increased fire risk 2 , shall require the installation of an approved fire automatic fire sprinkler system.

1 Life Safety - Shall include, but not limited to: Increased occupant load, public assembly areas, public meeting areas, churches, indoor amusement attractions, buildings with complex exiting systems due to increased occupant loads, large schools/day-care facilities, large residential care facilities housing non- ambulatory clients.

2 Fire Risks - Shall include, but not limited to: High-piled combustible storage, woodworking operations, hazardous operations using hazardous materials, increased fuel loads (storage of moderate to highly combustible materials), increased sources of ignition (welding, automotive repair with the use of flammable liquids and open flames).

The obligation to provide compliance with these fire sprinkler regulations may not be evaded by performing a series of small additions and/or alterations undertaken over a three-year period and/or two code cycles. The permit issuance dates of past additions and/or alterations where these regulations were in effect shall be used for determining compliance.

Any submittal for building permits which exceed fifty (50) percent and/or seven hundred and fifty (750) square feet of existing floor areas (area calculations shall not include existing basement floor areas and any non-habitable floor areas, i.e., garages) during the three-year period shall comply with fire sprinkler regulations.

No waiver shall be granted from compliance with fire sprinklers.

Section 903.2.11.7 is added as follows:

903.2.11.7 Chemical Fume Hood Fire Protection. Approved automatic fire extinguishing systems shall be provided in chemical fume hoods in the following cases:

Existing hoods having interiors with a flame spread index greater than 25 in which flammable liquids are handled.

If a hazard assessment determines that an automatic extinguishing system is required for the chemical fume hood, then the applicable automatic fire protection system standard shall be followed.

SECTION 907 FIRE ALARM AND DETECTION SYSTEMS

Section 907.8 is amended as follows:

907.8 Inspection, testing and maintenance. The maintenance and testing schedules and procedures for fire alarm and fire detection systems shall be in accordance with Sections 907.8.1 through 907.8.4 and NFPA 72. Records of inspection, testing and maintenance shall be documented using NFPA 72 record of inspection and testing forms.

Section 909 SMOKE CONTROL SYSTEMS

Section 909.22.1 Schedule

Section 909.22.1 is amended to read as follows:

909.20.1 Schedule. A routine maintenance and operational testing program shall be initiated immediately after the smoke control system has passed the acceptance tests. A written schedule for routine maintenance and operational testing shall be established and operational testing shall occur at least annually.