Los Angeles Municipal Code § 57.119 General Approvals

The provisions of this section shall apply to general approvals which constitute approval of the type, design, and construction of any appliance, device, equipment, or system listed in Sections 57.119.3 and 57.119.3.2.

Every application for a general approval shall be filed at the office of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety upon forms provided by the Fire Department.

Every application for a general approval shall be accompanied by the required fees, as set forth in this chapter.

Plans and specifications for a general approval required by this Code shall be made in compliance with Sections 57.105.2 through 57.105.4, the same as stated for permits.

No person shall construct, sell, offer for sale, or advertise for use in the City or install, operate, maintain, or use any appliance, device, equipment, system, or material listed in this section unless a general approval for the type, design, construction, formulation, and/or method of application has been granted by the Chief:

1. Fire hydrant.

2. Candle device for a place of assemblage other than the sanctuary of a church.

3. Roofing kettle over 15-gallon capacity.

4. Automatic or self-closing shutoff valves or internal valves hazardous materials.

5. Automatic or self-closing dispensing nozzles for hazardous materials.

6. Vaporizers or mixers for liquefied gases.

7. Portable tank or portable shipping tank.

8. Cargo tank of a tank vehicle.

9. Internal valve or dome cover for cargo tank if approved separately from tank vehicle.

10. Hydrant cart for aircraft refueling.

11. Paint coating, or other surface finish, which purports to reduce or eliminate combustible characteristics of furnishings or structures unless regulated by Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations or by Chapter 9 of the Los Angeles Municipal Code (Building Code).

The Chief may exempt from the requirements of Section 57.119.3 any appliance, device, equipment, material or system which is approved, listed, or labeled by an approved testing laboratory, provided that such appliance, device, equipment, material or system is applied, installed, operated, used, and maintained in conformance with the requirements of this article. Exemptions hereby granted do not include exemption from the fee requirements as set for in Section 57.119.8.

The Department may grant a general approval for the type, design, and construction of any appliance, device, equipment, or system which is listed in this subsection. This does not waive the requirements for a permit for each individual installation:

1. Atmospheric tank.

2. Low pressure tank.

3. Special vessel.

4. Spray booth or spray tunnel with any dimension greater than 3 feet.

5. Dip tank, more than 150-gallon capacity or more than 5 square feet of surface area.

6. Flow coat machine.

7. Drying oven.

8. Industrial oven or furnace not otherwise specified.

9. Industrial processing equipment not otherwise specified.

10. Automatic fire extinguishing system except automatic sprinkler system.

A record of general approvals and exceptions which may be granted in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be maintained by the Chief. Such record shall be available for public inspection at the office of the Bureau of Fire Prevention and Public Safety.

The Chief shall investigate every application for a general approval. Such investigation shall be made by authorized members of the Fire Department. The Fire Department approval of the application may be made subject to such terms and conditions as may be necessary for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire, explosion, or panic.

The Chief may require such additional information or tests as may be necessary to carry out the investigation of the application for a general approval. Any test that may be required shall be made at the applicant’s own expense.

If, after investigation and consideration of any application and the plans and specifications in connection therewith, it shall be determined that the type, design, and construction of the appliance, device, equipment, or system will not create any undue fire hazard and that it will conform to the provisions of this article and of other relevant laws, the Chief shall approve the application. The Fire Department shall thereupon grant the general approval.

Every appliance, device, equipment, or system for which a general approval has been granted shall have attached thereto a metal label, or other approved means of identification, containing the following information:

1. The name of the manufacturer thereof.

2. The letters “L.A.F.D.” together with the general approval number.

3. If a tank or container, the gauge of thickness of metal of which it is constructed and the capacity thereof in gallons.

4. Such other information as may be required as a condition of the general approval.

Every general approval granted in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be valid for a period of three years after the date of granting, and may be renewed for additional three-year periods.

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the continued operation or use of any appliance, device, equipment or system for which a valid L.A.F.D. label has been issued under the authority of Section 57.119.5.

Applications for renewal of a general approval shall be filed in the same manner as for an original general approval, except that plans and specifications are not required.

Each application shall be accompanied by a renewal fee. Whenever the application for renewal is filed prior to the expiration date of the general approval, the renewal fee shall be 50% of the fee set forth in Section 57.119.8. Whenever the application for renewal is filed after the expiration date of the general approval, the renewal fee shall be the fee set forth in Section 57.119.8.

The granting of a renewal of a general approval shall be handled in the same manner as for an original general approval.

Before accepting an application for any of the following general approvals required by this chapter, the Department shall collect the fees required therefor established by the most current cost recovery schedule published, as provided by Section 57.106.7 and applicable thereto.

A general approval shall be required for the following devices:

1. Fire hydrant.

2. Candle device for place of assemblage.

3. Roofing kettle, over 15-gallon capacity.

4. Automatic or self-closing shutoff valve for hazardous materials.

   5. Automatic or self-closing nozzle for hazardous materials.

   6. Vaporizer or mixer for liquefied gases.

   7. Portable tank or portable shipping tank.

   8. Cargo tank of a tank vehicle.

   9. Internal valve, vent, or dome cover for cargo tank.

   10. Hydrant cart for aircraft refueling.

   11. Paint, coating, or another surface finish.

A general approval shall be optional for the following devices:

1. Atmospheric tank.

2. Low pressure tank.

3. Special vessel.

4. Gas holder.

5. Spray booth or spray tunnel with any dimension greater than 3 feet.

6. Dip tank with more than 150-gallon capacity or more than 5 square feet of surface area.

7. Flow coat machine.

8. Drying oven.

9. Industrial oven or furnace not otherwise specified.

10. Industrial proceeding equipment not otherwise specified.

11. Automatic fire extinguishing system except automatic sprinkler system.

When the length of time spent in investigating an application for a general approval is such that the charge for hours spent, as computed in accordance with the cost recovery schedule established under Section 57.106.7, exceeds the schedule fee established for that particular type of approval, the charge as computed pursuant to Section 57.106.7 shall be paid to the Fire Department before any general approval is issued.

Fee exempt general approvals without the payment of the fees prescribed pursuant to Section 57.106.7 shall be issued to the following: City of Los Angeles, County of Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District, Los Angeles Community College District or any municipal corporation, department, or office thereof.

The Chief may suspend or revoke any general approval if it is found that the material or method of construction is not in compliance with any of the conditions upon which it is based, or is not a quality, workmanship or work quality equivalent to that required by the Municipal Code, or for any of the reasons set forth in Section 57.105.5.