Nevada City Municipal Code Ch. 8.30 Sprinkler Systems

Any structure within the boundaries of the city of Nevada City undergoing reconstruction, remodel or renovation meeting the following criteria shall be required to install a sprinkler system described below:

A. Effected Occupancies.

1. Any commercial structure that is undergoing reconstruction or a structural remodel or redesign that will effect more than twenty-five (25) percent of the existing structure, regardless of fire flow within its location;

2. Any residential structure in which fifty (50) percent or more of the existing structure will be effected by the reconstruction, renovation or remodel, and where system installation is indicated by inadequate fire flow or other factors.

B. Requirement. Any structure meeting the above criteria shall be required to have a NFPA recognized and compliant automatic fire suppression sprinkler system appropriate to the type of occupancy as recommended by NFPA, and as required by the California Fire Code or the fire chief of jurisdiction. The design of this system shall be incorporated and included in the plan proposal with the reconstruction, remodel or renovation design plans, and submitted for review and approval by the fire department prior to any construction activity taking place.

C. Determination. The determination of this requirement will be based on the percentage of the structure that is affected (twenty-five (25) percent commercial, fifty (50) percent residential) and shall be made by the fire chief or his designee upon review of the project plans.

D. Multiphase Construction. Any multiphase project, or individual projects that are initiated within a five (5) year time frame of one another on a single structure, shall be considered a single project for the purposes of this chapter and will be required to comply with this chapter, provided that the end total scope of work will exceed the percentages for residential or commercial occupancies set forth above. Retrofitting to incorporate an approved fire suppression sprinkler system will be required for any building that falls subject to this requirement due to multiphase construction or multiple individual projects.

E. Plan Submittal Requirements.

1. Residential Fire Suppression Sprinkler System. Plans must conform to the requirements of NFPA Section 13D or 13R as required. Residential systems may be designed and drafted by the contractor or by the property owner as allowed by code and must be submitted to this agency for review.

2. Commercial Occupancy and Use. The following commercial occupancy requirements are incorporated herein:

a. Automatic fire sprinkler system(s) shall be designed by one (1) of the following persons:

i. A state of California licensed professional engineer holding a license in fire protection engineering;

ii. A state of California licensed C-16 (fire protection) contractor when that contractor is also installing the system(s).

b. All drawings and the front sheet of the hydraulic calculation report shall have the appropriate engineer or contractor's stamp affixed to it along with a wet ink signature.

c. Automatic fire sprinkler system plans for new installations, system upgrades, partial systems when approved by the fire chief, and special systems shall be submitted to the city of Nevada City fire department, fire prevention division at 317 Broad Street, Nevada City, CA 95959 a minimum of thirty (30) days in advance of installation.

d. All plan review and inspection fees shall be paid prior to the review of plan submittals. Plan review fees include the original plan review and one (1) additional review by the fire prevention division. An administrative charge shall be paid for all re-submittals upon second or subsequent revisions. Additional fees will be charged for all expedited and special request plan reviews.

e. A minimum of three (3) thirty (30) inch by forty-two (42) inch drawings, hydraulic calculation reports and product material cut sheets shall be submitted by the applicant for all new systems or modifications to existing systems beyond the installation of fire sprinkler drops into tenant spaces.

f. Upon approval of the submittal, one (1) set shall be retained by the fire department, and one (1) set shall be retained within the building fire control room. Any others may be returned to the applicant.

g. An approved set of automatic fire sprinkler plans shall be retained at the construction site by the contractor until the city approves final occupancy. All deviations from the approved plans shall be submitted for review and approval.

h. As the design professional, one is urged to utilize conservative design criteria based upon the information provided for the project. The information provided is based on the existing distribution system and known development at this time. All flow test results provided by the fire department represent available conditions at the time that the test was conducted. Available flow conditions may be lower during peak water demand periods, and at city buildout.

i. Water supply information used for hydraulic calculation of automatic fire sprinkler systems within the existing infill areas of the city of Nevada City shall be designed using fire hydrant test results obtained by the city of Nevada City within the previous twelve (12) month period from the hydrant nearest to the project.

j. System design criteria shall be a minimum of ten (10) percent below the available water supply curve.

k. The owner shall notify the city upon completion of the sprinkler system for inspection and payment of fee.

(Ord. 2006-04 § 2, 2006)