Sacramento Municipal Code Art. VII Water Flow for Fire Protection

The recommendations, guidelines, and standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow published by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) are adopted as standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow within this city as to all matters therein contained except as herein otherwise provided. Two copies of the ISO recommendations, guidelines and standards shall be kept available for public review in the office of the city clerk. The requirements established by this article shall be in addition to any requirements established by other applicable provisions of this code, including without limitation this chapter, Chapter 2.24 and Title 15 of this code. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

This article is adopted for the following purposes:

A. To protect public health, safety and welfare from the danger of fire because of the lack of fire protection facilities and of adequate water flow for fire protection available to buildings located at a distance from public streets, alleys and rights-of-way.

B. To establish uniform standards for the construction and placement of fire protection facilities and the delivery of adequate water flow for fire protection upon private property.

C. To provide for the installation, maintenance and supervision of fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for fire protection upon private property. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever the words or terms defined in this section, or pronouns used in their place, occur in this article, they shall have the following meanings:

"Land" means any lot, parcel, zoning plot, acreage or building site, or any other land or portion thereof, whether improved or unimproved.

National Standards. The recommendations, guidelines and standards for fire protection facilities and adequate water flow published by the Insurance Services Office.

"To develop land" means to make any improvements or do any work upon such land as would require the issuance of a building permit under Title 15 of the Sacramento City Code. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

When any land is to be developed in such a manner that any part of a proposed building or structure to be located thereon will be in excess of one hundred fifty (150) feet from the nearest public fire hydrant located, or to be located prior to the completion of the building or structure in a public street, alley or place, the owner or developer shall provide at the same time in the public street, alley, or place, or on-site, such fire protection facilities and adequate water flow for fire protection as the fire chief shall deem necessary, according to national standards. All facilities required to be installed shall be approved by and meet the specifications of the fire chief as to location, size and type of materials and manner of installation; provided, however, that all water mains, fittings and hydrants shall conform to national standards and to the standard specifications of the city. No main shall be installed that is less than six inches in diameter. Hydrant branches of six inch diameter shall be circulating if more than five hundred (500) feet in length. If the fire chief determines that the installation of a circulating six inch branch would result in practical difficulty or unnecessary hardship, the fire chief may permit the installation of a single (non-circulating) eight inch branch if such branch is connected to a water main at least eight inches in diameter or is connected to a circulating six inch water main not more than one thousand (1000) feet in length.

All installations made in a public street, alley or place shall require an encroachment/excavation permit and shall comply with all conditions of the permit and this code. No fire service line shall be installed across any parcel other than the parcel to which the service is being furnished, provided that the fire chief may, in his or her discretion, authorize a fire service line that serves more than one parcel, upon the recording of an agreement, in a form approved by the city, that fully provides for the operation, maintenance and repair of the line, and grants a permanent easement for these purposes, at no cost or liability to the city.

The costs and expenses of installing and maintaining on-site fire protection facilities shall be the sole responsibility of the owner or developer of the land. The costs and expenses of installing off-site fire protection facilities, including main and branch mains, shall also be the sole responsibility of the owner or developer, and shall be paid in full before any water service connection is made, unless otherwise determined by the director. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

Every application for a building permit and its accompanying plans filed with the manager of the Building Inspections Division of the city (hereinafter referred to as "the building official") pursuant to Title 15 of this code shall be referred to the fire chief for review and comment, if:

A. The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings located upon a single lot or parcel, or additions thereto, the total floor area of which, including that of any existing building located upon the same lot or parcel, will equal or exceed five thousand square feet; or

B. The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings, or additions thereto, any one of which exceeds either two stories or thirty feet in height; or

C. The proposed development will consist of one or more buildings, or additions thereto, in Occupancies A through U as defined by Title 15 of the Sacramento City Code wherein any part of any building or structure will be in excess of one hundred fifty (150) feet from the nearest distribution main or proposed distribution main located or to be located in a public street, alley or place prior to the completion of the building or buildings. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

When any plans are submitted under Section 13.04.580, the fire chief shall review the same and determine whether or not the fire protection facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate according to national standards. If the fire chief determines that the facilities and water flow for fire protection existing or to be provided are adequate according to national standards, the fire chief shall endorse the plans with an approval and return the same to the building official. If the fire chief determines that the facilities existing or to be provided are not adequate according to national standards, the fire chief shall:

A. Disapprove the plans and indicate in writing to the building official how they are deficient. In such event the building official shall require from the owner revised plans to cure the deficiency, and the revised plans shall be submitted to the fire chief; or

B. Conditionally approve the plans. In such event, such conditions shall be made part of the plans and the issuance of a permit by the building official shall be so conditioned. The plans shall be one hundred (100) percent complete before they are forwarded to the department and/or any water service connection is made. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

Whenever any fire protection facilities, public or private fire hydrants, or other appurtenances for use by the fire department are required to be installed pursuant to this chapter, there shall be included in the development plan and delineated thereon adequate provision for access by fire fighting personnel and equipment to and from all such fire protection facilities, including, but not limited to, public or private fire hydrants and appurtenances. Such access shall be approved by the fire chief and the owner may be required to dedicate to the city as a condition of approval of the development plan, an easement sufficient for access by fire fighting equipment to such fire protection facilities. All such access easements shall be maintained in such a manner as to provide clear and unobstructed ingress and egress by fire fighting personnel and equipment and/or maintenance personnel and equipment at all times. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

No final inspection by the building official as to all or any portion of the development shall be deemed completed and no certificate of occupancy or temporary certificate of occupancy shall be issued unless and until the installation of the prescribed fire protection facilities and access ways has been completed and approved by the fire chief. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

Except as provided in Section 13.04.620, all on-site fire protection facilities shall at all times be maintained as installed, free of leaks and in good working order by the owner of the land. The fire chief is hereby authorized to enter upon the land at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner to conduct periodic tests and inspections of such facilities. If the fire chief determines that any on-site fire protection facilities are being maintained in such manner as not to meet the standards specified herein, the fire chief shall order the owner to make such repairs, alterations, or additions as shall conform the facilities to such standards. The fire chief shall designate a reasonable time within which such repairs, alterations, or additions are to be made and it shall be unlawful for any person so ordered to willfully fail or refuse to comply with such order. Without limiting the foregoing, the willful failure or refusal to comply with such an order shall constitute an occupancy violation within the meaning of the applicable provisions of Title 15 and Chapter 8.96 of the Sacramento City Code. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

On-site fire protection facilities may be altered or modified with the written consent of the fire chief subject to the provisions of Section 13.04.570. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

The inspection, servicing, testing and repair of all private fire hydrants shall be the sole responsibility of the owner of the property where the private fire hydrant is located. The term "service" or "servicing" shall mean and include repainting external surfaces and hydrant identification numbers, to clear away weeds, shrubs and other accumulations of vegetation, to lubricate operating nuts and stems, and to replace nozzle caps, chains and gaskets. Without affecting the property owner's responsibility therefor, the director may authorize officers, employees, agents or contractors of the city to inspect, service, test and/or repair private fire hydrants and the property owner shall be required to pay such fee(s) for these services as may be established from time to time by resolution of the city council. Whether or not inspection, servicing, testing or repair is performed by a property owner or the city, the property owner shall indemnify and hold harmless the city, its officers and employees from any claims, actions, costs (including attorney fees), damages or other liability resulting or arising from the condition of, or any failure to inspect, service, test or repair, any private fire hydrant located on the owner's property. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)

A map showing the size and location of all water pipes and hydrants installed pursuant to this chapter and stating the material of which such pipes are made and the date of their installation and approval shall be filed with the department and the fire department prior to the issuance of any occupancy permit under the provisions of the building code. (Ord. 2001-033 § 1)