San Diego County Municipal Code § 324.1 County Fire Code

Mid-rise buildings shall be protected throughout by an automatic sprinkler system designed and installed in conformance with the NFPA 13 edition as referenced in Chapter 80 of CFC and in accordance with the following:

1. A control valve and a water flow alarm shall be provided for each floor. Each control valve and water flow alarm shall be electronically supervised.

2. Mid-rise buildings shall be provided with a Class I standpipe system that is interconnected with the automatic sprinkler system. The system shall consist of 2½-inch hose valves located in each stair enclosure on every floor. Two hose outlets shall be located on the roof outside of each stair enclosure which penetrates the roof. The standpipe system shall be designed, installed and tested in accordance with the NFPA 14 edition as referenced in Chapter 80 of CFC.

3. Fire department standpipe connections and valves serving each floor shall be located in the vestibule and located in a manner so as not to obstruct egress when hose lines are connected and charged.

Smoke detectors shall be provided in accordance with this section. Smoke detectors shall be connected to an automatic fire alarm system and shall be installed in accordance with the NFPA 72 edition as referenced in Chapter 80 of CFC. The actuation of any device required by this section shall operate the emergency voice alarm signal system and shall operate all equipment necessary to prevent the circulation of smoke through air return and exhaust ductwork. Smoke detectors shall be located as follows:

1. In every mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment, unmanned computer equipment, elevator machinery or similar room and in all elevator lobbies. Elevator lobby detectors shall be connected to an alarm verification zone or be listed as a releasing device.

2. In the main return air and exhaust air plenum of each air conditioning system. The smoke detector shall be located in a serviceable area downstream of the last duct inlet.

3. At each connection to a vertical duct or riser serving two or more stories from a return air duct or plenum of an air conditioning system. In Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies, an approved smoke detector is allowed to be used in each return air riser carrying not more than 5,000 cubic feet per minute and not serving more than 10 air inlet openings.

4. For Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies in all corridors serving as a means of egress for an occupant load of 10 or more persons.

An approved and listed, automatic and manual, fully addressable and electronically-supervised fire alarm system shall be provided in conformance with this code and the California Building Code & NFPA 72 edition as referenced in Chapter 80 of CFC.

The operation of any automatic fire detector or water flow device shall automatically sound an alert tone followed by a pre-recorded voice instruction giving appropriate information and direction on a general or selective basis to the following terminal areas:

• 1. Elevators
• 2. Elevator lobbies
• 3. Corridors
• 4. Exit stairways
• 5. Rooms and tenant spaces
• 6. Dwelling units
• 7. Hotel guest rooms
• 8. Areas designated as safe refuge within the building

A fire command center for fire department operations shall be provided. The location and accessibility of the fire command center shall be approved by the fire code official. The room shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a 2-hour fire barrier. The room shall be a minimum of 200 square feet with a minimum dimension of 10 feet. It shall contain the following facilities at a minimum:

• 1. Voice alarm and public address panels
• 2. Fire department communications panel
• 3. Fire alarm annunciator panel
• 4. Elevator annunciator panel (when building exceeds 55 feet in height)
• 5. Status indicators and controls for air-handling systems (stairwell pressurization)
• 6. Controls for unlocking stairwell doors
• 7. Fire pump status indicators (if required)
• 8. Set of complete building plans
• 9. Elevator control switches for switching of emergency power
• 10. Work table

Control panels in the central control station shall be permanently identified as to their function. Water flow, automatic fire detection and manually-activated fire alarms, supervisory and trouble signals shall be monitored by an approved UL-listed central monitoring station and annunciated in the fire command center by means of an audible and visual indicator. For the purposes of annunciation, zoning shall be in accordance with the following:

• 1. When the system serves more than one building, each building shall be a separate zone.
• 2. Each floor in a building shall be a separate zone.
• 3. When one or more risers serve the same floor, each riser shall be a separate zone.

Elevators and elevator lobbies shall comply with Chapter 30 of the California Building Code. At least one elevator cab shall be assigned for fire department use, and shall serve all floors of the building. This cab shall be provided large enough to accommodate an ambulance-type stretcher in accordance with section 3002.4 of the California Building Code.

An approved two-way fire department communication system designed and installed in accordance with the NFPA 72 edition referenced in Chapter 80 of CFC shall be provided for fire department use per section 907.2.13.2.

In addition to the requirements of Chapter 10, egress components of mid-rise buildings shall comply with sections 324.1.9.1 through 324.1.9.5.

Stairway enclosures shall be continuous and shall fully enclose all portions of the stairway. Exit enclosures shall exit directly to the exterior of the building or include an exit passageway on the ground floor leading to the exterior of the building. Each exit enclosure shall extend completely through the roof and be provided with a door that leads onto the roof.

All required stairways and enclosures in a mid-rise building shall be pressurized as specified in section 909. Pressurized stairways shall be designed to exhaust smoke manually when needed.

Pressurized stairway enclosures serving a mid-rise building shall be provided with a pressurized entrance vestibule on each floor that complies with section 909.

All stairway doors that are locked to prohibit access from the interior of the stairway shall have the capability of being unlocked simultaneously, without unlatching, upon a signal from the fire command center. Upon failure of normal electrical service or activation of any fire alarm, the locking mechanism shall automatically retract to the unlocked position.

A telephone or other two-way communication system connected to an approved emergency service which operates continuously shall be provided at not less than every third floor in each required exit stairway vestibule.

Approved signage stating doors are locked shall be provided in each stairwell vestibule on each floor in which entry may be made and on each floor in which a telephone is located. Hardware for locking stairway vestibule doors shall be State Fire Marshal listed and approved by the fire code official by permit before installation. Stairway doors located between the vestibules and the stairway shaft shall not be locked.

(Added by Ord. No. 10337 (N.S.), effective 6-19-14; repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 10465 (N.S.), effective 4-14-17; repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 10659 (N.S.), effective 3-26-20; repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 10833 (N.S.), effective 4-13-23; repealed and reenacted by Ord. No. 10976 (N.S.), effective 4-2-26)