San Fernando Municipal Code Art. IV Post-Disaster Safety Assessment Placards

This article establishes standard placards to be used to indicate the condition of a structure for continued occupancy after any natural or manmade disaster. This article further authorizes the department of community development, as well as authorized representatives of the department, to post the appropriate placard at each entry point to a building or structure upon completion of a safety assessment.

(Code 1957, § 7.20)

This article is applicable following each natural or manmade disaster to all buildings and structures of all occupancies regulated by the city. The council may extend the provisions as necessary.

(Code 1957, § 7.21)

For the purposes of this article, a safety assessment is a visual, nondestructive examination of a building or structure for the purpose of determining the condition for continued occupancy following a natural or manmade disaster. Such assessment shall be made by the building official, licensed structural engineer, or other authorized representatives of the community development department possessing demonstrated knowledge of determining structural conditions.

(Code 1957, § 7.22)

(a) The following are descriptions of the official jurisdiction placards to be used to designate the condition for continued occupancy of buildings or structures as provided in this article. Copies of actual placards are attached to Ordinance No. 1455 as exhibit A and are kept on file in the city clerk's office:

(1) Inspected—Lawful occupancy permitted (green) is to be posted on any building or structure wherein no apparent structural hazard has been found. This placard is not intended to mean that there is no damage to the building or structure.

(2) Restricted use (yellow) is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged wherein the damage has resulted in some form of restriction to the continued occupancy. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered and will clearly and concisely note the restrictions on continued occupancy.

(3) Unsafe—Do not enter or occupy (red) is to be posted on each building or structure that has been damaged such that continued occupancy poses a threat to life safety. Buildings or structures posted with this placard shall not be entered under any circumstance except as authorized in writing by the department that posted the building. Safety assessment teams shall be authorized to enter these buildings at any time. This placard is not to be used or considered as a demolition order. The individual who posts this placard will note in general terms the type of damage encountered.

(b) The number of the ordinance from which this section derives (Ord. No. 1455), the name of the department, its address, and phone number shall be permanently affixed to each placard.

(c) Once it has been attached to a building or structure, a placard is not to be removed, altered or covered until done so by an authorized representative of the department or upon written notification from the department.

(Code 1957, § 7.23)