San Francisco Building Inspection Commission Codes § 3107.6 Ground signs

3107.6.1 Height. The maximum height of a ground sign constructed with wood supports shall be 30 feet (9.14 m), as measured from the top of the sign to the sidewalk in front of the sign or the existing ground under the sign, whichever is higher.

3107.6.2 Design and construction. The design and construction of wood signs shall comply with Chapters 16 and 23 of this code. All wood within 12 inches of the ground shall be pressure-treated wood.

3107.7 Removal of business signs. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any business sign to remain posted more than 180 days after the activity for which the business sign has been posted has ceased operation on the premises if such person (1) owns, leases or rents the property on which the sign is posted, or (2) owns or operates such business, service, industry or other activity.

SECTION 3116 – WOODBURNING APPLIANCES

3116 Add a section as follows

3116.1 Woodburning appliances. All woodburning appliances installed in new buildings or woodburning appliances being added, reconstructed or replaced in existing buildings shall comply with this section.

Gas fireplaces shall be exempt from the requirements of this section. However, the conversion of a gas fireplace to burn wood shall constitute the installation of a woodburning appliance and shall be subject to the requirements of this section.

3116.2 Definitions. The definitions set forth in this section shall govern the application and interpretation of this section.

BAY AREA AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT DISTRICT means the air quality agency for the San Francisco Bay Area established pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 40200.

EPA means the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

EPA CERTIFIED WOOD HEATER means any wood heater that meets the standards in Title 40, Part 60, Subpart

AAA, Code of Federal Regulations in effect at the time of installation and is certified and labeled pursuant to those regulations.

FIREPLACE means any permanently installed masonry or factory-built appliance that burns wood, except a pelletfueled wood heater, designed to be used with an air-to-fuel ratio greater than or equal to 35 to one.

GARBAGE means all solid, semisolid and liquid wastes generated from residential, commercial and industrial sources, including trash, refuse, rubbish, industrial wastes, asphaltic products, manure, vegetable or animal solids and semisolid wastes, and other discarded solid and semisolid wastes.

GAS FIREPLACE means any device designed to burn natural gas in a manner that simulates the appearance of a woodburning fireplace.

PAINTS means all exterior and interior house and trim paints, enamels, varnishes, lacquers, stains, primers, sealers, undercoatings, roof coatings, wood preservatives, shellacs, and other paints or paint-like products.

PAINT SOLVENTS means all original solvents sold or used to thin paints or to clean up painting equipment. PELLET-FUELED WOOD HEATER means any appliance that burns wood and operates exclusively on wood pellets.

RECONSTRUCTION means the complete rebuilding of the woodburning appliance such that all or a substantial portion of its parts are new. It does not include repairs made to the appliance in order to make it safer or more efficient.

SOLID FUEL means wood or any other nongaseous or nonliquid fuel.

TREATED WOOD means wood of any species that has been chemically impregnated, painted or similarly modified to improve resistance to insects or weathering. It does not include products such as Duraflame or Presto logs that are specifically designed and sold to be burned in a woodburning appliance.

WASTE PETROLEUM PRODUCTS means any petroleum product other than gaseous fuels that has been refined from crude oil and has been used, and as a result of use has been contaminated with physical or chemical impurities. WOODBURNING APPLIANCE means fireplace, wood heater, or pellet-fueled wood heater or any similar device burning any solid fuel used for aesthetic or space-heating purposes.

WOOD HEATER means a stove that burns wood.

3116.3 Unauthorized appliances prohibited. No person shall install a woodburning appliance that is not one of the following:

1. A pellet-fueled wood heater;

2. An EPA-certified wood heater; or

3. A fireplace certified by the Northern Sonoma Air Pollution Control District.

Exceptions:

1. Woodburning appliances that are designed primarily for food preparation in new or existing restaurants or bakeries.

2. Historic woodburning appliances installed in historic structures, as determined by the Building Official of the Department of Building Inspection in consultation with the Director of the Department of Planning.

3116.4 Prohibited fuels. The following fuels are prohibited from use in a woodburning appliance:

1. Garbage;

2. Treated wood;

3. Plastic products;

4. Rubber products;

5. Waste petroleum products;

6. Paints or paint solvents;

7. Coal;

8. Glossy or colored paper;

9. Particle board; or

10. Saltwater driftwood.

3116.5 Certification. Any person who plans to install a woodburning appliance must submit documentation to the Building Official demonstrating that the appliance is a pellet-fueled wood heater, a certified wood heater, or a fireplace certified by Northern Sonoma Air Pollution Control District.

NOTE: Ordinance 13-02, adopted 1-14-2002, which amended Section 3102.8, contained the following findings: (a) In 1982, the State Air Resources Board (ARB) adopted a particulate matter (PM10) Ambient Air Quality Standard (AAQS). Levels for the PM10 AAQS were selected pursuant to California Code of Regulations Title 17 Section 70200 to protect the health of people who are sensitive to exposure to fine particles.

(b) Research indicates that wood smoke is a significant contributor to PM10 levels that pose significant health risks.

(c) The City and County of San Francisco desires to lessen the risk to life and property from air pollution from woodburning appliances.

(d) The City and County of San Francisco finds that the proposed regulation will significantly reduce the increases in particulate emissions from future installation and construction activities.

(e) The City and County of San Francisco finds a need exists to adopt regulations which apply to woodburning combustion emissions.