San Francisco County Municipal Code Ch. 9 Fire Protection

Sec. 900. General. Sec. 901. Fire Alarms. Sec. 902. Fire Alarm Systems. Sec. 903. Wet Standpipes. Sec. 904. Automatic Sprinkler Systems. Sec. 905. Portable Fire Extinguishers.

Sec. 906. Automatic Sprinklers. Sec. 907. Location of Equipment. Sec. 908. Maintenance and Repair. Sec. 909. Smoke Detection and Alarm Systems. Sec. 910. Reserved. Sec. 911. Single-Station Smoke Detector with Alarm Required. Sec. 912. Self-Closing Doors.

SEC. 900. GENERAL. In those buildings constructed or converted to R-1 or R-2 Occupancy, in which the Building Code, Fire Code, or regulations of the State Fire Marshal in effect at the time of construction or alteration require provisions other than this Code, the Building Code, Fire Code, and State Fire Marshal provisions shall prevail. (Added by Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; amended by Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 901. FIRE ALARMS. (a) Fire Alarms. See Section 907 of the Building Code. (b) Exclusive Use. No signal system or intercommunicating system used for any purpose other than fire warning meets with the requirements of this chapter. (c) Installation. Installation, inspection and maintenance of the fire alarm system shall be according to the Fire Code. (d) Locations. Stations for operating any manually operated fire alarm system shall be placed immediately adjacent to the telephone switchboard, if there is a switchboard, and at such other location as may be approved. (e) Fire alarm systems in existing buildings shall be extended or altered to provide adequate warning of fire to all habitable areas of the building when new construction or the addition of stair enclosures or smoke barriers render the alarm system inadequate. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 902. FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS. Except in those buildings constructed or converted to R-1 or R-2 Occupancy in which the Building Code and/or Fire Code in effect at the time of construction or alteration require other provisions, a manual and automatic approved fire alarm system shall be installed in apartment houses that were constructed after December 31, 1988 that are three or more stories in height or contain six or more units and in hotels three or more stories in height or containing six or more guest rooms, in accordance with the Fire Code and the Electrical Code. EXCEPTIONS: (1) Fire alarm systems need not be installed in buildings not over two stories in height when all individual dwelling units and contiguous attic and crawl spaces are separated from each other and from public or common areas by at least one-hour fire-resistive occupancy separations and each individual dwelling unit or guest room has an exit direct to a public way, exit court or yard, exterior stairway or exterior exit balcony. (2) A separate fire alarm system need not be installed in buildings which are protected throughout by an approved supervised fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with Chapter 9 of the Building Code and having a local alarm to notify all occupants. NOTE: See Health and Safety Code Section 13113.7 and 13113.8 for other fire alarm requirements. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 903. WET STANDPIPES. See Chapter 9 of the Building Code for wet and dry standpipe requirements. Buildings constructed, altered or converted prior to July 26, 1958, required to have wet standpipes may be provided with dry standpipes in lieu of the wet standpipes when approved by the Director and the Fire Marshal.

(Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 904. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM. (a) Where Required. In any apartment house or hotel, any compartment or room in the basement containing more than 1,800 square feet of floor area, or any compartment or room in such a building used for storing or using combustible or flammable materials, shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system of a type designed and installed according to the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Building Code. Automatic sprinkler systems designed and installed according to the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Building Code shall be furnished and installed in all hotels as required by this Code. EXCEPTIONS: (1) Any automatic sprinkler system required by this Section to be installed in an existing hotel pursuant to this Code shall not be required to have an on-site water supply. (2) Any automatic sprinkler system required by this Section to be installed in an existing hotel pursuant to this Code may utilize existing standpipes as approved by the Director and the Fire Marshal. (3) Any automatic sprinkler system required by this Section to be installed in a maid's closet, or similar area, or a floor containing guest rooms in a hotel shall meet the following criteria: (a) Such system may be connected to a domestic water system, regardless of the number of maids closets, or similar areas, in the hotel, as long as there is a minimum pressure of 15 p.s.i. at each sprinkler head; (b) only one sprinkler head need be installed in each such maid's closet, or similar area; and (c) no such system need be connected to the building's sprinkler alarm system. (4) Any automatic sprinkler system required by this Section to be installed in an existing hotel pursuant to this Code (a) shall, in the event that such existing hotel is already equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system, be connected to such existing other system for purposes of supervision only, or (b) shall, in the event that such existing hotel is not already equipped with a supervised automatic sprinkler system, be connected to a local alarm located at the front desk or other approved location. (b) Domestic Water System. The sprinkler system in an area having less than 1,800 square feet may be connected to a domestic water system if the water supply and pressure conform to the provisions of Chapter 9 of the Building Code. (c) Exceptions. (1) Boiler rooms, central heating rooms and bank vaults are excluded from this chapter. (2) Compartments or rooms in the basement of apartment houses containing four or less dwelling units, provided that there are no mattresses, upholstered furniture, or loose storage contained therein, are excluded from this chapter. (d) In existing Group R, Division 1 and 2 Occupancies with enclosed stairways in which an approved partial automatic sprinkler system is to be installed to satisfy the requirements of the Housing Code, the design of the system shall be based on all the following additional design criteria: (1) The computations shall be based upon the most remote locations of sprinkler heads. (2) The sprinkler water service size and riser size shall be determined by adding the total number of sprinkler heads on the floor requiring the greatest number of heads, plus one-half of the total number on the floor with the same or next greatest number of heads, plus the total number of all heads in all open stairwells. (3) The maximum water supply required will be that necessary to supply 13 sprinkler heads. (4) There shall be a minimum pressure of 15 p.s.i. at each sprinkler head and delivery shall be a minimum of 22 g.p.m. from each head. (5) Piping and spacing of sprinkler heads shall be based on ordinary Hazard Schedule of NFPA 13, in accordance with the Building Code. (e) Residential Hotels. (1) An automatic sprinkler system, designed in accordance with NFPA 13 (1999 Edition), shall be installed throughout the residential occupancy of every Residential Hotel building existing on October 16, 2001, and which contains 20 or more guest rooms, as defined in the California Building Code. “Residential Hotel” for purposes of this subsection shall mean each and every hotel for which a certificate of use for any residential units has been issued pursuant to Administrative Code Chapter 41. The design criteria for the installation of the sprinkler system shall be approved by the San Francisco Fire Department and shall comply with NFPA 13 (1999 Edition). Those buildings that have installed a sprinkler system prior to August 20, 2001, that complies with a previous NFPA standard shall be exempt from this subsection. Where a partial sprinkler system has been previously installed in a building subject to this Section 904, the design criteria for such existing sprinkler system, or any new system, may be approved or modified by the Chief of the San Francisco Fire Department or his/her authorized representative. Property owners who are subject to the requirements of this subsection shall be prohibited from relocating tenants for the sole purpose of complying with this subsection. Residential Hotels subject to this subsection must submit a building permit application and plans to the Department of Building Inspection and the Fire Department by September 1, 2002, and complete the fire sprinkler installation as required within subsections (a) and (b) by December 31, 2002. All buildings governed by this subsection which fail to comply with the September 1, 2002, filing deadline shall remain regulated by the original sprinkler installation deadline of June 30, 2002, and subject to immediate code enforcement action. (2) In addition to compliance with the requirements of subsection (e)(1), Residential Hotels sold or transferred after August 1, 2017, s

31, 2002. All buildings governed by this subsection which fail to comply with the September 1, 2002, filing deadline shall remain regulated by the original sprinkler installation deadline of June 30, 2002, and subject to immediate code enforcement action. (2) In addition to compliance with the requirements of subsection (e)(1), Residential Hotels sold or transferred after August 1, 2017, shall have an automatic sprinkler system designed in accordance with NFPA 13 (2016 edition) throughout the building, including non-residential areas, within one year of sale or transfer. (A) Owners of Residential Hotels subject to this subsection shall: (i) Submit a building permit application and plans to the Department of Building Inspection and Fire Department within one year of sale or transfer; and

(ii) Ten days prior to submitting building permit application, provide written notice to any tenants of the non-residential areas subject to the upgrade requirement of the tenant’s right to apply to the Department of Building Inspection for a deferment of the upgrade requirement; and (iii) Be prohibited from relocating tenants for the sole purpose of complying with this subsection. (B) Tenants of non-residential areas impacted by the upgrade requirement may apply to the Department of Building Inspection for a deferment of the upgrade requirement if: (i) they have a written lease that was in effect as of the effective date of the ordinance; and (ii) the lease explicitly requires that the tenant pay for the costs of building upgrades or updates. (C) Any deferment of the upgrade requirement will be limited to the area subject to the applying tenant’s lease and shall expire upon the expiration of that tenant’s lease. (Added by Order 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 170-02, App. 7/22/2002 (effective retroactive to 6/30/2002); Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 239-17, File No. 170871, App. 12/15/2017, Eff. 1/14/2018) SEC. 905. PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. For distribution requirements see the San Francisco Fire Code. Every extinguisher shall be kept in a serviceable condition at all times. A foam type of extinguisher shall be recharged at least once each year, and the date of recharge shall be placed on an attached tag. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 906. AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS. Automatic sprinklers shall be installed in: (1) All existing garbage chutes within buildings four stories or less, except in dwellings, at the discharge end of the chute and immediately above the top of the highest hopper inlet, not to exceed 35 feet between heads; (2) All existing garbage chutes within buildings five or more stories in addition to the requirements in item (1) of this section at every hopper inlet. If the hopper inlet opens directly into a public hall without an intervening door, a sprinkler head is to be installed on every floor above each hopper inlet; (3) All laundry chutes except for dwellings; (4) All garbage, trash and soiled linen rooms or compartments except in dwellings. Total number to be determined by area. The sprinkler head is to be set for 135 degrees; (5) In all public areas of hotels not otherwise required to be sprinklered by this code. For purposes of this Section, the term "public areas" shall be defined to include only the following types of areas: (i) Lobby areas, (ii) Ballrooms, (iii) Meeting rooms (excepting, however, those rooms which are used as meeting rooms on a temporary basis), (iv) Restaurants and other areas generally used for the purpose of serving food to the public, (v) Bars and cocktail lounges, (vi) Night clubs and similar areas, (vii) Retail shops and similar areas (excepting, however, those retail shops and similar areas which are separated from the rest of the hotel by a fire-rated wall (such wall may contain openings as long as each opening is the equivalent of a one-hour fire-rate assembly) and which (a) opens directly to the exterior of the building through a sprinkler protected corridor not more than 25 feet from the street and having a token sprinkler head on the retail shop side of the opening into such corridor), and (viii) Corridors connecting any two or more public areas as defined in this Section. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 192-02, App. 9/17/2002; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 907. LOCATION OF EQUIPMENT. Standpipes, automatic sprinkler systems, automatic fire alarm systems, fire escapes and all fire protective equipment shall be constructed,

located and installed as required by Chapter 9 of the Building Code and as approved by the Director, and location of standpipes shall be approved by the Bureau of Fire Prevention. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007) SEC. 908. MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR. All safety systems, devices, or equipment provided for in this Chapter 9 or in the Fire Code shall be maintained in good repair at all times. (a) Fire Escapes. Fire escapes shall be kept clear and unobstructed and be readily accessible at all times. Upon inspection, the property owner, or authorized agent, shall demonstrate to the Director or designated personnel, that all existing fire escapes are fully operational and properly maintained. Upon completion of the inspection, all existing fire escapes shall be secured, and maintained free of obstruction pursuant to Section 1032 of the Fire Code and in compliance with any successor provisions in the Fire Code pertaining to the operation and/or maintenance of fire escapes. (b) Fire and Life Safety Systems. The building owner shall maintain the fire and life safety systems required by this Code, the Building Code, or the Fire Code in an operable condition at all times. The building owner must meet the requirements of Section 907.8 of the Fire Code and have the system tested and inspected every year by service personnel that meet the qualification requirements of NFPA 72 for maintaining, inspecting, and testing of the systems. The building owner shall maintain written records of inspection and testing, as specified in NFPA 72, until the next test and for one year thereafter. (c) Annual Statement of Compliance with the Testing and Inspection Requirement. With regard to fire alarm systems in Apartment Houses, as defined in this Code, the building owner shall file a Statement of Compliance with this annual testing and inspection requirement with the Fire Department, on a form provided by the Fire Department, in accordance with the following schedule: (1) for buildings with nine or more units, on or before January 31, 2017, and thereafter on or before January 31 of each odd-numbered year, and (2) for buildings with less than nine units, on or before January 31, 2018, and thereafter on or before January 31 of each even-numbered year. The Fire Department shall consult with the Department of Building Inspection in developing the Statement of Compliance form. For purposes of enforcement of this subsection (c), the Fire Department and/or the Department of Building Inspection shall respond to any complaint received by the respective department pertaining to compliance with this subsection in the case of the Department of Building Inspection, or compliance with Section 907.8 of the Fire Code in the case of the Fire Department. The Departments may also enforce these requirements pursuant to periodic health and safety inspections required by code. (d) The building owner shall place, or shall cause service personnel to place, a sticker on the exterior of the fire alarm control panel cover that includes the company name, phone number, and the date of the last inspection or testing. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 192-02, App. 9/17/2002; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 165-16 , File No. 160422, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 909. SMOKE DETECTION AND ALARM SYSTEMS. (a) All occupancies in buildings which are three or more stories in height or in buildings having five or more dwelling units, or six or more guest rooms, or a combination of dwelling units and guest rooms six or more in number, shall be provided with a smoke detection and alarm system as provided herein. EXCEPTIONS: (1) Buildings of Type I (I-A) or Type II (I-B, II-A, II-B) construction. (2) Buildings having a sprinkler system conforming as a minimum with the requirements of Section 907 of the San Francisco Housing Code. (3) Existing buildings having smoke detectors in all individual dwelling units which are installed prior to March 1, 1977, in conformity with the requirements for fire-warning systems in effect on that date, and maintained in conformity with applicable provisions of the Fire Code. (4) Buildings in which all individual dwelling units and guest rooms have access to the exterior at ground level without use of any interior public hallway or any interior public stairway. Access to a fire escape shall not qualify for this exception. (b) All required smoke detection and alarm systems shall be installed and maintained in conformity with the following requirements: (1) All smoke detectors shall be located in accordance with an approved plan in all public corridors and public stairways. Such detectors shall be located not more than 30 feet apart and shall be located within 15 feet of a corridor wall or the end of the corridor. There shall be one detector at the top of each public stairway and an additional detector in such stairway at every third floor below the top of such stairway. All required smoke detector and alarm systems shall be approved by the Director and the Fire Department. All required smoke detector and alarm systems installed prior to January 1, 1989, shall conform to applicable requirements of the National Fire Protection Association Standards 72-A, 1981 Edition and 72-E, 1981 Edition, except that where there is a conflict between the provisions and this Section, the provisions of this Section shall prevail. As an alternate, smoke detector and alarm systems may comply with the 1988 San Francisco Building and Electrical Codes. (2) All audible devices activated by the operation of any required smoke detector shall be installed in an approved location and shall emit a loud continuous alarm clearly audible in all occ

en the provisions and this Section, the provisions of this Section shall prevail. As an alternate, smoke detector and alarm systems may comply with the 1988 San Francisco Building and Electrical Codes. (2) All audible devices activated by the operation of any required smoke detector shall be installed in an approved location and shall emit a loud continuous alarm clearly audible in all occupied areas of the building. All required heat detectors shall be connected to the audible devices of all required smoke detection and alarm systems located and

supervised as required under this Code, and such heat detectors shall be operationally interconnected to such systems. EXCEPTION: Heat detectors are not required in: (i) Buildings of Type I or Type II construction; (ii) Buildings having a sprinkler system conforming as a minimum with the requirements of Section 907 of the Housing Code; (iii) Existing buildings having smoke detectors in all individual dwelling units which were installed prior to March 1, 1977, in conformity with the requirements for smoke detectors in effect on that date, and maintained in conformity with applicable provisions of the Fire Code; (iv) Buildings in which all individual dwelling units and guest rooms have access to the exterior at ground level without use of any interior public hallway or any interior public stairway access to a fire escape which shall not qualify for this exception; (v) Buildings having three-quarter-hour opening protectors in each inner court or having a sprinkler head at each window of such inner court. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 104, nothing in this Section is intended to authorize heat detectors as an alternative material or method to any required sprinkler, fire alarm, or other fire safety device. (3) Where there is no fire alarm system as required under Section 907 of the San Francisco Building Code, a manual fire alarm pull box capable of activating audible devices of required smoke detectors shall be installed in an approved location near the main entrance of the building. (4) All required smoke detectors and alarm systems shall receive their power supply from the building electrical system. All such systems shall be electrically supervised locally for system malfunction and power supply interruption. "Supervision" shall consist of the following elements, or those "supervision" provisions provided by standard industry supervision panel boxes as approved by the State Fire Marshal: (i) A green indicator light to indicate that the system is in a functional condition. (ii) A blinking red indicator light and an audible device to provide a warning when there is a malfunction or power supply interruption. Such audible device shall be provided with a silencing switch which shall automatically reset when function of the system or power supply to the system is reestablished. (iii) A sign located in the interior of the building near the main entrance. Such sign shall be readily visible. Indicator lights required under this Subparagraph (b)(4) shall be located in the center of such sign, the top of which shall announce, "FIRE ALARM SYSTEM," and the bottom of which shall announce, "OPERATING," and "TROUBLE" below the green and red lights, respectively. All letters forming such announcements shall be at least one-half inch in height. (5) Similar supervisory indicating devices existing at the time of adoption of this ordinance shall be deemed in compliance with this Section if approved by the Director and the San Francisco Fire Department. (c) Upon completion of the installation of any system required under this Section, the installer of such system shall provide to the Director, in a form acceptable, a certification that the system is operational and functioning. (d) All required smoke detection and alarm systems shall be maintained as required by the Fire Code. (e) Where an approved fire alarm system is required under Section 907 of the San Francisco Building Code, such fire alarm system shall be operationally interconnected with any required smoke detection and alarm system such that the fire alarm bells shall be activated by either system. All audible devices of any approved fire alarm system shall conform to the requirements of this Section. (f) Where a sprinkler alarm bell is required under Chapter 9, the sprinkler shall also be interconnected to both the fire alarm system and the smoke detection and alarm system. (g) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 104, nothing in this Section is intended to authorize smoke detection and alarm systems as an alternative material or method to any required sprinkler, fire alarm or other fire safety device. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 320-99, App. 11/22/99; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 910. RESERVED. SEC. 911. SINGLE-STATION SMOKE DETECTOR WITH ALARM REQUIRED. (a) A single-station smoke detector with alarm shall be installed within each dwelling unit and guest room in all Group R, Division 1, 2, and 3 Occupancies within three years of the date of adoption of this ordinance. The detector with alarm shall be furnished and installed as required by Section 907.2.11 of the San Francisco Building Code. Buildings which are certified by the Director as having installed the smoke and heat detection and alarm systems required under Section 907 of this Code and Section 907.2.11 of the San Francisco Building Code, and buildings which are equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Chapter 9 of the San Francisco Building Code are exempt from the requirements of this Section. Except as noted below, battery-operated detectors are not acceptable. Buildings built prior to July 17, 1977, which have an approved smoke detector connected to the dwelling unit or guest room wiring, may be accepted provided that a licensed electrical contractor certifies that such detector and alarm in each unit complies with this Section. EXCEPTIONS:

(1) In single-family dwellings and two-family dwellings, a single-station smoke detector with alarm, energized either by the electrical system of the dwelling unit or by battery power, shall comply with this Section. (2) No smoke detector shall be required in a hotel pursuant to this Section or Section 310.9.1 (or any subsection thereof) of the Building Code with respect to any hotel that is fully sprinklered in accordance with NFPA Recommended Standard No. 101, Life Safety Code. For purposes of this exception, a "fully sprinklered" hotel may include unsprinklered guest room bathrooms which are in excess of 55 square feet in area but which do not contain permanently installed combustible plastic vanity table or bath-shower fixtures. (b) Property owners shall supply proof of compliance by following the procedures set forth in Section 907.2.11 of the Building Code. (c) The building owner shall be responsible for the installation, testing and maintenance of the detector after installation. All such testing and maintenance shall be performed in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations. (d) Smoke Detector Information Disclosure. (1) Annual Smoke Detector Information Notice. On or before January 31, 2017, and on or before January 31 of each year thereafter, owners of a dwelling unit intended for human occupancy in which one or more units is rented or leased shall provide each tenant with a written notice regarding smoke alarm requirements on a form provided by the Fire Department as described in Section 907.2.11 of the Fire Code. (2) Posting Requirement. For all Apartment Houses as defined in this Code, the building owner shall post the notice referenced in subsection (d)(1) in at least one conspicuous location in a common area of each floor of the building. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007; Ord. 165-16 , File No. 160422, App. 8/11/2016, Eff. 9/10/2016; Ord. 232-25, File No. 250975, App. 11/21/2025, Eff. 12/22/2025, Oper. 1/1/2026) SEC. 912. SELF-CLOSING DOORS. Every door between hotel guest room, community kitchen, or community toilet room and the immediately adjacent corridor on floors containing guest rooms shall be equipped with an approved self-closing, or equivalent, device which may consist of a spring-loaded hinge. (Added by Ord. 399-89, App. 11/6/89; amended by Ord. 161-92, App. 6/4/92; Ord. 350-95, App. 11/3/95; Ord. 256-07, App. 11/6/2007)