Chapter 11 — CONSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS FOR EXISTING BUILDINGS.

Section 1101 of the International Fire Code is deleted.

Sections 1103.1 through 1103.1.1 of the International Fire Code are deleted.

Sections 1103.4 through 1103.4.10 of the International Fire Code are deleted.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1103.5. [For SF] Sprinkler Systems.

An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided and maintained in accordance with Sections 1103.5.1, 1103.5.2, and 1103.5.4.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1103.5.1. [For SF] Automatic Sprinkler System for Existing SRO Hotel Buildings.

Every residential hotel building existing on October 16, 2001, that contains twenty (20) or more guest rooms, as defined in the California Building Code, shall provide and maintain an automatic sprinkler system installed to comply with San Francisco Ordinance 170-02 throughout the residential occupancy, including accessory areas. For purposes of this section, “Residential Hotel” means each and every hotel for which a Certificate of Use for any residential units has been issued pursuant to San Francisco Administrative Code Chapter 41. Any Residential Hotel that does not maintain an installed automatic sprinkler system throughout the residential occupancy is out of compliance and subject to immediate code enforcement action. The owner shall maintain the sprinkler system in accordance with Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1103.5.2. [For SF] Automatic Sprinkler System for Existing Hotels.

All hotels described in San Francisco Ordinance 319-86 shall maintain an automatic sprinkler system installed to comply with San Francisco Ordinance 319-86 throughout all common areas of the hotel. Any existing hotel that does not provide an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the ordinance is out of compliance and subject to immediate code enforcement action. The owner shall maintain the sprinkler system in accordance with Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations.

Section 1103.5.3 from the International Fire Code is deleted.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1103.5.4. [For SF] Automatic Sprinkler System for Existing High-Rise Buildings.

All existing residential high-rise buildings shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 where any of the following conditions apply:

1. The high-rise building has an occupied floor located more than 120 feet (36 576 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

2. The high-rise building has occupied floors located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) and not more than 120 feet (36 576 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, and the building does not have at least two interior exit stairways complying with Section 1104.10 that are separated from the building interior by fire assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours with opening protection in accordance with Table 716.1(2) of the California Building Code.

3. The high-rise building has occupied floors located more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) and not more than 120 feet (36 576 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, and the building does not have a fire alarm system that includes smoke detection in mechanical equipment, electrical, transformer, telephone equipment and similar rooms; corridors; elevator lobbies; and at doors penetrating interior exit stairway enclosures.

Existing high-rise buildings that are also qualified historical buildings as defined in California Health and Safety Code Section 18950 shall be provided with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system when and as required by the State Historical Building Code.

Exceptions:

1. Apartment houses, condominiums, or other Residential Group R-2 Occupancies (classified as R-1 prior to 2008), until January 1, 2033, when this exception expires.

2. A mixed-use occupancy building containing a Residential Group R-2 Occupancy (classified as R-1 prior to 2008), until January 1, 2033, when this exception expires.

Any existing high-rise not exempted from this section that does not provide an automatic sprinkler system throughout the residential occupancy is out of compliance and subject to immediate code enforcement action. The owner shall maintain the sprinkler system in accordance with Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations.

1103.5.4.1. Additional Requirements.

The following additional requirements shall apply:

1. Valves and devices. A sprinkler control valve and a waterflow detecting device shall be provided at the lateral connection to the riser for each floor.

2. Monitoring. A supervisory signal shall be provided to indicate a condition that will impair the satisfactory operation of the sprinkler system. This shall include, but not be limited to, monitoring control valves, fire pump power supplies, and pump running conditions. Such signals shall be monitored in accordance with California Fire Code Section 903.4.1 and NFPA 72.

3. Water supply. The minimum water supply requirement for the sprinkler shall be determined without regard to inside hose stream demand.

4. Standpipe conversion. Existing standpipes may be converted to sprinkler risers, provided that they are hydrostatically tested for two hours at not less than 50 psi (345 Pa) in excess of the maximum pressure to be maintained in the system. Standpipe hose connection(s) shall be provided per NFPA 14.

5. Supports. Additional hangers, braces, restraints, or other attachments for support of existing standpipes (which have been converted) shall be provided if they are necessary to meet the requirements of NFPA 13. The installation of additional flexible fittings in such risers is not required.

1105.5.4.2. Permissible Omissions. [1]

The following features required in new high-rise buildings are not required in systems installed under the provisions of this section:

1. Redundant fire pump;

2. Two-hour rated fire pump room;

3. Secondary on-site supply of water;

4. Water supply from two underground water lines;

5. Connection of the system to two risers on each floor. Hydraulic calculations may consider all risers in service.

See California Fire Code Section 903.3.1.1.1 for additional permissible sprinkler omissions.

CODIFICATION NOTE

1. So in Ord. 248-22.

1103.5.4.3. Notification.

Not later than 120 days following the effective date of these requirements, the Fire Official shall notify in writing by certified mail the owner of each building within the scope of this section. The notice shall contain a copy of this section and a commentary on it.

1103.5.4.3.1. Deferred Notice.

If a building within the scope of this section is not discovered by the Fire Official until after the deadline for notification, the building owner shall be notified within 30 days of such discovery.

Failure to receive notification does not exempt a building owner from compliance with this section.

1103.5.4.3.2. Compliance Schedule.

Building owners shall file a compliance schedule with the fire code official not later than 365 days after receipt of a written notice. The compliance schedule shall not exceed 12 years for completion of the automatic sprinkler system retrofit.

1103.5.4.4. Authority of Fire Official.

The Fire Marshal may approve modifications and alternate methods and materials when it is clearly evident that a reasonable degree of fire safety is provided. In such cases, the Fire Marshal may:

1. Consider alternative protection based on nationally recognized standards, principles, and tests, and generally recognized and well-established methods of fire protection;

2. Waive specific individual requirements if it can be shown that such requirements are not physically possible, require disproportionate effort, or pose an undue hardship with little increase in life safety and that a practical alternate cannot be provided; and

3. Grant necessary extensions of time when it can be shown that the specific time periods are not physically practical or pose an undue hardship. The granting of an extension of time for compliance may be approved by the Fire Marshal based on the showing of good cause and on approval of an acceptable, systematic, progressive plan of correction.

1103.5.4.5. Implementation.

The requirements stated in Section 1103.5.4 shall be accomplished by the following steps. Failure to complete any step within the required time frame is a violation of this code, and the Fire Official shall have the power in such a case to abate the building in accordance with San Francisco Fire Code Section 112.4-112.4.5.

1103.5.4.5.1. Step 1. Permit Application.

The owner shall submit professionally designed sprinkler system drawings and a permit application to the Department of Building Inspection not later than four years after the effective date of this requirement.

1103.5.4.5.2. Step 2. Water supply.

The owner shall install the system riser, including floor-control valves, and shall connect it to the approved automatic water supply not later than eight years after the effective date of these requirements. For purposes of this section, an automatic water supply shall consist of a connection to the public water system and, if required by hydraulic analysis, installation of a fire pump. Owner shall also provide a Fire Department Connection.

1103.5.4.5.3. Step 3. Piping, sprinklers, and monitoring.

The owner shall complete the sprinkler system, including required electrical monitoring, not later than 12 years after the effective date of these requirements.

1103.5.4.5.4. Fire Alarm Requirements.

The installation of all fire alarm equipment shall be in accordance with the San Francisco Fire Code, San Francisco Electrical Code, and NFPA 72.

Sections 1103.7.1 and 1103.7.2 of the International Fire Code are deleted.

Sections 1103.7.4 through 1103.7.5.2.1 of the International Fire Code are deleted.

1103.7.6.1. Sleeping Area Requirements.

For all buildings that are required to have a fire alarm system under this Code Section 1103.7.6, pertaining to Group R-2 occupancies, the Building Code, the Housing Code, or any other law, the building owner shall upgrade the fire alarm system, if necessary, to comply with the sound level requirement for sleeping areas set forth in Section 18.4.5.1 of NFPA 72 (2013 edition), as amended from time to time, upon either (a) completion of work under a building permit with a cost of construction of $99,000 or more, (b) July 1, 2023, whichever occurs first.

Exceptions. Subsection 501.6(a) [1 ] shall not apply to mandatory seismic strengthening alterations being performed pursuant to Chapter 5E of this Code, [1 ] or to transient Hotels within the Residential Group R-1 Occupancy Classification of Section 310.2 of the Building Code.

CODIFICATION NOTE

1. So in Ord. 248-22.

1103.7.10. Certificated Fire Alarm Systems for Existing Buildings.

The fire code official may require owners to obtain a certificate for existing fire alarm systems in accordance with San Francisco Fire Department A d ministrative Bulletin 3.03.

Sections 1104 through 1104.15 and 1104.17 through 1104.25 of the International Fire Code are deleted.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1104.16.5. [For SF] Materials and Strength.

Components of fire escape stairways shall be constructed of non-combustible materials. Fire escape stairways and balconies shall support the dead load plus a live load as per design when installed. If the original structural design calculations are unavailable, then a registered design professional shall determine the structural adequacy of existing fire escape stairways and balconies.

The following San Francisco Fire Code section replaces the corresponding International Fire Code section:

1104.16.5.1. [For SF] Examination.

All fire escape stairways and balconies shall be examined for structural adequacy and safety in accordance with Section 1104.16.5 by a registered design professional or others acceptable to the fire code official every 5 years, or more frequently as requested by the fire code official. The inspection report shall be maintained on site and shall be made immediately available for review upon request by the fire code official.

Section 1105 of the International Fire Code is deleted.

Section 1106 of the International Fire Code is deleted.