Part 4 — GENERAL PRECAUTIONS AGAINST FIRE, EMERGENCY PLANNING AND FIRE SERVICE

FEATURES[6]

Editor's note— Ord. 31258, § 4, adopted Nov. 18, 2025, amended Part 4 of Ch. 17.12 in its entirety to read as set out herein. Former Part 4, §§ 17.12.400 - 17.12.470, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ords. 30327, 30836.

Except as otherwise provided for in this Chapter, Chapters 3, 4 and 5 and Appendix Chapter 4 of the 2025 California Fire Code, including the Tables therein, are adopted and incorporated in this Chapter by

reference and made a part hereof as if fully set forth herein.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 315.3.1 of the 2025 California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:

315.3.1 Ceiling Clearance: Ceiling clearance shall be maintained 2 feet (610 mm) or more below the ceiling in non-sprinklered building and not less than 18 inches (457 mm) below the sprinkler head deflectors in sprinklered areas of the building.

Exceptions:

Deleted

Deleted

(Ord. 31258.)

Table 315.7.6(1) of the 2025 California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:

Table 315.7.6(1) SEPARATION DISTANCES BETWEEN WOOD PALLET STACKS AND BUILDINGS

WALL CONSTRUCTION OPENING TYPE WOOD PALLET SEPARATION   DISTANCE (feet)

≤ 50 51 to >200
Pallets 200 Pallets
Pallets

Masonry None 2 2 2

Masonry Fire-rated glazing with open sprinklers 2 5 20

Masonry Fire-rated glazing 10 15 20

Masonry Plain glass with open sprinklers 10 15 20

Noncombustible None 10 15 20

Wood with open sprinklers - 10 15 20

Wood None 15 30 90

Any Plain glass 15 30 90

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 315 of the 2025 California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:

315.8 Lithium Battery Storage and Handling. The storage and handling of lithium ion and lithium metal batteries or cells in quantities exceeding 1,000 pounds (454 kg) shall comply with Section 315.8.1 through 315.8.10, and Chapter 32 where applicable.

315.8.1 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in Section 105.6.51.

315.8.2 Maximum quantity in a fire area. The aggregate amount of lithium batteries stored and handled in a single fire area shall not exceed 9,000 pounds (4086 kg).

315.8.3 Construction requirements. Fire areas shall be separated from each other by fire barriers having not less than 2-hour fire resistance rating constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the Building Code and horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the Building Code.

315.8.4 Number of fire areas. The maximum number of fire areas within a building shall be four.

315.8.5 Group H, Division 2 occupancy. Storage and handling of more than 9,000 pounds of lithium batteries per fire area shall be in an approved Group H, Division 2 occupancy constructed in accordance with the Building Code and provided throughout with approved automatic smoke detection and radiant- energy detection systems.

315.8.6 Automatic sprinkler system. Buildings containing fire areas used for lithium battery storage or handling shall be equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. The design of the sprinkler system within each fire area shall not be less than that required for Extra Hazard Group 2 with a minimum design area of 2,500 square feet. Where the storage arrangement is required by other provisions of this code to be provided with a higher level of sprinkler system protection, the higher level of sprinkler system protection shall be provided.

315.8.7 Automatic smoke detection system. An approved automatic smoke detection system that activates an approved occupant notification system shall be provided throughout each fire area in accordance with Section 907.

315.8.8 Radiant energy detection. An approved radiant-energy detection system that activates an approved occupant notification system shall be installed throughout each fire area in accordance with Section 907.

315.8.9 Collection containers. Containers used to collect or store lithium batteries shall be noncombustible and shall not have an individual capacity exceeding 30 gallons (113.6 L), or be approved for transportation in accordance with the Department of Transportation (DOT).

315.8.10 Storage configuration. Lithium batteries shall be considered a high-hazard commodity in accordance with Chapter 32 and where applicable, lithium battery storage shall comply with Chapter 32 in addition to Section 315.8.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 404 of the 2025 California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:

404.7 Emergency Plan and Hazardous Materials Management Plan Cabinets. In large commercial, industrial or residential complexes, the Chief may require the fire safety and evacuation plans and/or the Hazardous Materials Management Plan to be locked in approved cabinets in approved locations that are accessible to the Fire Department in the event of an emergency.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 505.1 of the 2025 California Fire Code is amended to read as follows:

505.1 Address Identification: New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. One street address shall be assigned to a building. Multi-tenant buildings shall be assigned associated suite numbers. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 4 inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of ½ inch (12.7 mm). Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.

The following are guidelines for adequate address number dimensions:

• The number posted up to 49 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least four (4) inches high with a half (½) inch stroke.

• The number posted from 50 to 100 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least six (6) inches high with a one (1) inch stroke.

• The number posted over 100 to 199 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least ten (10) inches high with a one and a half (1½) inch stroke.

• The number posted over 200 to 299 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least eighteen (18) inches high with a two (2) inch stroke.

• The number posted over 300 to 400 feet from the public street shall be of one solid color which is contrasting to the background and be at least twenty-four (24) inches high with a two and a half (2½) inch stroke.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 508.1.8 of the 2025 California Fire Code Section is amended to read as follows:

508.1.8 Ventilation. The fire command center shall be provided with an independent ventilation or air- conditioning system with 100% outdoor air supply and connected to emergency power.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 510.6.1 of the 2025 California Fire Code Section is amended to read as follows:

510.6.1 Testing and proof of compliance. The owner of the building or owner's authorized agent shall have the inbuilding, two-way emergency responder communication coverage system inspected and tested annually or where structural changes occur, including additions or remodels that could materially change the original field performance test. Testing shall consist of the following:

In-building coverage test as described in Section 510.5.4.

Signal boosters shall be tested to verify that the gain is the same as it was upon initial installation and acceptance or set to optimize the performance of the system.

Backup batteries and power supplies shall be tested under load of a period of 1 hour to verify that they will properly operate during an actual power outage. If within the 1-hour test period the battery exhibits symptoms of failure, the test shall be extended for additional 1-hour periods until the integrity of the battery can be determined.

All active components shall be checked to verify operation within the manufacturer's specifications.

At the conclusion of the testing, a report, which shall verify compliance with Section 510.5.4, shall be submitted to the fire code official. In addition, compliance with 901.6.3.2 shall be mandatory.

(Ord. 31258.)