Part 2 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON USE AND OCCUPANCY (CBC CHAPTER 4)

The amendments set forth in this part are reasonably necessary because of the following local geological, topographical and climatic conditions:

A.

San José is within a very active seismic area. Severe seismic action could disrupt communications, damage gas and water mains, cause extensive electrical hazards, and place extreme demands on the limited and widely dispersed resources of the fire department, resulting in failure of the Fire Department to meet and provide the fire protection and life safety needs of the community.

B.

The local geographic, topographic, and climatic conditions pose an increased hazard in the acceleration, spread, magnitude, and severity of potential fires in the City of San José, and may cause disruptions in the operation of fire protection systems, equipment, and a delayed fire response time, allowing further growth of the fire.

C.

If not amended, Sections 402.5, 403.3, 404.3, 410.6 of the CBC would allow omission of fire sprinkler coverage in certain areas of covered malls, high-rise buildings, buildings with atriums, stages, and platforms.

D.

The requirement for total fire sprinkler coverage set forth in the amendment is a more restrictive standard which will better prevent fire damage which can result from local conditions.

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 29334, 30326, 31256.)

Subsection 402.5 of CBC Section 402 is deleted and replaced with the following:

402.5 Automatic sprinkler system. Covered and open mall buildings and buildings connected shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, which shall comply with all of the following:

The automatic sprinkler system shall be complete and operative throughout occupied space in the covered mall building prior to occupancy of any of the tenant spaces. Unoccupied tenant spaces shall be similarly protected unless provided with approved alternate protection.

Sprinkler protection for the mall of a covered mall building shall be independent from that provided for tenant spaces or anchors buildings.

Sprinkler protection for the tenant spaces of an open mall building shall be independent from that provided for the anchor buildings.

Sprinkler protection shall be provided beneath exterior circulation balconies located adjacent to an open mall.

Where tenant spaces are supplied by the same system, they shall be independently controlled.

Exception: Deleted

402.5.1 Standpipe system. The covered mall building shall be equipped throughout with a standpipe system as required by Section 905.3.3.

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 29334, 30326, 31256.)

Subsection 403.3 of CBC Section 403 is amended and replaced with the following:

403.3 Automatic sprinkler system. Buildings and structures shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and a secondary water supply where required by Section 403.3.3. A sprinkler water-flow alarm-initiating device and a control valve with a supervisory signal- initiating device shall be provided at the lateral connection to the riser for each floor.

Exception: Deleted

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 29334, 29806, 31256.)

Subsection 404.3 of CBC Section 404 is deleted and replaced with the following:

404.3 Automatic sprinkler protection. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire building.

Exceptions: Deleted

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 31256.)

Subsection 410.6 of CBC Section 410 is deleted and replaced with the following:

410.6 Automatic sprinkler system. Stages shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Sprinklers shall be installed under the roof and gridiron and under all catwalks and galleries over the stage. Sprinklers shall be installed in dressing rooms, performer lounges, shops, and storerooms accessory to such stages.

Exceptions: Sprinklers are not required under catwalks and galleries where they are permitted to be omitted in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

(Ords. 28166, 28838, 29334, 29806, 30326, 31256.)