San Jose Municipal Code Part 10 Referenced Standards

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. 31258, § 14, adopted Nov. 18, 2025, amended Part 10 of Ch. 17.12 in its entirety to read as set out herein. Former Part 10, §§ 17.12.1000 - 17.12.1050, pertained to similar subject matter and derived from Ords. 30327, 30836.

Except as otherwise provided for in this Chapter, Chapter 80 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.)

The following sections of NFPA 13 - 25 edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, are amended to read as follows:

Section 9.2.1 is amended to delete the following sections:

9.2.1.1, 9.2.1.2, 9.2.1.10, 9.2.1.12, 9.2.1.13. 9.2.1.14, 9.2.1.18, and 9.2.1.19.

Section 11.1 is amended to read as follows:

11.1.1 The use of extended coverage sprinklers shall require prior approval from the San José Fire Department.

Section 16.9.3 is amended to read as follows:

16.9.3.6 Fire sprinkler system risers or control valves shall not be located in electrical rooms.

Section 16.9.10 is amended to read as follows:

16.9.10.1 Multistory buildings exceeding one story in height shall be provided with a floor control valve, check valve, pressure gauge, main drain valve, and flow switch for isolation, control, and annunciation of water flow for each individual floor level.

16.9.10.2 is deleted.

16.9.10.3 is deleted.

16.9.10.4 is deleted.

Section 19.2.3.2 is amended to read as follows:

19.2.3.2.3 is deleted.

19.2.3.2.9 For light hazard areas designated for office use, one-inch plugged, threaded outlets shall be provided at each sprinkler. The minimum flow at each sprinkler shall be not less than 0.10 gpm/square feet, with a minimum design area of three thousand (3,000) square feet or equivalent as approved by the fire code official. Only standard spray sprinklers shall be used. Extended coverage sprinkler heads shall not be used.

19.2.3.2.10 When a fire sprinkler system is required in a building of undetermined use with roof height of twenty feet (20') or less, it shall be installed for an ordinary hazard occupancy with a minimum design density of not less than 0.20 gpm/square feet, with a minimum design area of three thousand (3,000) square feet. The system demand, including 250 gpm hose stream allowance, shall be designed at a minimum of ten percent below the available water supply. One-inch plugged, threaded outlets shall be provided at each sprinkler. Where a subsequent occupancy requires a system with greater capability, it shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or occupant to upgrade the system. Provided no current or future High-Pile Storage as indicated by a letter from the property owner embedded on the submitted plans. If such a letter is not provided, the design shall be per Section 19.2.3.2.11.

19.2.3.2.11 When a fire sprinkler system is required in a building of undetermined use with floor to roof height greater than twenty feet (20'), a fire sprinkler system, for the building shell, shall be designed to incorporate Commodity Class IV storage hazard based on the roof height in accordance with NFPA 13 Chapter 21 or equivalent as approved by the fire code official (such as ESFR). The system demand, including 500 gpm hose stream allowance, shall be designed at a minimum of ten percent below the available water supply. One-inch plugged, threaded outlets shall be provided at each sprinkler. Where a subsequent occupancy requires a system with greater capability, it shall be the responsibility of the owner and/or occupant to upgrade the system.

Section 28.2 of NFPA 13 - 25 edition is amended to read as follows:

28.2.1.7 The safety margin for hydraulic calculations shall be a minimum 10% of the water supply data.

28.2.4.13 The maximum water velocity in the hydraulic calculations shall be twenty feet per second (20 ft/sec) when designing to the criteria as set forth herein as Sections 19.2.3.2.9, 19.2.3.2.10, and 19.2.3.2.11.

(Ord. 31258.)

The following sections of NFPA 13D - 25 edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-family dwellings and Manufactured Homes, are amended to read as follows:

7.5.6.3(5) Sprinklers in closets containing clothes dryers shall be of the intermediate temperature classification or higher.

7.5.6.3(6) Where sprinklers may be subject to higher temperature such as closets containing heat producing equipment, unconditioned garages, exterior spaces, etc., intermediate temperature sprinklers shall be required.

7.5.10 Spare sprinklers shall be provided as required by NFPA 13-25 Section 16.2.7.

7.6 Alarms. Local waterflow alarms shall be provided on all sprinkler systems in homes.

8.3.4 Sprinklers shall be required in garages and carports. Sprinklers shall be required under open attached porches, exterior roofs, canopies, balconies, decks, or similar projections exceeding 4 feet in width and in.

8.3.5.1 is deleted.

8.3.5.1.1 is deleted.

8.3.5.1.2 is deleted.

8.3.5.1.3 is deleted.

8.3.5.1.4 is deleted.

8.3.5.1.5 is deleted.

8.3.6 is deleted.

8.3.8 is deleted.

8.3.11 Pilot Sprinklers. Pilot sprinklers shall be provided in attics spaces and between floors where floor/ceiling assemblies consist of open web wood joists or trusses. Pilot sprinklers shall be intermediate temperature rated, K=4.2, quick response. Pilot sprinklers shall be located within twelve inches of the structure and/or at the apex of each ridgeline where applicable. A sprinkler is required where the ridgeline and hips converge. Sprinklers shall be spaced at maximum thirty-foot centers (maximum fifteen feet from outside walls) and shall be located at all fuel-fired equipment, including furnaces, hot water heaters, etc.

10.4.9 is deleted.

11.2.1.1 All piping and attached appurtenances subjected to system working pressure shall be hydrostatically tested at 200 psi and shall maintain that pressure without loss for 2 hours.

The following sections of NFPA 13R - 25 edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-rise Residential Occupancies, are amended to read as follows:

6.6.6.3 is deleted.

6.6.7 is deleted.

6.8.8 Control valves are required to be zoned per floor.

6.11.2 Fire department connections (FDC) shall be 2½ in. inlets with female National Standard Hose threads; all inlets shall be equipped with individual check valves (e.g. clappers). The FDC inlets shall be located at a height of 30 to 36" aboveground.

6.16.4 Where a building fire alarm system is provided, the building sprinkler systems are required to be zoned by floor.

10.2.2.1 Systems shall be hydrostatically tested for leakage at 200 psi for a duration of 2 hours in accordance with NFPA 13.

10.2.2.2 is deleted.

(Ord. 31258.)

The following sections of NFPA 14 - 24 edition, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems, are amended to read as follows:

9.6.10 Non-Combined Standpipe Systems. The water supply shall be made prior to the sprinkler system water flow indicator. The standpipe priming connection shall be equipped with a monitored control valve, check valve, flow switch, and include a pipe restriction of three-eighth inch (3/8") orifice or less.

(Ord. 31258.)

The following sections of NFPA 20 - 25 edition, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection, are amended to read as follows:

4.14.1.2.1 All outdoor fire pumps shall be installed inside a dedicated building (pump house) to be provided with protection against possible interruption in accordance with 4.14.1 and 4.14.1.1.

4.17.10.6 Positive supply pressure shall be monitored by the FACU and shall trigger an audio and visual annunciation at the FACU and in the fire pump room if the water supply pressure drops below 5 psi.

7.22.1.1 A fire pump installation shall be arranged to allow the test of the pump at its rated conditions, as well as the suction supply at the maximum flow available from the fire pump. To facilitate flow testing, all fire pumps shall be equipped with both of the following:

i. Test Header. This device has the number and size of hose outlets per Table 4.28. When testing the pump, hose(s) are connected to the outlets with water discharged to a safe location. Flow readings are usually taken from the end of the hose(s) with a Pitot gauge.

ii. Flow Meter. A special pipe is run from the discharge side of the pump back to the water supply (or to some other acceptable discharge point) with a flowmeter and control valve in the line. When testing the pump, the control valve is opened partially (with the pump already running) to achieve the 100 percent flow condition. The valve is opened more to achieve the 150 percent flow condition.

(Ord. 31258.)

The following sections of NFPA 24 - 25 edition, Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances, are amended to read as follows:

7.3.7 Fire hydrants shall not be subject to pressure supplied by way of an FDC.

(Ord. 31258.)

The following sections of NFPA 72 - 25 edition, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, are amended to read as follows:

10.6.11.8 Where the engine-driven generator is not constantly attended, audible and visible alarms powered by a source other than the engine starting batteries and not exceeding 125 volts shall be provided at a point of constant attendance or to a listed central station. These alarms shall indicate the following:

1. Engine running (separate signal).

2. The controller main switch has been turned to "off" or "manual" position (separate signal).

3. Low fuel and trouble on the controller or engine (separate or common signals).

The following sections of NFPA 1225 - 22 edition, Standard for Emergency Services Communications, are amended to read as follows:

18.12.3.3: Deleted

18.12.3.4 Backbone cables and backbone cable components in buildings or high-rise buildings shall be protected from attack by fire in accordance with one of the following:

(1) Use of cable with a listed fire-resistance rating in accordance with the following:

(a) Where the primary structural frame of a building is required to have a fire-resistance rating of 2 hours or more or is classified as heavy timber construction, the minimum fire resistance rating shall be 2 hours.

(b) Where the primary structural frame of a building is required to have a fire-resistance rating of less than 2 hours, the minimum fire resistance rating shall be 1 hour.

(2) Deleted

(3) A protected enclosure or area shall have a fire resistance rating in accordance with the following:

(a) Where the primary structural frame of a building is required to have a fire-resistance rating of 2 hours or more or is classified as heavy timber construction, the minimum fire resistance rating shall be 2 hours.

(b) Where the primary structural frame of a building is required to have a fire-resistance rating of less than 2 hours, the minimum fire resistance rating shall be 1 hour.

(c) Deleted

18.12.3.7 RF-emitting device and active system components shall be located in a room that matches the required fire-resistance rating of the building's primary structural frame, with a maximum of 2 hours and a minimum of 1 hour.

18.14.12 The system shall comply with all of the following:

(1) Monitoring for integrity of the system shall comply with chapter 10 of NFPA 72.

(2) System supervisory signals shall include the following:

(a) Signal Source malfunction

(b) Active RF-emitting device failure

(c) Low-battery capacity indication when numerical 70% of the 12-hour operating battery capacity has been depleted

(d) Active and passive system component (distribution antenna loop) failure

(3) Power supply supervisory signals shall include the following for each RF-emitting device and active systems components:

(a) Loss of normal ac power

(b) Failure of battery charger

(4) The communications link between the fire alarm system and the in-building emergency responder communications enhancement system shall be monitored for integrity.

(5) Where approved by the AHJ, a single supervisory input to the fire alarm system to monitor all system supervisory signals shall be permitted.

18.14.2.2 The annunciator shall provide visual and labeled indications of the following for each system component and RF-emitting device:

(1) Normal ac power

(2) Loss of normal ac power

(3) Battery charger failure

(4) Low-battery capacity (i.e., to 70 percent depletion

(5) Signal source malfunction

(6) Active RF-emitting device malfunction

(7) Active and passive system component (distribution antenna loop) malfunction.

(Ord. 31258.)

Section 1 of NFPA 2001-22 edition is amended to read as follows:

1.6 Use and Limitations. Clean agent systems shall not be used in lieu of required fire sprinkler systems.

(Ord. 31258.)