Selma Municipal Code Ch. 2 Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems

All buildings, hereafter erected, constructed, or moved in, of five thousand (5,000) square feet or more in floor area, and all additions to existing buildings hereafter erected, constructed, or moved in, when the addition to the existing building results in a total combined floor area of five thousand (5,000) square feet or more, shall be equipped with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system in all occupancies as defined in the 2022 Edition of the California building code and amendments thereto, except occupancies defined in chapter 3 of the California building code, 2022 Edition, as R-3 and U, all of which shall conform to the regulations of the California building code, 2022 Edition. The square footage shall be determined by measurement of the exterior wall dimensions. When an addition results in a building with total combined square footage of five thousand (5,000) square feet or more in floor area, the entire building, existing and addition, shall be equipped with an approved automatic fire sprinkler system. Other construction specifications shall be required as deemed necessary for fire protection by the building official and/or fire chief in all buildings, regardless of size and group occupancies. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be as defined and outlined in chapter 9 of the 2022 Edition of the California building code and all amendments thereto. (Ord. 2016-7, 12-5-2016; amd. Ord. 2023-2, 4-17-2023)

Where an approved automatic fire sprinkler system is provided in buildings, the following substitutions may be approved by the building official; provided that these exceptions shall not apply to buildings covered by title 19 of the California administrative code:

(A) Occupancy separations may be reduced by one hour.

(B) Exterior wall protection due to the proximity of property lines may be reduced by fifty percent (50%).

(C) Party walls for adjacent property may be approved by the building official subject to the following conditions:

• 1. Both buildings are equipped with approved automatic fire extinguishing systems.
• 2. The party wall is a minimum of a two (2) hour fire rated wall.
• 3. The area of the combined buildings is within the allowable area for a single building.

4. An approved party wall agreement signed by both property owners is recorded in the county recorder's office.

(D) Vertical shaft enclosures may be reduced by one hour but in no case less than one hour in buildings three (3) or more stories in height.

(E) Corridor protection may be reduced to thirty (30) minute wood frame construction with twenty (20) minute labeled assemblies on all openings.

(F) Fire protection for exit enclosures and exterior smokeproof enclosures may be reduced by fifty percent (50%) but in no case to less than one hour.

(G) Exit courts and passageways may be constructed with thirty (30) minute fire protection with twenty (20) minute labeled assemblies in all openings.

(H) Fire protection for exterior walls, floors, ceilings may be reduced by fifty percent (50%).

(I) Plumbing schedule 40 ABS and PVC-DWV piping installations may be used in those structures where combustible construction is allowed. (Ord. 2016-7, 12-5-2016)