South San Francisco Municipal Code Ch. 15.08 California Building Code

The California Building Code Volumes 1 and 2, 2025 Edition, and Appendices G, H, I published by the International Code Council, and as modified by the amendments, additions and deletions set forth hereinafter, is hereby adopted by reference as the California Building Code of the city of South San Francisco and may be cited as such.

(Ord. 1679-2025, 10/22/2025)

Set forth below are the amendments, additions and deletions to the 2025 California Building Code, Volumes 1 and 2. Chapter, section and table numbers used herein are those of the California Building Code.

1. California Building Code, Section 202, General Definitions is amended to add or amend the following:

[BG] HIGH-RISE BUILDING. In other than Group 1-2 occupancies, "high-rise buildings" as used in this code:

Existing high-rise structure.

A high-rise structure, the construction of which is commenced or completed prior to July 1, 1974 (see California Building Code Section 403).

High-rise structure.

Every building of any type of construction or occupancy having floors used for humane occupancy located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access (see California Building Code Section 403.1), except buildings used as hospitals as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 1250.

New high-rise building.

A high-rise structure, the construction of which is commenced on or after July 1, 1974 (see California Building Code Section 403). For the purpose of this section, construction shall be deemed to have commenced when plans and specifications are more than 50 percent complete and have been presented to the local jurisdiction prior to July 1, 1974. Unless all provisions of this section have been met, the construction of such buildings shall commence on or before January 1, 1976.

New high-rise structure.

A high-rise structure, the construction of which is commenced on or after July 1, 1974 (see California Building Code Section 403).

NUISANCE ALARM.

An unwarranted or preventable alarm caused by mechanical failure, malfunction, improper installation or lack of proper maintenance, system servicing testing, construction activities, ordinary household activities, false alarm, other causes when no such danger exists, or an alarm activated by a cause that cannot be determined.

SUPERVISING STATION.

An approved UL listed, Type A, Full Service Central Station Service facility that receives signals and at which personnel are in attendance at all times to respond to these signals.

2. California Building Code, Section 505.1 is amended to read as follows:

505.1 Address identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved illuminated or other approved means of address identification. 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 numerals or alphabetic letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 1/2 inch. 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 or when determined by the fire code official, a monument, pole, or other approved illuminated sign or other approved means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.

3. California Building Code, Section 903.1.1 is deleted.

4. California Building Code, Section 903.2 is amended to read as follows:

903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided throughout new buildings and structures greater than 1,000 square feet gross floor area and in the locations described in Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.21, whichever is more restrictive. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in existing buildings and structures shall be provided in locations described in Section 903.6.

For the purposes of this section, firewalls and fire barriers used to separate building areas shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code and shall be without openings or penetrations.

Exceptions:

5. California Building Code, Section 903.2.10.3 is added to read as follows:

903.2.10.3 Special hazards - Lithium, Lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles. In new buildings an approved, specifically engineered automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout Group S-2 occupancies allowing storage of lithium, lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles.

6. California Building Code, Section 903.2.10.3.1 is added to read as follows:

903.2.10.3.1 Where required in existing buildings and structures. In existing buildings an approved specifically engineered automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in Group S-2 occupancy areas where EV Charging stations, EV Ready and EV Capable parking are designated. The remainder Group S-2 occupancy areas in the building shall comply with design requirements under NFPA 13 and in accordance with Section 903.2.11.6.

7. California Building Code, Section 903.4.3 is amended to read as follows:

903.4.3 Alarms. One exterior approved audible and visual device, located on the exterior of the building as approved by the fire code official, shall be connected to each automatic sprinkler system. Such sprinkler water-flow alarm devices shall be activated by water flow equivalent to the flow of a single sprinkler of the smallest orifice size installed in the system. Where a fire alarm system is installed, actuation of the automatic sprinkler system shall actuate the building fire alarm system.

8. California Building Code, Section 905.3.11 is added to read as follows:

905.3.11 Special hazard - Lithium, Lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles. Group S-2 public parking garages, open or closed occupancy buildings, having lithium, lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles shall be equipped with Class I standpipe systems installed in accordance with NFPA 14, with hose connections located within 150 feet of lithium, lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicle parking.

9. California Building Code, Section 907.1.6 is added to read as follows:

907.1.6 Certification. New and upgraded fire alarm systems shall be UL-Certified. A certificate of Completion and other documentation as listed in NFPA 72 shall be provided for all new fire alarm system installation. It is the responsibility of the building owner or owner's representative to obtain and maintain a current and valid Certificate. The protected premise shall be issued a UUFX type certification from Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

10. California Building Code, Section 907.1.6.1 is added to read as follows:

907.1.6.1 Posting of certification. The UL certificate required in Section 907.1.6 shall be posted in a durable transparent cover within three (3) feet of the fire alarm control panel within 45 days of the final acceptance test/inspection.

11. California Building Code, Section 907.6.6 is amended to read as follows:

907.6.6 Monitoring. New and upgraded fire alarm systems required by this chapter or by the California Building Code shall be monitored by an approved UL Certified. Central Station Service in accordance with NFPA 72 and this section.

Exception: Monitoring by central station is not required for:

1. Single- and multiple-station smoke alarms required by Section 907.2.11.

2. Group I-3 occupancies shall be monitored in accordance with Section 907.2.6.3.

3. Automatic sprinkler systems in one- and two-family dwellings.

4. California Building Code, Section 910.2.3 is added to read as follows:

910.2.3. Lithium, Lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles. Enclosed Group S-2 public parking garages occupancy buildings having lithium, lithium-ion and other batteries containing combustible electrolyte in vehicles shall be provided with a mechanical smoke removal system in accordance with Section 910.4.

13. California Building Code, Section 912.2 is amended to read as follows:

912.2 Location. With respect to hydrants, driveways, buildings and landscaping, fire department connections shall be so located that fire apparatus and hose connected to supply the system will not obstruct access to the buildings for other fire apparatus. The location of the fire department connections shall be within 100 feet of a fire hydrant or as approved by the fire code official (Also see Section 507.5.1.1).

14. California Building Code, Chapter 80 is amended as follows:

(1) NFPA 13-25 - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, as amended**

**NFPA 13, additional amended sections as follows:

(A) Revise Section 16.11.2.1 as follows:

16.11.2.1 A local audible and visual waterflow alarm shall be provided on every sprinkler system having more than 20 sprinklers, located on the exterior of the building within 10 feet of the riser location, or as approved by the fire code official.

(B) Revise Section 29.4.1. as follows:

29.4.1 The installing contractor shall identify a hydraulically designed sprinkler system with a permanently raised, stamped, or etched marked weatherproof metal or rigid plastic sign secured with corrosion resistant wire, chain or other approved means. Such signs shall be placed at the alarm valve, dry pipe valve, preaction valve or deluge valve supplying the corresponding hydraulically designed area. Pipe schedule systems shall be provided with a sign indicating that the system was designed and installed as a pipe schedule system and the hazard classification(s) included in the design.

(2) 13D-25 - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, as amended**.

**NFPA 13D, additional amended sections as follows:

(A) Revise Section 7.6 as follows:

7.6 A local audible and visual waterflow alarm shall be provided on all sprinkler systems on the exterior of the home within 10 feet of the riser location, or as approved by the fire code official.

(3) 13R-25 - Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up To and Including Four Stories in Height, as amended**

**NFPA 13R, additional amended sections as follows:

(A) Revise Section 6.16.1 as follows:

6.16.1 A local audible and visual waterflow alarm shall be provided on all sprinkler systems on the exterior, of the home within 10 feet of the riser, location, or as approved, by the fire code official

(4) 72-25-National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code, as amended**

**NFPA 72, additional amended sections as follows:

(A) Revise Section 7.5.6.1 as follows:

7.5.6.1 The record of completion shall be documented in accordance with Section 7.5.6 using the record of completion forms, Figure 7.8.2(a) through Figure 7.8.2(f).

(B) Revise Section 7.6.6 as follows:

7.6.6 The record of all inspection, testing and maintenance as required by Section 14.6.2.4 shall be documented using the record of inspection and testing forms, Figure 7.8.2(g) through Figure 7.8.2(1).

(C) Add Section 14.7 as follows:

Section 1907.1.1 Slab on Grade is added to read as follows:

New concrete slabs supported directly on the ground within the foundation perimeter and used as a finished floor, or as a base for other floor finishes shall meet the following requirements:

1. Steel reinforcement equivalent to no. 3 deformed steel bars at 18 inches on center each way placed approximately mid-depth within the concrete slab. Blocks or chairs shall be provided in order to maintain the reinforcement in the center of the slab.

(Ord. 1679-2025, 10/22/2025)

Sections 1507.18 and 1512.6 Spark Arresters Required is added to read as follows:

Chimneys attached to any appliance or fireplace that burns solid fuel shall be equipped with an approved spark arrester. The net free area of the spark arrester shall not be less than four times the net free area of the outlet of the chimney. The spark arrester screen shall be heat and corrosion resistant equivalent to 12-gage wire, 19-gage galvanized or 24-gage stainless steel. Openings shall not permit the passage of spheres having a diameter larger than ½ inch and shall not block the passage of spheres having a diameter of less than 3/8 inch.

(Ord. 1679-2025, 10/22/2025)