West Hollywood Municipal Code Ch. 14.08 High-Rise Building Requirements

Editor's Note: Prior ordinance history: Ord. 87-157. Prior code §§ 3104—3106.

All high-rise building occupants shall be instructed annually on the procedures to be followed in the event of fire, earthquake, or other emergency. Documentation of occupant instruction shall be maintained by the fire safety director of each high-rise building and shall be available for inspection by the Fire Marshal. Instructions for all new occupants shall occur within fourteen days of their assuming occupancy of the building.

In addition to the above general instruction, the owner(s) of each high-rise structure in the City of West Hollywood shall be responsible for having all building staff personnel, including at least one representative from each independent tenant, receive the following topical training of the duration designated herein:

The initial training to comply with this section shall be completed by July 1, 1988, for existing high-rise structures and within sixty days after occupancy permit approval for all high-rise structures receiving such permits after July 1, 1988. Newly hired staff personnel shall receive high-rise training within thirty days of their hiring date.

(Ord. 02-641U § 9, 2002; Ord. 07-779U § 8, 2007; Ord. 10-862U § 10, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 10, 2013; Ord. 17-1001 § 4, 2017; Ord. 20-1115 § 2, 2020; Ord. 23-12 § 2, 2023)

The owner(s) of the high-rise property required to train all staff under Section 14.08.010 of this chapter shall pay to the City of West Hollywood a fee for each person for such training if such training is received from a member of the Los Angeles County Consolidated Fire Protection District. The owner(s) may contract for such training with a certified high-rise life/safety service organization, certified by the Los Angeles County Consolidated Fire District or the City of West Hollywood. The amount of such fee shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

(Ord. 02-641U § 9, 2002; Ord. 07-779U § 8, 2007; Ord. 10-862U § 10, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 10, 2013; Ord. 17-1001 § 4, 2017; Ord. 20-1115 § 2, 2020; Ord. 23-12 § 2, 2023)

a. Requirement. No person shall, without a valid certificate of qualification as required by this section, perform as a high-rise life/safety service trainer for the training required under Section 14.08.010.

Exception: A fire safety director representing building management in the building in which such director is employed may provide this training to persons other than staff personnel.

b. Applications. All applications for certificates of qualification shall be filed in the offices of the City of West Hollywood upon forms provided by the Fire Marshal.

c. Validity. A certificate of qualification shall be valid only for the person designated on the certificate.

d. Information Required. Applicants for a certificate of qualification to perform as a highrise life/safety service trainer shall furnish such information as may be required by the Fire Marshal to establish qualifications to instruct and possession of a thorough knowledge of the Fire Code of the City of West Hollywood and other applicable regulations with regard to developing and/or conducting training in emergency planning, evacuation procedures, and the use of portable fire equipment in high-rise buildings in the City of West Hollywood.

e. Investigation and Examination. The Fire Marshal shall examine each applicant for competence to perform the duties required for the particular certificate of qualification for which they have applied. The applicant shall:

1. Submit a written resume stating experience and training qualifications;

2. When required, appear before the Fire Marshal's appointed representative for a personal interview;

3. When required, satisfactorily complete a written and/or practical test pertaining to the certificate of qualification.

f. Term. Every certificate of qualification issued in accordance with the provisions of this chapter shall be valid for one year from the date of issuance and shall be renewed annually at the discretion of the Fire Marshal as set forth below.

g. Renewal. Applications for renewal of a certificate of qualification shall be filed in the same manner as for an original certificate of qualification.

Applications shall be accompanied by a renewal fee. Whenever the application for renewal is filed prior to the expiration date of the certificate, the renewal fee shall be fifty percent of the fee for a new certificate. Whenever the application for renewal is filed after the expiration date of the certificate, the renewal fee shall be the same as for a new certificate.

The granting of a renewal of a certificate shall be processed in the same manner as for an original certificate.

h. Revocation or Suspension. The Fire Marshal shall have the power to suspend or revoke any certificate of qualification for cause.

i. Change of Address. Each person holding a certificate of qualification shall notify the City of West Hollywood in writing of any change of his business, residential or notification address within ten days after such change. Failure on the part of said person to give such notification shall constitute grounds for revocation of the certificate.

j. Form. The certificate of qualification issued by the Fire Marshall shall be in the form of an identification card which shall:

1. State the purpose for which it has been issued;

2. State the date it is issued and the date of expiration;

3. Contain such information as may be necessary to identify the person to whom it is issued;

4. Have affixed one print of a photograph of the person to whom it is issued;

5. Have the signature of the person to whom it is issued;

6. Have the signature of the Fire Marshal;

7. Have printed thereon in bold type the following: "This Certificate Identifies but Does Not Recommend the Bearer"; and

8. Contain additional information which the Fire Marshal considers necessary and proper to affect the purpose of this chapter.

k. Display. Any person having been certified as required by this chapter shall, upon request, display the identification and certificate of qualification to any person to whom they may seek to render service or to the Fire Marshal.

l. Failure of the Examination. Any applicant who takes the examination and fails may not reapply within thirty days, and in no event shall the examination be given to the same person more than twice in any one-year period.

m. Fees. At the time of filing an application for a certificate of qualification required by this chapter, the applicant shall pay a fee as established by resolution of the City Council.

Whenever an applicant fails an examination and takes a second examination within ninety days of such failure, the fee for the second examination shall be established by resolution of the City Council.

n. Fee Exempt Certificates of Qualification. Certificates of qualification, without payment of fees, shall be issued to qualified employees of any government agency and the American Red Cross.

(Ord. 02-641U § 9, 2002; Ord. 07-779U § 8, 2007; Ord. 10-862U § 10, 2010; Ord. 13-929U § 10, 2013; Ord. 17-1001 § 4, 2017; Ord. 20-1115 § 2, 2020; Ord. 23-12 § 2, 2023)