Mountain Views News          Saturday, November 23, 2013

B11

SIERRA MADRE NOTICE

 Mountain Views News Saturday, November 23, 2013 

ORDINANCE NO. 1346

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SIERRA MADRE AMENDING TITLE 15.24 OF THE SIERRA MADRE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS TO THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL FIRE 
CODE AND THE 2013 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE. 

The City Council of the City of Sierra Madre does hereby ordain as follows: 

SECTION 1. Municipal Code Amendment. Section 15.24.010 of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: SECTION 15.24.010 ADOPTION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AND THE CALIFORNIA 
FIRE CODE There is hereby adopted by the City Council of the City of Sierra Madre for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain Code known as the International Fire 
Code, published by the International Code Council, being particularly the 2012 edition thereof, including Appendix Chapters with errata, and Title 24, part 9 of the California Code of Regulations, except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or 
amended by Section 15.24.070 of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code. From the date on which this ordinance shall take effect, the provisions of the 2012 International Fire Code and the 2013 California Fire Code shall be controlling within the limits of the 
City of Sierra Madre.

SECTION 2. Municipal Code Amendment. Section 15.24.070 of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows: SECTION 15.24.070 AMENDMENTS TO THE 2012 INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE AND 2013 
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

A. Section 101.1 is amended to read as follows: 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Fire Code of the City of Sierra Madre, hereinafter referred to as “this code”.

B. Section 109.4 is amended to read as follows: 109.4 Violation penalties. Persons who shall violate a provision of this code or shall fail to comply with any of the requirements thereof or who shall erect, install alter, repair or do work in violation 
of the approved construction documents or directive of the fire code official, or of a permit or certificate used under provisions of this code, shall be guilty of an Administrative Violation in accordance with Sierra Madre Municipal Code Section 

 1.18.010. 

C. Section 111.4 is amended to read as follows: 111.4 Failure to comply. Any person who shall continue any work after having been served with a stop work order, except such work as that person is directed to perform to remove a violation or 
unsafe condition, shall be liable to a fine in accordance with Sierra Madre Municipal Code Section 1.18.070. 

D. Section 307.4.2 is amended to read as follows: 307.4.2 Recreational fires. Recreational fires shall not be conducted within 25 feet (760mm) of a structure or combustible material. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet (7620 
mm) of a structure shall be eliminated. 

 Discontinuance. The fire code official or his representative is authorized to require that recreational fires be immediately discontinued if such fires are determined by the chief to constitute a hazardous condition or if atmospheric conditions reach 
critical levels as specified in the policies and procedures of the fire prevention bureau.

E. Section 503.2.1 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 503.2.1 Dimensions. Fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet (6096 mm), except for approved security gates in accordance with section 503.6, and an unobstructed vertical clearance of not less than 13 
feet 6 inches (4115mm).

 1. When fire hydrants are required, fire apparatus access roads shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 26 feet (4114 mm) within a linear distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) each side of the hydrant.

F. Section 903.2.1.1 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.1.1 Group A-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-1 occupancies in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

G. Section 903.2.1.2 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.1.2 Group A-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-2 occupancies in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

H. Section 903.2.1.3 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-3 occupancies in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

I. Section 903.2.1.4 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.1.4 Group A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-4 occupancies in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

J. Section 903.2.1.5 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.1.5 Group A-5. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-5 occupancies in the following areas: concession stands, retail areas, press boxes, and other accessory use areas in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

K. Section 903.2.2 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.2 Ambulatory care facilities. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing ambulatory care facilities in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

L. Section 903.2.3 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission: 

 903.2.3 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group E occupancy in accordance with Code section 15.24.120. (exception: For public school state-funded construction projects see Section 
903.2.19)

M. Section 903.2.4 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.4 Group F-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group F-1 occupancy in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

N. Section 903.2.5 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.5 Group H. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided in high-hazard occupancies as required in Sections 903.2.5.1 through 903.2.5.3. 
903.2.5.1 General, An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in Group H occupancies. in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

O. Section 903.2.6 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.6 Group I. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings with a Group I in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

P. Section 903.2.7 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.7 Group M. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a Group M occupancy in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

Q. Section 903.2.8 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R in accordance with Code section 15.24.110.

R. Section 903.2.9 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.9 Group S-1. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group S-1 in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

S. Section 903.2.9.1 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.9.1 Repair garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance with Code section 15.24.120.

T. Section 903.2.9.2 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.9.2 Bulk storage of tires. Buildings and structures with an area for the storage of shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. 

U. Section 903.2.10 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.10 Group S-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings classified as enclosed parking garages in accordance with Section 406.4 of the California Building Code or where located beneath other groups. 

V. Section 903.2.10.1 is amended to read as follows due to local topographical, geological and climatic conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 903.2.10.1 Commercial parking garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings used for storage of commercial trucks or buses in accordance with Code section 15.24.120 

W. APPENDIX A-Board of Appeals: Not Adopted

X. APPENDIX D-Fire Apparatus Access Roads is amended to read as follows due to local topographical conditions as identified in the 2013 Fire Code Findings of Fact as filed with the California Building Standards Commission:

 D103.1 Access road width with a fire hydrant. Where a fire hydrant is located on a fire apparatus access road, the minimum road width shall be 26 feet (7925 mm), within a linear distance of 25 feet (7620 mm) each side of the hydrant, exclusive 
of shoulders. 

 Y. APPENDIX J-Building Information Sign: Not Adopted

SECTION 3. Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances. All existing ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with the provisions of this ordinance or the California Fire Code adopted are hereby repealed. 

SECTION 4. References in Documents and Continuing Legal Effect. References to prior versions of the California Fire Code, or of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code that are amended or renumbered in this Municipal Code, that are cited on notices 
issued by the City or other documents of ongoing or continuing legal effect, including resolutions adopting or imposing fees or charges, until converted, are deemed to be references to the new counterpart 2013 Fire Code or amended Municipal Code sections 
for the purposes of notice and enforcement. The provisions adopted hereby shall not in any manner affect deposits, established fees or other matters of record which refer to, or are otherwise connected with, ordinances which are specifically designated by 
number, code section or otherwise, but such references shall be deemed to apply to the corresponding provisions set forth in the code sections adopted or amended hereby. 

SECTION 5. Continuity. To the extent the provisions of this Ordinance are substantially the same as previous provisions of the Sierra Madre Municipal Code, these provisions shall be construed as continuations of those provisions and not as 
amendments of the earlier provisions. 

SECTION 6. No Effect on Enforceability. The repeal of any sections of the Municipal Code, shall not affect or impair any act done, or right vested or approved, or any proceeding, suit or prosecution had or commenced in any cause before such 
repeal shall take effect; but every such act, vested right, proceeding, suit, or prosecution shall remain in full force and effect for all purposes as if the applicable provisions of the Municipal Code, or part thereof, had remained in force and effect. No offense 
committed and no liability, penalty, or forfeiture, either civil or criminal, incurred prior to the repeal or alteration of any applicable provision of the 2007 Code as amended, shall be discharged or affected by such repeal or alteration but prosecutions and suits 
for such offenses, liabilities, penalties or forfeitures shall be instituted and proceed in all respects as if the applicable provisions of the 2007 Code, as amended, had not been repealed or altered. 

SECTION 7. Supplementary of Existing Law. The City Council intends this Ordinance to supplement, not to duplicate or contradict, applicable state and federal law and this Ordinance shall be construed in light of that intent. 

SECTION 8. Modifications to California Fire Code. All inconsistencies between the Municipal Fire Code, as adopted by this ordinance, and Part 9 of Title 24 the California Code of Regulations are changes, modifications, amendments, additions or 
deletions thereto authorized by California Health and Safety Code Sections 17858 and 17858.7. 

SECTION 9. Findings. The City Council hereby adopts the findings attached hereto as Exhibit A by this reference fully incorporated herein. These modifications to the 2010 California Fire Code, incorporating the 2009 International Fire Codes are 
reasonably necessary due to the local climatic, geological, and topographical reasons set forth in Exhibit A. 

SECTION 10. Severability. Should any section, subsection, clause, or provision of this Ordinance for any reason be held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the 
remaining portions of this Ordinance; it being hereby expressly declared that this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, and phrase hereof would have been prepared, proposed, approved, and ratified irrespective of the fact that any one or 
more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional. 

SECTION 11. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect thirty days following its adoption as provided by Government Code Section 36937, or January 1, 2010 whichever is later. 

SECTION 12. Copy with Clerk. The City Clerk shall maintain a copy of the California Fire Code, 2010 Edition, as amended by this ordinance, for use and examination by the public. 

SECTION 13. CEQA. This Ordinance has been determined to be exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to State Guidelines §15061 (b) (3) as a project that has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. 

SECTION 14. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be processed in the manner required by law. 

SECTION 15. Filing with State. The City Clerk shall file a certified copy of this Ordinance with the California Building Standards Commission. 

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of November, 2013 by the following roll call vote:

AYES: Walsh, Harabedian, Moran, Capoccia and Koerber

NOES: 0

ABSENT: 0

EXHIBIT A - 2013 FIRE CODE FINDINGS

Pursuant to Section 13869.7 of the California Health and Safety Code, the report contained herein shall be the “Findings” document to support City of Sierra Madre Ordinance No. 1346 Under this adopting ordinance, specific amendments have been 
established which are more restrictive in nature than those sections adopted by the State of California (State Building Standards Code, and State Housing and Community Development Code) commonly referred to as Title 24 and Title 25 of the California 
Administrative Code. The amendments to the 2013 California Fire Code and 2012 International Fire Code have been recognized by the City of Sierra Madre. The amendments address the fire problem(s), concern(s), and future direction(s), by which the 
City can establish and maintain an environment which will afford an adequate level of fire and life safety protection to its citizens and guests. Under the provisions of Section 13869.7 of the Health and Safety Code, local amendments shall be based on 
climatic, geographical, or topographical conditions. The “Findings” contained herein shall address each of these situations and shall present the local situation, which, either singularly, or in combination, cause the established amendments to be adopted. 

SIERRA MADRE COMMUNITY PROFILE

The City of Sierra Madre was established in 1881. Sierra Madre encompasses an area of approximately 3.2 square miles at an elevation ranging from 700 to 800 feet above sea level. The residential population is approximately 10,800. The physical 
location of Sierra Madre is bordered by the city of Pasadena to the west, Arcadia to the south and east and the Angeles National Forest to the north. The majority of Sierra Madre is residential housing, with a number of small businesses and light 
industrial, four elementary schools, a middle school, a high school and six churches. Based on this profile of Sierra Madre, the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department established certain requirements to increase the level of fire safety to the citizens and 
guests of Sierra Madre, as well as the buildings within its boundaries. The following points were established as factors, which caused concern to the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department, and are herein established and submitted as its “Findings:”

1. CLIMATIC


Normal rainfall averages 15 inches annually. During the summer and fall months, temperatures average approximately 85 degrees and can exceed 100 degrees for a period of days. Dry winds remove the moisture from vegetation. During late summer 
and fall, winds can move a fire quickly across the foothills or through residential areas of Sierra Madre. Because of periods of high temperatures, accompanied by low humidity and high winds each year. These conditions create an environment in 
which the Fire Department commits the majority of its fire fighting resources to the control and extinguishment of wildland fires. During such periods, the limited available firefighting resources may have great difficulty in controlling fires in structures 
with wood roofs and structures not having built-in fire protection. 

2. GEOLOGICAL


Sierra Madre has within its boundaries active seismic hazards with respect to the San Andreas and Sierra Madre faults. While systems have been developed to study and monitor the activity of earthquakes, science has not yet been able to predict with 
reliability the potential for activity on these or on any other active fault. While minor seismic activity within Sierra Madre occurs yearly without damage, the potential for severe damage does exist with these active faults, particularly with the Sierra 
Madre fault, which traverses the City. The potential for earthquakes influences fire protection planning. A major seismic event would create a community-wide demand on fire protection services, which would be beyond the response capability of 
the Fire Department. This potential problem can be partially mitigated by requiring initial fire control through the installation of automatic fire protection systems. Although the water system in Sierra Madre is rated Class 4 by the Insurance Services 
Offices, with the above noted hazard, it is possible that major fire flow requirements could be disrupted and automatic fire suppression systems requiring much less water would be the only means of extinguishment.

 

3. TOPOGRAPHICAL


The mountains that border the north of Sierra Madre create a beautiful backdrop, and at the same time, create a unique hazard. As one approaches the mountains, the elevation increases, and this lengthens the response time of emergency vehicles due 
to the increase in grade. Additionally, the steep, narrow canyons create narrow winding roads that also lengthen response times. The foothills have become prime sites for residential development because of their scenic beauty. These same scenic hills 
create barriers for accessibility by fire suppression forces. The topographical layout of Sierra Madre’s hillside areas creates hazardous conditions should a storm cause trees to fall and block roadways within Sierra Madre, again making accessibility 
difficult until properly cleared. These conditions have occurred in the past and have the potential to happen again. During a fire, fire engines need to utilize the water from the many fire hydrants found in the canyons along these narrow roads. While 
using these hydrants, the access on the road is severely restricted. These conditions have occurred in the past and have the potential to happen again. This potential problem can be partially mitigated by requiring new roads to have additional width to the 
roadway in the vicinity of fire hydrants. Sierra Madre has areas that are in high fire hazard zones. As stated above, due to topography, access to structures in these fire hazard zones increases response time and delays fire suppression efforts. Extended 
response times allow fires to grow beyond the control of initial attack resources. Additionally, large structure fires in the hillside areas have a greater likelihood of starting wildland fires, which exposes additional structures to fire. The value of the land 
in Sierra Madre is near the top in the County and maximum usage of the land is important to investors and developers. The multi-residential zones located within Sierra Madre encourage developers to seek maximum return on their investment. The 
most effective method of achieving this is to allow maximum density. This creates buildings that provide minimum required clearances between structures and maximum allowable height. This results in “barriers” that hinder fire-fighting operations, 
and restrict the movement of emergency personnel and equipment in the vicinity of the structure. 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 

The Fire Department is charged with the task of providing a reasonable degree of fire and life safety in Sierra Madre with minimum budget and staffing levels. The City of Sierra Madre places a high value on protection of human life against hazards 
of fire. While smoke detectors are intended to give an early warning that allow occupants to escape or defend themselves from the hazard of fire, automatic sprinklers are meant to control or extinguish a developing fire to enable occupants to better 
escape. Sprinkler systems have been found to be highly effective systems for the protection of human life and should be used whenever feasible. The water supply in Sierra Madre makes extensive use of automatic sprinkler systems feasible. Most 
of the City is ideally located below the 6 reservoirs, which supply the gravity flow water system with storage capacity in excess of 6 million gallons. Many of our fire service installations maintain static pressures in excess of 80 pounds per square 
inch. The City of Sierra Madre water distribution system is the major contributing factor toward the fire suppression capabilities of the Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department. There are jurisdictions within the State, which have difficulty providing 
required water flows for automatic fire sprinkler systems, making the operation of such sprinkler systems less feasible than in the City of Sierra Madre. The City of Sierra Madre is also subject to certain dangers, making the use of automatic sprinkler 
systems a more significant factor in fire suppression. The City of Sierra Madre is located in one of the most active earthquake fault systems in the United States. Major damage corresponding to magnitude 7 or higher earthquake can be expected. 
Severe seismic action would place extreme demands on the limited resources of our small fire department. Communications could be disrupted. Damage to gas and water mains is to be expected. As previously mentioned, the City of Sierra Madre 
water system is the key to sprinkler supply. The City of Sierra Madre water system is constructed in a grid to reduce the effect of a single pipe or area of pipes breaking. Therefore, entire system failure due to earthquake is more unlikely than a partial 
failure. Automatic fire sprinkler systems will operate on much less pressure than normally available in Sierra Madre. Although sprinklers may only partially control a fire, this would be important in reducing the fire problem or delayed response that 
may be created by broken communications and obstructed access. Automatic fire sprinkler systems would therefore reduce demands on firefighting forces during emergency earthquake conditions. The Sierra Madre Volunteer Fire Department’s first 
alarm assignment varies depending on volunteer staffing and availability of mutual aid companies from surrounding cities. Most jurisdictions consider two engine companies, a rescue squad, and a Chief Officer to be a minimum for a single-family 
structure fire. Because Sierra Madre’s Fire Department staffing is dependent upon volunteers and mutual aid companies from other cities, it is imperative that developers and builders provide built-in fire protection within buildings covered by the 
City of Sierra Madre Sprinkler Ordinance. Unless fires are kept in their incipient stages, which automatic fire sprinkler systems achieve, the fire department, as presently staffed and equipped cannot function effectively against large or numerous fires. 
Large or numerous fire necessitate the immediate call for mutual aid, which if available, will be delayed. Additionally, due to the winding narrow roads that are found in our canyon areas, it is imperative that access on these roads be maintained at all 
times, especially during a fire when the fire hydrants are being used. While the adoption of regulations may not prevent incidents of fire, the implementation of the various regulations and/or requirements will reduce the severity and potential loss of 
life and property in our community. The serious concerns based on these “Findings”, support the imposition of built-in fire protection requirements greater than those set forth in the International Building and Fire Codes. Additionally, Sierra Madre 
Ordinance No. 1346 will provide effective protection of the populace and property, and help reduce the ravages of fire. The Sierra Madre Fire Department submits these “Findings” and requests acceptance of same as defined under Section 13869.7 of 
the State of California Health and Safety Code.