20030408_m

COUNTY OF SAN MATEO
Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Environmental Services Agency

DATE:

March 20, 2003

BOARD MEETING DATE:

April 8, 2003

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency

SUBJECT:

Point Montara Fire Protection District Ordinance #9

Recommendation

Adopt a Resolution:

1) Ratifying the Point Montara Fire Protection District Ordinance #9 for filing

2) Delegating the enforcement of the ordinance to the Chief of the Point Montara Fire Protection District, or his or her authorized representative.

Background

The basis of any fire department code enforcement program is an adopted fire code and standards. Codes and Standards are minimum requirements. Through a process outlined under the State Health & Safety Code, local jurisdictions may develop a set of amendments to meet local conditions. These amendments serve to address the unique hazards of the local community. Local fire authorities incorporate their local amendments with the 2000 Uniform Fire Code (UFC) and the 2001 California Fire Code (CFC). The amendments usually then become known as the local fire code or ordinance. Without these adopted local amendments, jurisdictions are required by State law to enforce the 2000 UFC with California amendments.

Discussion

Health and Safety Code (HSC) 13869.7 allows fire districts to adopt more stringent regulations than those published in the Uniform Fire Code. This same section also requires the fire protection districts to submit their ordinance, when adopted by their board of directors, to the legislative body of the County for ratification, modification or denial. The county must transmit its determination back to the district within 15 days of the determination.

San Mateo County Fire was asked to review the proposed Point Montara Fire Ordinance for significant differences or conflicts, primarily in comparison with the adopted San Mateo County Building Ordinance. Point Montara's proposed ordinance is either equal to, or more stringent than those of the County's Building Ordinance, the UFC, and the Uniform Building Code. It is therefore the recommendation of the San Mateo County Fire Department that Board ratify the Point Montara Fire Ordinance #9 as submitted. The proposed ordinance would only affect the unincorporated lands within the Point Montara Fire District.

Outlined below are the major differences between the proposed Point Montara Ordinance (PMT) and San Mateo County Regulations (SMCO):
¬ Fire Sprinklers: Existing Buildings

PMT Sec 1003.2.2

Existing residential buildings with a total floor area of 3,600 square feet or more are required to have automatic fire sprinklers when alterations, repairs or remodeling are done to the structure.

PMT Sec. 1003.2.2.2

This section requires an existing building to be sprinklered, regardless of occupancy, use, or size, when an addition of 1,000 square feet or more is added to the structure.

SMCO Sec. 9114.4

Sprinklers are only required if additions, alterations, or repair, exceed 75% of the estimated value of the building.
¬ Fire Sprinkler Requirement: Agricultural Buildings

PMT Sec 1003.2.12.3

This section may require fire sprinklers in agricultural buildings based on various criteria.

NOTE: U-1 Occupancies include agricultural buildings, garages, carports and sheds.

SMCO Ordinance Sec 9114

This section has specific exemptions, including agricultural buildings from the fire sprinkler requirement.
¬ Fire Sprinkler Requirement: Mobile Homes

PMT Sec 1003.1.3 Exemptions 1 - 5

There is no mention for a fire sprinkler exemption for mobile homes.

SMCO ORDINANCE

Sec. 9114.2 (b)

Exempts mobile homes.
¬ Audible Alarm Device for Group R Division 3
PMT Sec. 1003.3.3.1

This section requires an additional water flow alarm device to be located within the living portion of a sprinklered residential structure.

SMCO ORDINANCE

Does not require an interior water flow alarm for sprinklered residential structures.

This ordinance has been reviewed by the County Counsel's office.

Vision Alignment

The fire protection ordinance supports the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal #7: maintaining and enhancing the public safety of all residents and visitors. The ratification of this code contributes to this commitment and goal by prescribing regulations for the safeguarding, to a reasonable degree, of life and property, from the hazards of fire, explosion, and dangerous conditions that are hazardous to life or property, in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises and provisions to assist emergency response personnel.

Fiscal Impact

This ordinance will have no fiscal impact on the County.



COUNTY OF SAN MATEO Inter-Departmental Correspondence
Environmental Services Agency

DATE:		March 20, 2003
BOARD MEETING DATE:		April 8, 2003

TO:	Honorable Board of Supervisors
FROM:	Marcia Raines, Director, Environmental Services Agency
SUBJECT:	Point Montara Fire Protection District Ordinance #9

Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution: 1) Ratifying the Point Montara Fire Protection District Ordinance #9 for filing 2) Delegating the enforcement of the ordinance to the Chief of the Point Montara Fire Protection District, or his or her authorized representative.

Background
The basis of any fire department code enforcement program is an adopted fire code and standards. Codes and Standards are minimum requirements. Through a process outlined under the State Health & Safety Code, local jurisdictions may develop a set of amendments to meet local conditions. These amendments serve to address the unique hazards of the local community. Local fire authorities incorporate their local amendments with the 2000 Uniform Fire Code (UFC) and the 2001 California Fire Code (CFC). The amendments usually then become known as the local fire code or ordinance. Without these adopted local amendments, jurisdictions are required by State law to enforce the 2000 UFC with California amendments.

Discussion
Health and Safety Code (HSC) 13869.7 allows fire districts to adopt more stringent regulations than those published in the Uniform Fire Code. This same section also requires the fire protection districts to submit their ordinance, when adopted by their board of directors, to the legislative body of the County for ratification, modification or denial. The county must transmit its determination back to the district within 15 days of the determination. San Mateo County Fire was asked to review the proposed Point Montara Fire Ordinance for significant differences or conflicts, primarily in comparison with the adopted San Mateo County Building Ordinance. Point Montara's proposed ordinance is either equal to, or more stringent than those of the County's Building Ordinance, the UFC, and the Uniform Building Code. It is therefore the recommendation of the San Mateo County Fire Department that Board ratify the Point Montara Fire Ordinance #9 as submitted. The proposed ordinance would only affect the unincorporated lands within the Point Montara Fire District. Outlined below are the major differences between the proposed Point Montara Ordinance (PMT) and San Mateo County Regulations (SMCO): ¬ Fire Sprinklers: Existing Buildings PMT Sec 1003.2.2 Existing residential buildings with a total floor area of 3,600 square feet or more are required to have automatic fire sprinklers when alterations, repairs or remodeling are done to the structure. PMT Sec. 1003.2.2.2 This section requires an existing building to be sprinklered, regardless of occupancy, use, or size, when an addition of 1,000 square feet or more is added to the structure. SMCO Sec. 9114.4 Sprinklers are only required if additions, alterations, or repair, exceed 75% of the estimated value of the building. ¬ Fire Sprinkler Requirement: Agricultural Buildings PMT Sec 1003.2.12.3 This section may require fire sprinklers in agricultural buildings based on various criteria. NOTE: U-1 Occupancies include agricultural buildings, garages, carports and sheds. SMCO Ordinance Sec 9114 This section has specific exemptions, including agricultural buildings from the fire sprinkler requirement. ¬ Fire Sprinkler Requirement: Mobile Homes PMT Sec 1003.1.3 Exemptions 1 - 5 There is no mention for a fire sprinkler exemption for mobile homes. SMCO ORDINANCE Sec. 9114.2 (b) Exempts mobile homes. ¬ Audible Alarm Device for Group R Division 3 PMT Sec. 1003.3.3.1 This section requires an additional water flow alarm device to be located within the living portion of a sprinklered residential structure. SMCO ORDINANCE Does not require an interior water flow alarm for sprinklered residential structures. This ordinance has been reviewed by the County Counsel's office.

Vision Alignment
The fire protection ordinance supports the commitment of ensuring basic health and safety for all and goal #7: maintaining and enhancing the public safety of all residents and visitors. The ratification of this code contributes to this commitment and goal by prescribing regulations for the safeguarding, to a reasonable degree, of life and property, from the hazards of fire, explosion, and dangerous conditions that are hazardous to life or property, in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises and provisions to assist emergency response personnel.

Fiscal Impact
This ordinance will have no fiscal impact on the County.