HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 10-106RESOLUTION NO. 10-106
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN
CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS FOR REQUIRED
AMENDMENTS TO THE 2010 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE RELATIVE TO
LOCAL CLIMATIC, TOPOGRAPHIC AND GEOLOGIC CONDITIONS
The City Council of the City of Tustin finds and resolves as follow:
Section 1
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of
Tustin ("City") shall adopt ordinances and regulations imposing the same or modified or
changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State
pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922; and
WHEREAS, the State of California is mandated by Health and Safety Code
Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent
edition of the California Fire Code; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to
make modifications or changes to the Code, which are reasonably necessary because
of local climatic, geologic, or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City
Council, before making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make express
findings that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local
climatic, geologic, or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Community Development Department and the Orange County
Fire Authority (OCFA) have recommended that changes and modifications be made to
the Codes and have advised that certain said changes and modifications to the
California Codes are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Tustin
and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and modifications are of an
administrative or procedural nature, or concern themselves with subjects not covered by
the Codes or are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of
Tustin.
Amendments related to life and fire safety contained in Sections 304.1.2(7)(E),
305.5, 318, 507.5.1, 604.2.15.1.1, 604.2.15.2.1, 608.10, 610, 903.2, 903.3.1.1.1, 903.4,
905.4, 907.4.1, 907.6.2.2, 1108.1 thru 1108.1.11, 2308.3, 2703.1.1(1), 2703.1.1.1,
3704.2.2.7, 4503.7, 4504.2.2, Chapter 47, 4906.3, 4908, 4909 of the 2010 Edition of the
California Fire Code as recommended by the Community Development Department and
the OCFA are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local
conditions:
Resolution 10-106
Page 1 of 6
I. Climatic Conditions
A. Orange County and the City of Tustin are located in a semi-arid Mediterranean
type climate. It annually experiences extended periods of high temperatures with
little or no precipitation. Hot, dry (Santa Ana) winds, which may reach speeds of k
70 M.P.H. or greater, are also common to the area. These climatic conditions
cause extreme drying of vegetation and common building materials. Frequent
periods of drought and low humidity add to the fire danger. This predisposes the
area to large destructive fires (conflagration). In addition to directly damaging or
destroying buildings, these fires are also prone to disrupt utility services
throughout the County. Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen
trees, street lights and utility poles will greatly impact the response time to reach
an incident scene. Additionally, there is a significant increase in the amount of
wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use of aerial type fire fighting apparatus
above this height would place rescue personnel at increased risk of injury.
B. The climate alternates between extended periods of drought and brief flooding
conditions. Flood conditions may affect the Orange County Fire Authority's
ability to respond to a fire or emergency condition. Floods also disrupt utility
services to buildings and facilities within the County.
C. Water demand in this densely populated area far exceeds the quantity supplied
by natural precipitation; and although the population continues to grow, the
already-taxed water supply does not. California is projected to increase in
population by nearly 10 million over the next quarter of a century with 50 percent
of that growth centered in Southern California. Due to storage capacities and
consumption, and a limited amount of rainfall future water allocation is not fully
dependable. This necessitates the need for additional and on-site fire protection
features. It would also leave tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires due to
a lack of available water and an inability to pump sufficient quantities of available
water to floors in a fire.
D. These dry climatic conditions and winds contribute to the rapid spread of even
small fires originating in high-density housing or vegetation. These fires spread
very quickly and create a need for increased levels of fire protection. The added
protection of fire sprinkler systems and other fire protection features will
supplement normal OCFA response by providing immediate protection for the
building occupants and by containing and controlling the fire spread to the area
of origin. Fire sprinkler systems will also reduce the use of water for firefighting
by as much as 50 to 75 percent.
II. Topographical conditions
A. Natural slopes of 15 percent or greater generally occur throughout the
foothills of Orange County. The elevation change cause by the hills creates
the geological foundation on which communities with Orange County is built
and will continue to build. With much of the populated flatlands already built
upon, future growth could occur in areas with steeper slopes and greater
constraints in terrain.
Resolution 10-106
Page 2 of 6
B. Road circulation features located throughout the County also make
amendments reasonably necessary. Located through the County are major
roadways, highways and flood control channels that create barriers and slow
response times. Hills, slopes, street and storm drain design accompanied
with occasional heavy rainfall, causes roadway flooding and landslides and at
times may make an emergency access route impassable. There are areas in
Orange County that naturally have extended the OCFA emergency response
times that exceed the 5 minute goal. Tustin is part of this larger system and
could be negatively impacted during times of emergency.
C. Placement of multiple occupancy buildings, location of arterial roads, and the
OCFA staffing constraints due to recent revenue-limiting state legislation have
made it difficult for the OCFA to locate additional fire stations and provide
manpower sufficient to concentrate fire companies and personnel to control
fires in high density apartment or condominium buildings. OCFA
equipment does not allow easy access to areas of buildings greater than 55
feet above the level of the OCFA vehicle access. These conditions create the
need for built-in on-site fire protection systems to protect occupants and
property until fire fighting apparatus and personnel arrive on the scene
These topographical conditions combine to create a situation, which places
OCFA response time to fire occurrences potentially at risk, and makes it
necessary to provide automatic on-site fire-extinguishing systems and other
protection measures to protect occupants and property.
III. Geologic Conditions
Orange County and the City of Tustin are located in a highly active seismic area.
There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and
southwestern boundaries of Orange County. The Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone
(NIFZ) which runs through Orange County was the source of the destructive
1933 Long Beach earthquake (6.3 magnitude, hypocenter off Newport Beach
coast), which took 120 lives, with areas damaged from Laguna Beach to Marina
del Rey and inland to Whittier, and poses one of the greatest hazards to lives
and property in the nation. Regional planning for reoccurrence is recommended
by the State of California, Department of Conservation. There was also an
earthquake in December 1989, with the epicenter located near the City of Irvine.
The fault on which this quake occurred was unknown prior to this activity. The
October 17, 1989, Santa Cruz earthquake resulted in only one major San
Francisco fire in the Marina district, but when combined with the 34 other fires
and over 500 responses, the department was taxed to its full capabilities. The
Marina fire was difficult to contain because mains supplying water to the district
burst during the earthquake. If more fires had been ignited by the earthquake, it
would have been difficult for the fire department to contain them. Experts predict
a major earthquake in the Tustin area within the next 50 years. This situation
creates the need for both additional fire protection measures and automatic on-
site fire protection for building occupants since a multitude of fires may result
from breakage of gas and electric lines as a result of an earthquake. The
Resolution 10-106
Page 3 of 6
document entitled Planning Scenario on a Major Earthquake on the Newport-
Inglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State Department of Conservation stated:
"unfortunately, barely meeting the minimum earthquake standards of building
codes places a building on the verge of being legally unsafe";
A. In the event of emergency conditions within the City of Tustin, traffic and
circulation congestion may place the OCFA response time to fire occurrences
are potentially at risk. This condition will be exacerbated by any major
regional disaster, including any earthquake wherein damage to the highway
system will occur. This condition makes the need for additional on-site
protection for property occupants necessary.
B. The City of Tustin is located in the middle of the seismically active area. The
viability of the public water system would be questionable at best after a major
seismic event. This would leave tall buildings vulnerable to uncontrolled fires
due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump sufficient quantities of
any available water to floors above the 55-foot level. A severe seismic event
has the potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression activities
because it is likely to create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high
wind section above. With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a
need to provide increased protection for anyone on upper floors.
C. Soils throughout the County possess corrosive properties that reduce the
expected usable life of water services when metallic pipes in contact with
soils are utilized.
D. Portions of the County contain active or former oil production fields. These
areas contain a variety of naturally occurring gasses, liquids and vapors.
These compounds present toxicity or flammability hazards to building
occupants. Evaluation of these hazards and the risks they pose to
development is necessary implement appropriate mitigation.
Several proposed amendments are administrative or procedural in nature and mostly
ensure consistency with previously adopted ordinances on the recommendation of the
Community Development Department and are found to be consistent with the proposed
amendments to the Building Codes.
Section 2
Amendments to the 2010 Edition of the California Fire Code are reasonably necessary
based on the climatic, topographical, and/or geologic conditions cited in Section 1 of this
resolution and are listed as follows:
Code Section Findings in Section 1
304.1.2(7) (E), 305.5, 507.5.1 I, II
318 III-D
Resolution 10-106
Page 4 of 6
604.2.15.1.1, 604.2.15.2.2.1, 903.1.1.1,
905.4, 907.4.1, 2308.3, 2703.1.1.1 III-A, III-B
610 II-C
Chapter 47 11, II-A, III-B, III-C
903.2, 903.2.8 I-D, II, III-A, III-B
907.6.2.2, 1108.1 thru 1108.1.11,
2703.1.1 1 , 4503.7, 3704.2.2.7, 4503.7 I I, III-A, III-B
4504.2.2 III-C
903.4 II-B, III-A, III-B
The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance 1387.
Section 3
The Community Development Department shall file copies of Resolutions 10-106 and
Ordinance 1387 with the California Building Standards Commission as required by
Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7.
PASSED and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Tustin, held on the 16th day of November 2010.
~__~_
amela Stoker ~~
City Clerk
Resolution 10-106
Page 5 of 6
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF TUSTIN )
I, Pamela Stoker, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin,
California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of
the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 10-106 was duly
passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 16t" day of
November 2010, by the following vote:
COUNCILMEMBER AYES:
COUNCILMEMBER NOES:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED:
COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT:
Amante, Nielsen, Davert, Gavello
_-
Palmer
None ~~)
None ~~)
(4)
(1)
_,.~
PAMELA STOKER
City Clerk
Resolution 10-106
Page 6 of 6