Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC RES 90-01RESOLUTION NO. 90-1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CONDITIONS WITHIN THE CITY OF TUSTIN WHICH MAKE CERTAIN MODIFICATIONS AND CHANGES TO THE UNIFORM BUILDING CODE, THE UNIFORM PLUMBING CODE, AND THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE REASONABLY NECESSARY FOR HOUSING OCCUPANCIES 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 Uniform Building and Housing Codes of the International Conference of Bu~]ding Officials, the Uniform Plumbing Code of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials, and the National Electrical Code of the National Fire Protection Association (hereinafter referred to collectively as ',Codes"; and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section i7958.5(a) permits the City to make modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic 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 an express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Department and Orange County Fire Services have recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised that certain said changes and modifications to the Uniform Building Code, 1988 Edition and the Uniform Plumbing Code, 1988 Edition and National Electrical Code, 1990 Edition, are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Tustin and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and 1 Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 2 3 4 6 7 8 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. ~OW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Tustin as follows: 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 Section 1 The following changes and modifications to the 1988 Edition of the Uniform Building Code as recommended by the Community Development Department and Orange County Fire Services are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions. A. Section 1807 and 3310 is amended to make fire access requirements applicable to high rise structures, with specified exceptions, over 55 feet in height, rather than the 75 feet threshold of the Uniform Building Code. This modification was originally recommended by the Orange County Fire Chiefs Association and adopted by many jurisdictions in the County. The amendment was also adopted by Las Vegas after the MGM Grand Hotel fire. Other modifications to Section 1807 are to conform to minimum standards for high rise buildings set forth in Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations. Climatic Conditioq: Hot, dry Santa Ama winds are common to all areas within the City of Tustin and Orange County. These winds area constitute a contributing factor which can cause small fires which spreads quickly, and creates the need for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection will supplement normal fire department response available in high density occupancies, and provide immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupancy occupants during fire occurrences. Climatic Condition: Orange Ccunty and the city of Tustin is located in a semi- arid Mediterranean type climate which predisposes all fuels, including wood 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2O 21 22 23 24 I' 2811 Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 3 shingles to rapid ignition and spread of fire. Therefore, there exists a need for additional fire protection measures; GeoGraphic Condition: Orange County and the City of Tustin are located in Seismic Zone 4. 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 cur area with 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 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15! 16 17 18' 20~ 24 25 27'1, ,! i. Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 4 lines as a result of an earthquake. As noted by "Planning Scenario on a Major Earthquake on the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State Department of Conservation," page 59, "unfortunately, barely meeting the minimum earthquake standards of building codes places a building on the verge of being legally unsafe"; GeograDhv and To~oqraphy: Traffic and circulation congestion presently existing in the City of Tustin often places fire department response time to fire occurrences at risk. This condition will be exacerbated by any major 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. Geography and ToDoqr~phy: Placement of multiple occupancy buildings, location of arterial roads, and fire department staffing constraints due to recent revenue limiting state legislation have made it difficult for the fire department 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. Orange County Fire Department equipment does not allow easy access to areas of buildings greater than 55 feet above the level of Fire Department 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, as otherwise required for high rises. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 13 14 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 5 Other public and safety concerns: a. Smoke proof stairwell enclosures. The stairwells in the 1980 MGM Grand Hotel fire in Las Vegas (deathtoll 88, 600 injured) and the Dupont Hotel fire were filled with smoke which trapped the occupants in the buildings. The stairwell enclosures in the First Interstate Bank fire in Los Angeles were filled with smoke which required the firefighters to use their airpacks as they climbed the stairs to locate and attack the fire. It is not possible for the firefighters to carry enough air bottles for their airpacks to even reach a fire on a floor above approximately the sixth floor, let alone be able to work on the fire after it is located. An emergency evacuation facility on the roof of high rise is currently required in the City of Long Beach and many other larger jurisdictions. Statistics show that many people evacuate to the roof area of a high rise building in the event of a fire, especially if they are on a floor above the fire. Obstructions on the roof can block aerial access to the roof for evacuation or delivering firefighting personnel and equipment. The Mexico City earthquake demonstrated that a high rise building located in an area subject to liquefaction may actually sink into the ground which will block all of the normal egress into the building. This, along with the possibility of roadway damage, gridlock, and/or falling debris, would make aerial access to the roof area an essential operation for firefighting and rescue operations. This has been demonstrated in many high rise fires such as the MGM Grand Hotel fire (30 helicopters use~ within first hour; 300-400 victims rescued), the First Interstate Bank fire (29.5 hours flown), 1 2 3 51 7 8 11 12 13 15 1¢ 18 20 21 22 23 2~ 25 2~ 27 28 I, Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 6 the Dupont Hotel fire in Puerto Rico and a nine-story high rise fire in Los Angeles on December 5, 1989. B. Section 3203 is amended to requi~e roof coverings on residential (R) and (M) accessory buildings occupancies to be of a fire resistant material of a Class C or better except in hillside areas where Class A roof coverings shall be used due to: Prevailing Santa Ana winds occurring in the local region as more specifically described in subsection A.1 above and incorporated herein. Untreated wood roofs cause or contribute to serious fire hazard and to the rapid spread of fires when such fires are accompanied by high winds. Pieces of burning wooden roofs become flying brands and are carried by the wind to other locations and thereby spread fire quickly. Semi-arid climatic conditions more specifically described in subsection A.2 and incorporated herein. Local geography and topography as more specifically described in subsections A.3, A.4 and A.5 and incorporated herein. C. Section 3703 (f) is amended to require spark arrestors on chimneys and are necessary due to all climatic conditions described in subsections A.1 and A.2 and incorporated herein. D. Section 3802 is amended relating to automatic fire extinguishing systems in new buildings with an area greater than 6,000 square feet or more than two stories in height and to require an approved automatic fire sprinkler system for certain residential occupancies for the following reasons: Amendments are necessary due to general findings more specifically described in 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 16 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 7 subsection A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4, and A.5 and incorporated herein. On-site residential protection systems will effectively reduce fire fatalities, injuries and property loss during Orange County's and the City of Tustin's unique local geographical, climatic and topographical conditions because they are 96% effective in prevention of fatalities and reduce fire loss to less than $5,000 with two or less sprinkler heads. Residential fires represent 75% of building fires in California , all fatalities from fires in Orange County fire service jurisdictions occurred in residences. E. Section 3805(6) is amended and relates to standpipes and requires a hose outlet or access doorway within 150 feet of all parts of ccmmercial buildings so that a sprinkler system can be shut off earlier resulting in less water damage. This amendment is necessary due to all general findings specifically described in subsection A.1, A.2, A.3, A.4 and Ao5 and incorporated herein. Section 2 The following changes and modifications to the 1988 Edition of the Uniform Plumbing Code as recommended by the Community Development Department are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions for housing. A. Section 315 (g) has been added to state that the type of soil prevalent in the City of Tustin is extraordinarily high in sulfur and acid content. That extra precaution and protection is required for the protection of steel piping and fittings buried in the ground. B. Section 1004 has been amended to prohibit the use of lead and asbestos cement materials in all potable water supply systems. 1 6~ 7 8 9~ 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 ~3 25 26'~ Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 8 C. Section 1008 has been amended to reflect certain natural constituents in the water which are corrosive to ferrous piping. D. Section 12].2 and 1213 has been amended to reflect certain natural constituents in local soils which are corrosive to gas piping. Section 3 The following changes and modifications to the 1990 edition of the National Electrical Code as recommended by the Community Development Department are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions for housing. A. Article 110-5 is amended by making copper wire the preferred material used for wiring No. 6 and smaller. This amendment is considered necessary due to the fact that improper installation creates a potential fire hazard and aluminum wire size No. 6 an~ smaller requires greater precision and care for proper installation. Workmanship problems have been experienced in the local area, which makes this provision necessary. The regulation of aluminum wire is reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City of Tustin. B. Article 300-6 is amended to state that the type of soil prevalent in the city of Tustin necessitate additional precaution and protection for buried installation of electrical items. C. Amendments to Article 310-10 are considered necessary due to the fact that improper installation creates a potential fire hazard and aluminum wire size No. 6 and smaller require greater precision and care for proper installation. D. Article 336-3 is amended to safeguard life and property within the City of Tustin particularly given prevailing fire hazard conditions in the City. Section 4 Additional amendments have been made to the Uniform Building Code, 1988 Edition, the Uniform Plumbing Code, 1988 Edition, Uniform Mechanical Code, 1988 Edition, and the National Electrical Code, 1988 Edition. On the recommendation of the Community 1 2 Resolution No. 90-1 January 15, 1990 Page 9 4 5 6~ 7 8 Development Department, such amendments are hereby found to be either administrative or procedural in nature or concern themselves with subjects not covered in the Uniform Building Code, Uniform Plumbing Code or National Electrical Code. The changes made include provisions making each of said Codes compatible with other Codes enforced by the City and fee schedules. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2O 23~ ,, '.~ Section 5 The City Clerk shall file a copy of this Resolution with the Department of Housing and Community Development of the State of California. PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of Tustin this 15th day of January, 1990. · f" ~ ~. I ~" ~'-'~ " "-' RICHARD EDGAR, Mayor MARY WYNN, .,: City Clerk City of Tustin RESOLUTION CERTIFICATION STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) RESOLUTION NO. 90-1 MARY E. WYNN, City Clerk and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, does hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is four; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 90-1 was duly and regularly introduced, passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held on the 15th day of January, 1990, by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: Edgar, Kennedy, Kelly, Prescott COUNCILMEMBER NOES: None COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: None COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: None Valerie Whiteman, Acting Chief Deputy City Clerk for Mary E. Wynn, city Clerk