SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA FIRE PREVENTION OFFICER’S
FIRE CODE COMMITTEE
November 3, 2004
In Attendance:
Janet Baylor- Anaheim Fire
Mark Dosset- San Diego Fire
Carmen Conti- San Bernardino County Fire
Walter Brandes- Riverside County Fire
John Haberek- Los Angeles County Fire
Ricky Lewis- Los Angeles County Fire
Ian Macdonald- Orange Fire
Christina Jamison- Ventura County Fire
Update
Christina reported Laura Blaul is attending the P.A.R.A.D.E. conference at the National Fire Academy. Conference is attended by SFM’s and FM’s from metropolitan agencies to share fire prevention program information.
Nor Cal FPO Building Standards Committee is working on an inspectors guide for license care facilities. They will be sending draft copies to our FCC to review and they will also be developing code changes to clean up language.
Discussion
Discussed topic of alternate fuels and the need to participate in code/standard development. Governor’s Hydrogen Highway (HH) project will require the immediate need for code development. Current NFPA and ICC code requirements differ and both codes need to be reviewed. Concerns discussed included; use of odorless gases, residential dispensing, suppression issues, emergency responders safety, combination of heavier and lighter than air fuels. Discussed the need to gather additional information regarding how involved the fire service is currently. Laura has recently been assigned to one of the HH committees, she will update at Dec meeting. Also, Carmen Conti handed out print out from website—MSNBC.com titled "Boost for natural cars: Home fueling".
Discussed Adult Day Care regs, Christina handed out SFM proposed express terms for annual rulemaking. Discussed the ADC requirements, email was sent to Chief Roxson asking why the regs petitioned by the FPO’s were revised.
FPO’s proposed that ADC’s be classified as an E-3 occupancy and have an automatic and manual fire alarm system and when there are more than 5 non-amb clients a fire sprinkler system.
SFM regs propose;DSS facilities be classified as an E-3 and require fire sprinklers for more than 14 non-amb clients. DHS facilities be classified as an I.1.2.1, meet the construction requirements of an E-3 and require fire sprinklers for more than 6 non-amb.
Questions sent to Chief Roxson;
1. Why split up the occupancies in two different occupancy classifications with two different thresholds for sprinklers?
2. If you call it an I-1.2.1 and you do not apply the construction requirements of an I but require it to comply with the construction requirements of an E-3; What additional fire and life safety features are required that would not be required if you called it an E-3?
3. Is it proposed that the requirement for a fire alarm in an ADC classified as an E-3 be the same as what is required in the code at this time?
4. Is it proposed that the requirement for a fire alarm in an ADC classified as an I.1.2.1 will be the same as an I.1.2??
Before making a recommendation to support or provide comment, regarding proposed regs to the SFM and/or BSC, the committee will wait for the response from the OSFM and discuss at December meeting. Carmen Conti discussed proposing quick response heads be required.
Christina brought a copy of the California Performance Review and we identified the areas to review; 1. Elimination of the OSFM –CPR issue PS03, 2. Elimination of the CBSC—CPR issue INF 26. Committee members will review these sections of the CPR report and evaluate whether or not the committee recommend to FPO’s Ex Board to provide a recommendation to the state.
Janet Baylor discussed impact of the SFM pulling the emergency regs for the UL 300 systems and what we should be doing with existing systems. Most jurisdictions will not require the system to be changed out until the SFM develops regs.
Janet Baylor discussed whether other agencies were reviewing "Podium" style construction. Multi-story apartment units built on top of a parking structure with a courtyard in the center. What mitigation/performance base design requirements are other agencies using- Janet will post on LAAFM for input from other agencies.
John Haberek discussed proposals to the Legislative Task Force are due in 2 weeks. John requested possible legislation ideas to be submitted; some ideas that will be proposed are;
Local AHJ review of public schools
R-2 occupancy fire sprinkler requirement (AB 2065)
Other input;
Revise Facts and Finding requirement for local agencies to provide when adopting a local ordinance that has more restrictive building standards (Topographical, Geological, Climatic) possibly include local response capabilities.
Hydrogen Fueling possible means to require funding for training to fire service.
Eliminate requirement in H&S code for pull stations in R-2’s
Respectfully submitted,
Christina Jamison, Co-Chair