Chapter 6.04 ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE CODE*


Section 6.04.100 Article 10— Fire Protection Systems and Equipment, Section 1003— Fire-Extinguishing Systems amended.

    Alameda County Ordinance O-88-19 (Automatic Sprinkler Systems) is restated and incorporated into Section 1003 (Fire Extinguishing Systems Required Installations) of this code to read:

     1003.2.11 Definitions:
    1.    FLOOR AREA is defined in Section 207.12 of the Alameda County Building Code.
    2.    HAZARDOUS USE is defined in N.F.P.A. 13, Appendix A-1-4.7.1 thru A-1-4.7.3.1.
    3.    UNDETERMINED OCCUPANCY is one that is unclassified as to the occupancy at the time the building permit is issued.
    4.    Table I refers to the table set forth in Subsection 1003.2.17.
    5.    New Buildings and Structures or New Additions, shall be those for which a building permit is issued after the effective date of this ordinance. However, where a building permit has been issued prior to the effective date of this ordinance, and building has not commenced within one year from the effective date, the building for which the permit has been issued shall be considered a new building. Existing buildings and structures shall be those constructed prior to the effective date of this ordinance.
     1003.2.12 An Automatic Fire Sprinkler system shall be installed in all new buildings to which any one of the following criteria applies:
    1.    Any new building or structure having a total floor area which exceeds the applicable maximum area listed in Table I.
    2.    Any new building or structure which is 35 feet or more in height, measured from the lowest floor of fire department access.
    3.    Any new building or structure which is three stories or more, measured from the lowest floor of fire department access.
     1003.2.13 All existing buildings or structures having a total floor area which exceeds the applicable minimum area listed in Table I shall be required to install an automatic fire sprinkler system when any of the following occurs:
    1.    A change in occupancy classification or increased hazardous use.
    2.    A new addition(s) to the building or structure which exceeds 50% of the total floor area of the existing building or structure.
    3.    A new addition(s) exceeding the applicable maximum area listed in Table I, but which is less than 50% of the total floor area of the existing building, shall be protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system and separated from the existing building or structure by a 2-hour fire wall.
     1003.2.14 All new or existing buildings or structures with a total floor area less than the applicable maximum area listed in Table I, whose total floor area is, by the new addition(s) thereto, increased so as to exceed the applicable maximum area listed in Table I, shall be protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system when any of the following occurs:
    1.    A change in occupancy or hazardous use.
    2.    The total floor area of the new addition(s) is 50% or more of the total floor area of the building to be increased in area.
     1003.2.15 A group M-occupancy used for farming or agriculture purposes or any Group R-3 Occupancy shall not be required to be protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system unless required elsewhere in the Ordinance Code.
     1003.2.16 The total floor area for all new buildings or structures shall be computed without regard to area separation walls and floors of less than 4-hour fire resistive construction, as such construction is defined in the Alameda County Building Code.
     1003.2.17 For all undetermined occupancy buildings or structures, the minimum sprinkler density shall be based on .18 gallons per minute for the 3000 square foot design area. For all warehouse storage buildings where storage may exceed 12 feet in height, the minimum sprinkler density shall be based on .33 gallons per minute for the 3000 square foot design area.
     1003.2.18 The provisions of Section 1003 shall not preclude the enforcement of more stringent requirements of the Ordinance Code or the State Building Code.
     1003.2.19 The following table establishes the maximum allowable floor area in square feet for buildings without automatic fire sprinkler protection, according to type of occupancy and construction as defined in the Alameda County Building Code.

     Section 1003.3.1 (Sprinkler System Monitoring and Alarms) is modified in part as to Sentence 2 and Sentence 3 only to read:
    Sentence 2 is amended to read:

    2.    One hundred or more sprinkler heads in all other occupancies, or exceeding 5000 square feet in total building area.

    Sentence 3 is added to read:

    3.    R-3 Occupancies are exempt from the fire alarm requirements of this Section.



Table I
Maximum Allowable Floor Area for Non-Sprinklered Buildings


Occupancy
Type of Construction I: FR
Type of Construction II: FR
Type of Construction II: One-Hour
Type of Construction II: N
Type of Construction III: One-Hour
Type of Construction III: N
Type of Construction IV: H.T.
Type of Construction V: One-Hour
Type of Construction V: N
A-1
10,000
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
A-2-2.1
10,000
10,000
7,500
N/A
7,500
N/A
7,500
7,500
N/A
A-3-4
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
B
10,000
10,000
5,000
10,000
5,000
7,500
7,500
5,000
E
10,000
10,000
7,500
7,500
7,500
5,000
F-1-2
10,000
10,000
5,000
10,000
5,000
7,500
7,500
5,000
H-1-2-3-6-7
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
1,500
H-4-5
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
I-1-2
ALL
ALL
ALL
N/A
ALL
N/A
N/A
ALL
N/A
I-3
7,500
7,500
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
M
3,000
3,000
5,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
R-1
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
5,000
S
10,000
10,000
5,000
10,000
5,000
7,500
7,500
5,000
U
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000
3,000

    Definitions:
     FR: Fire Resistive Construction. Construction which resists the spread of fire with the structural members being steel, iron, concrete, or masonry
     One-Hour: Wood stud or non-combustible stud with 5/8 ²  Type X (fire rated) Gypsum Board and exterior of stucco or like material
     N: Non-Rated. Wood stud construction with wood siding and non-rated Gypsum Board
     H.T.: Heavy Timber. Wood construction where the structural members meet specifications set forth in the Uniform Building Code for minimum dimensions

(Ord. 2003-39 § 1 (part): Ord. 2000-45 § 1 (part))