HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-68 - Amemdments to 2010 CA Building Code, Residential Code, and Fire Code Relative to Local Climatic & Geographic ConditionsRESOLUTION NO. 10- 6 8
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH
FINDINGS FOR REQUIRED AMENDMENTS TO THE
2010 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2010
CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, AND TO THE 2010
CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE RELATIVE TO LOCAL
CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of
Costa Mesa ("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 Building Code, the California Fire Code, the California Green
Building Standards Code, the California Residential Code, the California Plumbing
Code, the California Mechanical Code, and the California Electrical Code (hereinafter
referred to collectively as "Codes"); and
WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(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 Development Services and Fire Departments have
recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and have advised
that certain of said changes and modifications to the California Building Code, 2010
Edition, the California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, and the California Fire Code,
2010 Edition, are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City of Costa
Mesa 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 Costa Mesa.
Amendments related to life and fire- safety contained in Sections 403, 403.1,
403.1.1-,---403,4,-T 2, 403:4:8.1, Table 1-505.1-,---and-1-505.1.3-of-the 201-0Edition-of-the
California Building Code, and Sections R902.1, R902.1.3, and R902.2 of the 2010
Edition of the California Residential Code, and Sections 907.2.13, 907.7.3.2,
604.2.15.1.1, and 604.2.15.2.1 of the 2010 Edition of the California Fire Code as
recommended by the Development Services and Fire Department are hereby found to
be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions:
A. Climatic Conditions
1. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Costa Mesa
and Orange County in general. These winds, which can cause small fires to
spread quickly, are a contributing factor to the high fire danger in the area, and
create the need for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection
will supplement normal fire department response available and provide
immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupants during fire
occurrences.
2. Orange County and the City of Costa Mesa are located in a semi -arid
Mediterranean type climate which predisposes all fuels, including wood shingles,
to rapid ignition and spread of fire. Therefore, there exists a need for additional
fire protection measures.
B. Geographic Conditions
1. Orange County and the City of Costa Mesa are located in a high seismically
active area. There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern
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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, epicenter 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
recommend edby the State of CaliforniaDepartment 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 our 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.
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";
2. Traffic and circulation congestion presently existing in the City of Costa Mesa
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.
3. 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
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provide manpower sufficient to concentrate fire companies and personnel to
control fires in high density apartment or condominium buildings. 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.
The City of Costa Mesa is located in an area subject to a climatic condition of
high winds and low humidity. This combination of events creates an
environment, which is conducive to rapidly spreading fires. Control of such fires
requires rapid response. Obstacles generated by strong winds, such as fallen
trees, street lights and utility poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically
up flights of stairs will greatly impact the response time to reach an incident
scene. Additionally, Section 6, Figure 6-2 of ASCE 7 identifies 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.
The City of Costa Mesa 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.
4. 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. Recent Grand Jury Report findings -
support this concern.
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Additional amendments have been made to the California Building Code, 2010
Edition, the California Residential Code, 2010 Edition, and the California Fire Code,
2010 Edition. On the recommendation of the Development Services Department and
Fire Department, such amendments are hereby found to be either administrative or
procedural in nature or concern themselves with subjects not covered in the California
Building -Code, the-California-Residential-Code,,orCalifornia-Fire-Code;--The-changes
made include provisions making each of said Codes compatible with other Codes
enforced by the City.
The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance
No. 10- to .
Section 2
The Development Services Department and Fire Department shall file copies of
Resolution 10- 68 and Ordinance 10 -_ID_ with the California Building Standards
LICommission as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 21 st day of September, 2010.
Allan k Mansoor, Mayor
ATTEST:
Julie FolA, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Kimberly Hall Barlow, City Attorney
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF COSTA MESA )
I, JULIE FOLCIK, City Clerk of the City of Costa Mesa, DO HEREBY CERTIFY
that the above and foregoing is the original of Resolution No. 10-68 and was duly
passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa at a regular meeting
held on the 21 st day of September, 2010, by the following roll call vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS
NOES: COUNCIL- MEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS:
MANSOOR, LEECE, BEVER, FOLEY
NONE
MONAHAN
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereby set my hand and affixed the seal of the
City of Costa Mesa this 22nd day of September, 2010.
(SEAL)
C1 /'-)
JU FOLCIK, CITY CLERK
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