§ 10-50903.6. WHERE REQUIRED IN EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES.

903.6 Where required in Existing Buildings and Structures. An approved automatic fire extinguishing system shall be provided in existing buildings and structures, including R-3 occupancies, in those circumstances described in this Section and where required in Chapter 11. Installation requirements shall be as set forth for new buildings by Sections 903.2 through 903.2.10, and where applicable, the California Residential Code.

1.

Building Additions. When additions exceed 25% of the existing building square footage and the total proposed building area is 5,000 square feet or larger, an approved automatic fire extinguishing system shall be installed throughout the building. The 25% threshold shall be cumulative over the life of the building.

Exception: Building additions of entirely non-combustible construction and non-combustible uses such as covered pedestrian walkways.

2.

Change of Occupancy or Use. In existing buildings 5,000 square feet or larger, when a Change of Occupancy or use in accordance with the California Building Code, is made and the proposed new occupancy or use is more hazardous to life and safety than the existing occupancy or use, an approved automatic fire extinguishing system shall be installed throughout the building. The determination of a more hazardous use or occupancy shall be made in accordance with fire department policy. See policy 402.005.

Exceptions:

(a)

If the area in which the Change of Occupancy or use occurs is less than 25% of the actual floor area of the existing building and the area of the new occupancy is 4,999 square feet or less, and an automatic fire extinguishing system is not required based on occupancy by Section 903, an automatic fire sprinkler or extinguishing system is not required for any portion of the building. The 25% limit is cumulative over the life of the building.

(b)

If the area in which the Change of Occupancy or use occurs exceeds 25% but is less than 50% of the actual floor area of the existing building, only that portion of the building changing occupancy is required to have an approved automatic fire extinguishing system installed. An approved fire separation shall be required between portions of the building equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system and those portions without.

(c)

If individual or cumulative Changes of Occupancy, or use exceeds 50% of the overall floor area of the existing building, then the entire building shall have an approved automatic fire extinguishing system installed throughout.

3.

Fire Damage Repairs. An approved automatic fire sprinkler system shall be installed as a condition of a fire damage repair building permit as follows:

(a)

When a fire occurs in any existing occupancy, including R-3 occupancies, and the building permit repair costs exceed 50% of the current building valuation, an automatic fire extinguishing system shall be installed throughout the building as required for a new building in Section 903 or R313.

(b)

When a fire occurs in any R occupancy and building permit fire repair costs in the kitchen area of the dwelling unit(s) exceeds $1,000, a single fire sprinkler head or other approved automatic extinguishing system shall be installed in the kitchen per fire department policy.

(c)

Fire damage repair costs and building valuation shall be determined by the Building Official based on the current ICC Building Valuation Tables in use by the Development and Resource Management Department at the time of the issuance of the fire damage repair permit.

4.

R-2 Condominium Conversions. Existing R-1 or R-2 buildings proposed for conversion to condominiums shall have an approved automatic fire extinguishing system installed throughout as a condition of approval.

5.

A-1 and A-2 Occupancies. In existing A-1 and A-2 occupancies an approved automatic fire extinguishing system shall be installed throughout the entire building as a condition of any building permit where the permit cost is one-thousand ($1,000) or more.

Exception: Building permits issued exclusively for mechanical systems, plumbing systems, electrical systems and re-roofing only.

(Added Ord. 2016-48, § 3, eff. 1-9-17)