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R-9404 . . PCD BLDGSAF TM LDH C \Code Adopt\99resoln wpd City Council Meeting 6-08-99 Santa MOnica, CalifornIa RESOLUTION NUMBER 9404(CCS) (City Council Senes) A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA MAKING FINDINGS REGARDING LOCAL CLIMATIC, GEOLOGICAL AND TOPOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS PURSUANT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE SECTIONS 17958 5, 17958 7 and 18941 5 WHEREAS, the State BUIlding Standards Commission has approved and published the 1998 edition of the California BUIldIng Standards Code In January, 1999, and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Sections 17958 7and 18941 5 proVide that the CIty may make changes or modifications to the California BUIlding Standards Code based upon express find Ings that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatiC, geologIcal or topographIcal condItions, and WHEREAS, the City Council has considered the 1998 California BUilding Standards Code, which Incorporates by reference the 1996-1997 edlttons of the Uniform Fire Code, Uniform BUIldIng Code, UnIform MechanIcal Code, Uniform Plumbmg Code, Uniform Code for BUilding Conservation, AppendiX 1 and the1996 National Fire and Electrical Codes, and WHEREAS, based upon the fIndings contained In thiS Resolution, the CIty CounCil 1 . . Will be adopting an ordinance contamlng certain modIfications and addItions to the CalifornIa BUilding Standards Code, which are reasonably necessary based upon local climatic, topographical and geological conditions, NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS SECTION 1 With respect to the need for amended or supplemental Fire Safety and PreventIon Requirements, and Fire and Safety Duties and procedures, the City CouncIl makes the follOWing findings regarding local climatiC, geological, and topographical cond Itlons (a) The Safety Element of the General Plan, adopted In January, 1995, shows high nsk of seismiC actIvIty In the City due to the close proximIty of the CIty to the Santa Momca-Mallbu Coast fault, the Newport-Inglewood fault and the San Andreas fault The Safety Element discusses the damaging effect local seismIC actIvIty would have on street, roadways and overpasses at the Santa MOnica Freeway whIch would hamper and delay emergency vehicle response (b) The Safety Element also Identifies that many of the structures In the City are older structures which are prone to the qUick spread of fire from adjacent structures due to the materrals used In construction and less 2 . . stringent fIre resistant technology avaIlable at the time they were bUilt (c) The Master Environmental Assessment (MEA), adopted In Apnl, 1996, shows that Santa Monlcats climate IS prlmanly Influenced by the PaCifIc Ocean and IS characterized by Infrequent rainfall and Winds, which come from the west dunn9 the daytIme and from the north and northeast dUring the nighttIme, with intermittent Santa Ana winds occurring from September to March These conditions create the potential for high velOCity winds wIth high temperatures which are conducive to uncontrolled Wind driven fires (d) The MEA also shows that structures In the City are situated In close proximity to each other, with only about 1 % ofthe 8 3 sq uare miles that the City occupies vacant In addItIon, these lots are often very narrow or on hIlly terrain, whIch lImits access to SIde yards for fIre suppressIon and placement of ladders for rescue operations These conditions Increase the threat to life and property and contnbutes to the ability of fires to spread qUickly between bUildings because of their proxImity to each other (e) AnalYSIS of the emergency response to the January 17, 1994 earthquake showed that the need for emergency fire servIces In the City greatly exceeded the available resources of the Fire Department and that there remains a SignifIcant pOSSibility that multIple fIres follOWing a future 3 . . earthquake Will exceed the available resources of the Fire Department (f) Based upon these local chmatlc, geological, and topographIcal conditions which create fire hazards and Inhibit fire safety response access and response tIme, It IS reasonably necessary to adopt amendments to the CalifornIa BUIlding Standards Code, including but not limited to, the California BUilding Code and CalIfornia Fire Code In the follOWing manner (I) ReqUire automatic fire extInguishing and detection systems In all new construction and when there IS a change In use to a hIgher claSSIfIcation, so that In the event of an earthquake or other major disaster, the Fire Department may depend on bUilt-in fIre suppression systems to extIngUish or limit fires In those structures so that fire does not spread to older structures ThiS WIll reduce the potential demand on emergency services resources from Simultaneous InCIdents (8 M M C Section 8 44 050) (II) ReqUire compliance with high-rise requirements In bUIldings with human occupancy over 55 feet In height above the highest fire vehicle access pOint to enhance such bUIldings' fire safety and reduce the risk of fIres m such bUildings spreading to other structures and greatly increasing the demand on emergency servIces resources (S M M C Section 8 44 090) 4 . . (III) Require fife safety procedures, such as fire alarm systems, fIre safety doors, appropnate slgnage, and evacuation procedures In eXIsting non-resIdentIal bUildings, and In eXIsting bUIldings used as hotels, apartments or lodging houses to enhance such bUildings' fire safety, protect occupants, and reduce the nsk that fires In such bUlldmgs Will spread to other structures (Uniform BUilding Code AppendIX Chapter 34, Uniform Fire Code AppendiX 1-A, S M M C 8 12 030, 840020) (IV) ReqUire fire safety procedures. such as partial automatic fire spnnkler systems, automatIc shutoff of mechanical systems, and smoke detectors, for eXlstmg non-residentIal bUIldings, hotels, or apartments WIth floors more than 55 feet above fIre department access to enhance such bUlldmgs' fire safety t protect occupants, and reduce the nsk that fires In such bUildings Will spread to other structures (Uniform BUilding Code AppendIX Chapter 34, UnIform Fire Code AppendiX 1-B, S M M C 8 12 030, 840020) (v) ReqUire automatic fire spnnkler systems for eXisting public assembly spaces larger than 5,000 square feet to protect assembly areas and eXit ways (8 M M C 8 44 050) (VI) ReqUire In any new bUIlding WIth floors more than 55 feet In 5 . . height, connection with control valves on each floor level with full automatic sprrnkler systems to enhance such bUildIngs' fire safety by ensuring adequate delivery of required water supply (S M M C 8 44 090) (VII) Prohibit the use of roofmg that IS non-rated or low rated against fIre exposure mcludlng but not lImited to non-fire retardant wood shingles or non-fire retardant wood shakes for new or replacement roofing to reduce the rrsk of rapId spread of fire between adjacent bUildings (S M M C 844 140). (VIII) Require the seIsmIc bracIng of all fire spnnkler systems to prevent the loss of fire suppressIon during an earthquake when emergency services Will be at peak demand (S M M C 8 44 120) SECTION 2 With respect to the need for amended or supplemental SeismiC Safety Requirements. the CIty Council makes the follOWing findIngs regardmg local clImatiC, geological, and topographical conditions (a) The Safety Element shows a hIgh rrsk of seismIC actIvIty In the City due to the close proxImity to the Santa MOnlca-Mallbu Coast fault, the Newport-lnglewood fault and the San Andreas fault, and discusses the damagIng effect local seismiC activity would have on potentially hazardous 6 . . bUIldIngs and the related potentIal demands on emergency services needs Structures bUilt without supplemental seIsmiC provIsions perform poorly dUring ground shakIng, are susceptible to extenSive damage, and therefore pose a threat to the public safety (b) The Safety Element also IdentIfies shallow ground waterwlthm 50 feet of the ground surface along the beach, near the Industnal corndor and Manne Park areas of the City ThiS ground water condItion, coupled with unconsolIdated youthful sedimentary salls, makes these areas susceptible to possible liquefaction dunng strong or moderately strong earthquakes Liquefaction IS a very destructive secondary effect of strong seismiC shaking where a loss of beann9 strength occurs along With ground OSCillations In the supporting Salls c) An analYSIS of damage patterns to structures In the City from the January 17, 1994 Northndge earthquake and ItS aftershocks showed that unrelnforced masonry structures, wood frame structures, tilt-up and masonry structures With fleXible diaphragms, non-d uctlle concrete bUIldings, and steel frame structures, were more susceptIble to damage than other types of structures Unless supplemental seIsmIC proVISIons are adopted, these bUildings WIll continue to perform poorly dunng Intense ground shaking and WIll pose an ongoing threat to public safety 7 . . d) An analysIs of damage patterns to nonstructural elements In the City from the January 17, 1994 Northrldge earthquake and ItS aftershocks also showed that concrete and masonry chimneys, veneer. clay and concrete tile roofing and fire sprinklers were more susceptible to damage than other types of nonstructural elements Unless supplemental seismic provIsions are adopted, these nonstructural elements Will continue to perform poorly dUring Intense ground shaking and pose an ongomg threat to public safety (e) The Los Angeles region has a vast and complex network offaults Some of these faults, like the previously unknown Northrrdge Fault, are blInd thrust faults, that earth SCIentists believe are capable of Intense ground shaking similar or greater In size than the Northridge Earthquake The random possible location of these blind thrust faults, Increases the local seismic rrsk and pose an Increasing threat to public safety (f) The local climate IS and and especIally susceptIble to aggressive termite activity, wood attacking Insects, and mIcroorganisms including dryrot and fungus As a result, untreated wood frame structures can perform poorly especIally dUring strong ground shakIng caused by earthquakes WIthout adequate limits on the separation of wood and earth and pressure treated wood, wood structures Will perform poorly under local conditIons and pose a further threat to the public safety 8 . . (g) These climatIc, topographical and geological conditions place demands on emergency services and pose substantial nsks to public health, safety, and welfare It IS therefore reasonably necessary to adopt amendments to the California BUilding Standards Code, Including the California BUlldmg Code, m the follOWing manner (I) Establish supplemental seismiC provIsions for the construction of potentially hazardous structures. IncludIng but not limIted to, wood frame construction, hIllSide bUildings, masonry and concrete wall bUIldings with flexible dIaphragms, steel frame bUIldings, and bUildings constructed with steel stud wall systems to ensure that these bUildings are not susceptible to extensive damage or perform poorly dUring an earthquake (Chapters 8 12, 8 16 and 820 of the S M M C ) (II) Establish supplemental seismiC provIsions for the construction of potentially hazardous nonstructural elements, Including but not limIted to concrete and masonry chImneys, flues, fireplace, barbeques or veneer, clay or concrete roof covenngs, reroofmg r fasteners for roof covenngs, and fIre spnnklers to ensure that these nonstructural elements are not susceptible to extensive damage or perform poorly dUring an earthquake (UnIform BUIldIng Code AppendiX Chapter 15, 9 . . S M M C Section 8 12030 and Chapters 8 12,8 16 and 844) (Ill) Establish supplemental seismiC provISions for excavation, grading and earthwork construction, IncludIng fills and embankments on pnvate property, so that the near source effects of the Newport Inglewood Fault, Santa MOnica Fault and other nearby faults do not cause excessive consolidation of salls or damage from Increased liquefaction due to Improperly placed Salls (Umform Building Code AppendiX Chapter A-33, S M M C Section 8 12 030) (IV) Establish supplemental seismiC provIsions for the waterproofIng and dampprooflng of foundations to protect structures from the shallow ground water present and the effects from Increased liquefactIon due to Improperly placed Salls (UnIform BUilding Code AppendiX Chapter A-18, S M M C Section 8 12030) SECTION 3 With respect to the need for amended or supplemental Electncal Code ReqUIrements, the CIty CouncIl makes the follOWing findIngs regarding local clImatiC, geologIcal, and topographical condItions 10 . . (a) The California Electncal Code does not address electncal safety reqUirements for non-construction related electncal equIpment, Including portable electncal eqUipment, machinery, temporary power poles and concrete vaults The unregulated use of such equipment poses a potential safety hazard to Citizens and property In Santa MOnica by Increasing the risk of fire aggravated by the condItions described In Section 1 above (b) The City's former Electnc Board of Appeals has approved safety standards for the use of electrrcal appliances, devices, materials and equIpment, and has considered local problems caused by the Improper use of non-metallic sheated wiring and use of aluminum alloy conductors In sizes smaller than No 6 Experience offield Inspection personnel has shown that certain specific uses of aluminum based conductors and non-metallic sheated wiring has caused or led to partIally hazardous and nUisance electrrcal wIring installations increasing the risk of fIre aggravated by the conditions descnbed In Section 1 above (c) Based upon the local conditions outlined above, along WIth the conditIons related to fire nsk descrrbed In Section 1, It IS reasonably necessary to adopt the follOWing local amendments to the California Electncal Code to ensure fire safety and prevent aCCIdents from electncal procedures and appliances 11 . . (I) Ensure that any wiring not having metal protection over the conductors IS entIrely concealed WIthin the bUIlding structure to prevent and inhibit tamperrng. and restrrct the use of aluminum wlnng found to be hazardous (S M M C Section 8 24 030) (II) Prohibit the sale and use of any electrical matenal, deVIce, or equipment not In compliance With rating and conformance proVISions (S M M C SectIon 8 24 040) (III) Regulate the construction of temporary power poles, concrete vaults, and handholes to prOVide a minimum safety standard for electrrcal equipment to Withstand the lateral forces placed on It dunng an earthquake and climatiC conditions Imposed on underground electrical systems subject to pOSSible underwater emerslon (S M M C 8 24 060) SECTION 4 With respect to the need for amended or supplemental Mechanical Code ReqUIrements, the City Council makes the follOWing fIndings regarding local clImatIC, geological, and topographical conditions (a) Based upon the local geological conditions outlined In Section 2 above, along With the conditions related to fire risk descrrbed In Section 1, It IS reasonably necessary to adopt the follOWing local amendments to the 12 . . California Mechanical Code to ensure fire safety durrng earthquakes (I) ProvIde grease duct supports that are the same thickness as the duct to prevent these supports from teanng away from the duct durrng an earthquake (S M M C 8 28 030) (II) Require the use of Type I hoods In all ovens that cook meat products, including pizza ovens, so that no fire hazard would eXIst dunng an earthquake due to an mappropnate hood system for grease laden vapors, whIch would otherwise cause an Increased rrsk of conflagration (S M M C 8 28 040) SECTION 5 WIth respect to the need for amended or supplemental Plumbing Code ReqUirements, the City CouncIl makes the follOWIng fIndings regardIng local climatIC, geological, and topographical conditions (a) Santa MOnica IS situated In Southern Callfornta which has extreme and conditions and perrods of severe drought As outlined In the MEA, the City relies upon water from outSide the region which IS bought from the Metropolitan Water Dlstnct, and local groundwater for the CIty's water supply Severe drought condItions and potential uncertainty about the avaIlability of future water supplies from outSide the region require the proper management of avaIlable water supplies 13 . . (b) Based upon this local condItion. along with the local conditions related to fire risk detailed In SectIon 1, It IS reasonably necessary to adopt the following local amendments to the California Plumbing Code to reduce consumption of scarce water resources and ensure fire safety by preventing accidents from pressure gas systems and preserving local water supplies (I) Require Initial approval and more thorough Inspection of medium pressure gas installation to prevent potentially hazardous and confusIng systems for emergency services which could result In fIre hazards If not properly Installed (S M M C 8 32 030) (Ii) ProhibIt the discharge of effluents of water softening systems uSing dry wells so that the local ground water, a scarce resource due to climatIC condItions, IS preserved In a pristine and usable state (S M M C 8 32 040) (III) Prohibit the use of combined storm draIns and sewers to preserve the local ground water and Santa MonIca Bay so that untreated water and treated water cannot mix and contaminate water supplies (S M M C 8 32 050) 14 . . SECTION 6 The CIty Clerk shall certify to the adoption of thIs ResolutIon and thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be In full force and effect. APPROVED AS TO FORM hl~LLL_ MA.8SHA JQNES MOUTRJE CIty Attorney 15 . . Adopted and approved thIs 8th of June, 1999 I, Mana M Stewart, City Clerk of the CIty of Santa MOnica, do hereby certify that the foregoing ResolutIon 9404(CCS) was duly adopted at a meeting of the Santa MOnica CIty Council held on the 8th of June, 1999, by the follOWing vote Ayes CouncIl members Felnstem, Holbrook, McKeown, Rosenstem, Bloom, Mayor Pro Tern Genser, Mayor O'Connor Noes CouncIl members None Abstain CouncIl members None Absent Council members None ATTEST ~~ ~~J- Marra M Stewart, City Clerk