Sec. 13-50. - Intent.

This division establishes minimum emergency water supply requirements to ensure a supply of water to attack a fire or defend property from a fire.

(Ord. No. 5905, § I, 11-2-2010; Ord. No. 5373, § 2, 2002; Ord. No. 4905, § 1, 1995.)

Sec. 13-51. - Emergency water supply.

(a)

All buildings shall have a permanent emergency water supply approved by the county fire chief, which shall be installed, maintained and available for use as follows:

(1)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(3), where water is provided by a public water system, the permanent emergency water supply shall be installed and available for use prior to the completion of road construction;

(2)

Except as otherwise provided in subsection (a)(3), where water is provided by a water system other than a public water system, the permanent emergency water supply shall be installed and available for use prior to the commencement of construction of any permanent structure;

(3)

When authorized by the county fire chief, an interim emergency water supply acceptable to the county fire chief may be substituted for the permanent emergency water supply provided the permanent emergency water supply is installed and available for use prior to issuance of an occupancy permit or final inspection;

(4)

When authorized by the county fire chief and local fire chief, the emergency water supply requirements may be waived when sufficient evidence is proven the intent to Title 14 of the Natural Resources Code, Division 1.5, Article 4, Emergency Water Standards have been met.

(b)

If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a public or community water system (urban parcel - see definitions) the emergency water supply for residential buildings shall consist of a permanent hydrant located on the road within two hundred fifty (250) feet of the driveway measured from where the driveway intersects with the public or private road. Distance measurements shall be determined by hose lay along the road, not horizontal distance.

(c)

If the water supply to the parcel is provided by a private water well (non-urban parcel - see definitions) an emergency water storage of not less than two thousand five hundred (2,500) gallon capacity shall be provided. A single two-thousand-five-hundred (2,500) gallon tank may serve more than one building on the same parcel, provided all hydrants are located in accordance with section 13-52. When multiple tanks are utilized to achieve the required volume of water, the connection between the tanks shall be an approved minimum four-inch diameter water line.

(d)

Water tanks for emergency water supply placed inside the minimum setback requirement of Section 13-55 shall be constructed of non-combustible material. A flammable vegetation clearance of not less than twenty (20) feet (20') shall be maintained around all poly-plastic or similar water tanks.

(e)

All permanent emergency water supplies for commercial buildings shall meet the requirements of the Uniform Fire Code if the building is served by a public water system or NFPA 1142, "Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting" if the building is served by a water system other than a public water system.

(Ord. No. 5905, § I, 11-2-2010; Ord. No. 5373, § 2, 2002; Ord. No. 5166 § 1(dd), 1999: Ord. No. 4905, § 1, 1995.)

Sec. 13-52. - Hydrants.

(a)

All buildings shall be protected by hydrants. The location, number, and type of hydrants for any building shall be as required and approved by the county fire chief or the director of permit and resource management.

(b)

All hydrants for residential and commercial buildings that are part of a public water system on urban parcels shall have a fire flow which is the greater of either five hundred (500) gallons per minute with a residual pressure of twenty (20) pounds per square inch or the minimums specified in Public Utilities Commission of California revised General Order No. 103, adopted June 12, 1956 (corrected September 7, 1983, Decision 83-09-001), Section VIII Fire Protection Standards and other applicable sections relating to fire protection water delivery systems or the minimums for static water systems equaling or exceeding the National Fire Protection Association Standard 1142, "Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting."

(c)

All hydrants for non-urban parcels shall comply with the following requirements:

(1)

Hydrant outlets shall be a minimum of eighteen (18) inches and a maximum of twenty-four (24) inches above grade, eight (8) feet from flammable vegetation, no closer than six (6) feet nor farther than twelve (12) feet from the edge of the road or driveway, and in a location where emergency fire equipment using it will not block the roadway. The hydrant serving any residential building shall be located at a turnout or turnaround, along the driveway to the building, or along the road that intersects with the driveway. The hydrant serving any residential building shall be connected to the emergency water supply by an approved minimum four-inch diameter water line.

(2)

All hydrants shall be located between sixty (60) feet and one hundred fifty (150) feet from the residential building. The fire hydrant shall be installed so that a fire engine utilizing the hydrant may maintain a minimum distance of sixty (60) feet from the residential building. Distance measurements shall be determined by hose lay along a road or driveway, not horizontal distance.

EXCEPTIONS:

1.

The distance to the hydrant, on a non-urban parcel with exclusively residential buildings on it, may exceed one hundred fifty (150) feet by one hundred fifty (150) feet for each additional five hundred (500) gallons of water storage capacity up to a maximum of two thousand five hundred fifty (2,550) feet from the residential building as allowed by Table 13-52a.

2.

A public fire hydrant can be used for the emergency water supply as allowed by Table 13-52b, for non-urban parcels with exclusively residential buildings on them.

(d)

All hydrants shall have at least one (1) two and one-half-inch outlet with male National Hose Threads and a cap. On water systems of greater than ten thousand five hundred (10,500) gallons, there shall also be at least one (1) four and one-half-inch outlet with male National Hose Threads and a four and one-half-inch by two and one-half-inch (2½") reducer with a cap.

(e)

All hydrants shall be a wet barrel hydrant or a draft hydrant as required by the delivery system and shall have suitable crash protection. The maximum height differential between the water source and the draft hydrant outlet shall be ten (10) feet. Draft hydrants shall be supplied by six-inch minimum pipe size, and be equipped with a four and one-half-inch National Hose male thread fitting with a cap.

(f)

Crash protection shall be per California Fire Code, Chapter Three, Section 312.

TABLE 13-52a¹
DISTANCE TO HYDRANTS BASED ON VOLUME OF STORAGE -
DISTANCE IS FROM STRUCTURE TO HYDRANT

Gallons of Storage/Distance to Hydrant

Note:

1.

This table applies only to parcels that have exclusively residential buildings on them.

TABLE 13-52b¹
EXCEPTION TO HYDRANT DISTANCE²
DISTANCE IS MEASURED FROM DRIVEWAY ENTRANCE TO THE HYDRANT

Notes:

1.

This table applies only to parcels that have exclusively residential buildings on them.

2.

Distances within these ranges can be prorated based on volume of flow available.

(Ord. No. 5905, § I, 11-2-2010; Ord. No. 5373, § 2, 2002; Ord. No. 5166 § 1(ee), 1999; Ord. No. 4905, § 1, 1995.)

Sec. 13-53. - Signing of water sources.

Each hydrant or access to water for any residential or commercial building shall be identified as follows:

(a)

If located along a driveway, a reflective blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three (3) inches, shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire retardant post; or

(b)

If located along a road either of the following are acceptable:

(1)

A reflective blue marker, with a minimum dimension of three (3) inches, shall be mounted on a fire retardant post. The sign post shall be within three (3) feet of the hydrant, with the sign no less than three (3) feet nor greater than five (5) feet above ground, aimed toward headlights, in a horizontal position and visible from the driveway, or

(2)

As specified in the State Fire Marshal's Guidelines for Fire Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways, May 1988.

(Ord. No. 5905, § I, 11-2-2010; Ord. No. 5373, § 2, 2002; Ord. No. 4905, § 1, 1995.)