The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About1978-08-15; City Council; 5532; Amendment to Building Code Fire Retardant RoofsK CITY OF CARLSBAD AGENDA BILL NO. '�'� Initial: .'--��--"'! Dept . Hd . DATE: August 15, 1978 C. Atty.\ DEPARTMENT: FIRE C. Mgr. �\ Subject: Amendment to Building Code requiring fire retardant roofs. Statement of the Matter The City Council, at their regular meeting on April 18, 1978, instructed the staff to study and report to them on the feasibility and desirability of re- quiring fire retardant roofs on all multiple dwellings. Exhibit Memorandum/Fire Retardant Roofs Recommendation If the City Council concurs, instruct the City Attorney to prepare the appropriate documents for amending the Uniform Building Code to require fire retardant roofs on all of brush tcovered sconstructed lands, asdescribedewithin in theattachedeet exhibit. Councilmen 8-15-78 Staff recommendation was accepted documend the tsAforramending instructed to prepare the appropriate the Uniform Building Code. TO: CITY MANAGER DATE: 5-31-78 FROM: FIRE CHIEF SUBJECT: Fire Retardant Roofs In response to Council's request to report on the feasibility or desirability of requiring fire retardant roofs. From a fire point of view, any time we can remove a combustible spreading media, it's desirable. Interviews with many fire.chiefs, the review of films and photo- graphs taken during and after major fires in San Diego and Los Angeles Counties, and review of fire protection literature has presented considerable evidence that one of the most hazardous fire problems is the extensive use of wood shingle roofing. The ready ignition of untreated wood roof coverings, the rapid involvement of rooftops, the easy release of long range flaming brands and the ready overhead spread of these brands in the wind are hazards that the fire department is not readily equipped to cope with. Some agencies have required fire resistive roofs in the hilly brush areas or in areas designated as a "High Fire Hazard" area. I would point out that perhaps we should be cautious about desig- nating on maps or by description any specific area as a "High Fire Hazard" area as it may cause fire insurance premiums to be inflated. From an administrative and fire protection standpoint the ultimate would be to have an ordinance requiring fire retardant roofs on all structures within the City. Another approach might be to have fire resistive roofs on all buildings within the City except one and two family dwellings not considered to be in brush covered lands. Another alternative, and one I feel would allow for reasonable safety would be an amendment to the Fire Code or Building Code as follows: Section: Example Fire Retardant Roof Required. (a) Roof covering for all structures hereafter constructed or moved within 150D feet of brush covered lands shall be fire retardant as specified in Section 3203(e) of the Uniform Building Code. (b) For the purpose of this subsection "Brush Covered Land" shall mean: 3�. rN 1, __I 5-31-78 /City Manager -2 Memorandum brush or An area with natural vegetation such as, chaparral, trees, scrub oak, sumac, sage, buckwheat, wo chapar greaseraland/or with a combination of grass and weeds when such lands extend over an area of two acres or has a horizontal distance of four hundred (400) feet. require coopera• It To administrate an ordinance such as this would Depart e necessary for builders to submit plot plans in support tive efforts on both the Fire and Building lot -plans i would b permits for review by the Fire of applications for building Marshal to determine if a fire retardant roof would be require d. There were some questions raised by Council as to the cost of requiring fire retardant roof coverings. There are several roofs ro which fs aare tfire re Tee asome tthat cwould licost in nd - less than wood shingle ar crease the costs. stimates are for mThercostaOf the owoodfor in- The following cost estalling l00 square feet of roofing' an Underwriter Laboratories shingles and shakes is based on having Class B or C rating. Labor � Material/1'00 square feet Cost for Non -Rated Fire Retardant 145.00 85.00 145.00 Cedar Shakes 85.00 Cedar Shingles 11G-150 90-120 Clay Tile Concrete Tile 40-65 Composition Shingle Built -Up Roofing concrete or 40-50 3 Ply over with #400 Gravel Gypsum 4 Ply over Wood Sheathing 45-50 #400 Gravel with I found that the in talking with fire chiefs around the County requiring all Lakeside Fire Protection District has an ordinance roof coverings fOthelDistrictstructures beexcept fire retardant dwellings Roof lcover- dwellings within constructed within four ing for one and two family dwellingsSection hundred (400) feet of brush shall have fire retardant roofs. except they do not allow Their ordinan^-e refers to the Uniform Building 3203(e), Fire -Retardant Roof ng woodFshingles or shakes. any roof covering systems using 1 `' a i Memorandum/City Manager -3- 5-31-78 San Diego County's Fire Coordinators Office tells us that the County has an ordinance requiring fire resistive roofs. The ordinance reads as follows: San Diego County Code of Regulatory Ordinances. Section 38.35.202 Fire resisting roof required on structures. No person shall hereafter erect, construct, enlarge, or add to any cabin, house, hotel or other building or structure upon any mountainous or forest covered land or land covered with inflammable growth unless such building is provided with a. one hour fire resisting roof covering. The ordinance does not define what constitutes a mountain or forest covered land or land covered with inflammable growth nor does it define a one hour fire resisting roof. In summary, I feel that it's not only feasible but desirable to require fire retardant roofs not only on multiple dwellings but on any structure located in proximity to brush or grass covered land. Ja s Thompson