HomeMy WebLinkAbout402.019 - Medical Emergency Service Elevator RequirementsEffective Date: October 2024 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 10/16/2024 Section 402.019
Next Revision (1) Date: 10/16/2027 Page 1 of 3
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Fire Prevention Manual
SECTION 402.019 MEDICAL EMERGENCY SERVICE ELEVATOR REQUIREMENTS
PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to clarify the Fresno Fire Department’s (FFD or
Department) requirements related to the required installation of medical emergency
service elevators.
APPLICATION
This policy applies to all areas within the City of Fresno (COF) and contract service
areas. This policy also applies to all sites, buildings, and facilities within the City of
Fresno (COF) and contract service areas.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
Based upon the need for uniformity in application across the Department’s diverse
service delivery area, and after careful deliberation, the Department has determined
that when a medical emergency service elevator is required by the California Building
Code (CBC) it shall be installed as required.
A permit applicant may however, seek prior, formal (written) FFD approval for the use
of a CBC exception to the required installation of a medical emergency service
elevator as noted in this policy.
Every request for the use of a CBC exception to the installation of a required medical
emergency service elevator shall be in accordance with the following:
1. It is the obligation of the permit applicant to prepare and submit for
review, a formal, written request document, and seek a written
determination from FFD, prior to specifying the use of a CBC exception
to the required installation of a medical emergency service elevator for
any, site, building or facility.
2. Every request to use a CBC exception to the required installation of a
medical emergency service elevator for any, site, building or facility,
shall be submitted to FFD prior to submitting project construction
documents for review.
Effective Date: June 2008 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 10/16/2024 Section 402.019
Next Revision (1) Date: 10/16/2027 Page 2 of 3
3. Because the installation of a medical emergency service elevator is the
minimum code requirement noted in the CBC, it is the obligation of the
permit applicant to clearly identify the practical difficulties with minimum
code compliance in the request.
NOTE: An economic condition, artificial project time constraint, or
building design concern shall not form the basis of a request to modify
these requirements.
4. In the absence of formal, written, pre-approval from FFD, the CBC
requirements for the installation of a medical emergency service
elevator shall be strictly enforced.
5. At the sole discretion of the Fire Marshal (or designee), the use of an
exception to the installation of a medical emergency service elevator
may be permitted.
6. Approval of the use of an exception to the installation of a medical
emergency service elevator at one location shall not set a precedent for
any other location.
OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
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PROCESS
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INFORMATION
As noted in the adopted edition of the CBC and Fresno Municipal Code (FMC), FFD
is the local jurisdictional authority for medical emergency service elevators. This
jurisdictional authority also extends to all determinations for the use of any exceptions
related to the installation of a medical emergency service elevator, including the
authority to make determinations for the use of stairs in lieu of a required medical
emergency service elevator. As noted in the FMC, no other agency, department,
division, etc. may make these determinations for building standards promulgated by
the Office of the California State Fire Marshal within the City of Fresno or contract
service areas.
Effective Date: June 2008 Justin H. Beal, Fire Prevention Engineer
Current Revision Date: 10/16/2024 Section 402.019
Next Revision (1) Date: 10/16/2027 Page 3 of 3
It is the obligation of the permit applicant to seek a formal determination from FFD
prior to specifying the use of any exception to the required installation of a medical
emergency service elevator for any, site, building or facility prior to submitting project
construction documents for review.
An economic condition, artificial time constraint, or error on the part of the applicant to
obtain a formal determination and approval from FFD for the use of an exception to
the installation of a medical emergency service elevator prior to commencing
construction, is not considered a valid basis for a request to modify these
requirements.
DEFINITIONS
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CROSS-REFERENCES
California Building Code, currently adopted edition
Fresno Municipal Code, currently adopted edition