HomeMy WebLinkAbout402.005 - Hazard Class Determination
Fresno City Fire Department
400 Fire Prevention Manual
SECTION 402.005 HAZARD CLASS DETERMINATION
PURPOSE
This policy has been established to clarify the requirements when a change of
occupancy may initiate the installation of fire sprinklers.
APPLICATION
This policy is applicable to instances where a building or portion of a building is to be
used in a different manner than from its original intended use.
OPERATIONAL POLICY
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OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE
The joint policy between the City of Fresno Development and Resource Management
(DARM) Department and Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department), which
includes the Hazard Categories and Classifications Table, are to be used to determine
if a change of occupancy should initiate new California Building Code or California
Fire Code required systems or construction features in the subject building. The Fire
Marshal, or designee, is to make the ultimate determination on behalf of the FFD.
PROCESS
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INFORMATION
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DEFINITIONS
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Effective Date: February 2017 Ted Semonious, Fire Deputy Chief
Current Revision Date: 5/2/2024 Section 401.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 5/2/2027 Page 1 of 3
CROSS-REFERENCES
California Building Code
California Fire Code
Joint Policy between DARM and FFD
Hazard Categories and Classifications Table
Effective Date: February 2017 Ted Semonious, Fire Deputy Chief
Current Revision Date: 5/2/2024 Section 401.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 5/2/2027 Page 2 of 3
CBC OCCUPANCY GROUP CHANGE
AND THE LOCAL FIRE SPRINKLER ORDINANCE:
LIFE SAFETY HAZARD CATEGORIES AND CLASSIFICATIONS
The following table shall be used to determine if a building or portion of a building that
is changing from one California Building Code occupancy group or use to one that is
more, less or is within the same life safety and exiting hazard category. Compare the
existing use to the new proposed use in the table below. If the proposed use increases
the hazard category, fire sprinklers are required.
Exception: see Fresno Municipal Code Section 10-50903.6 for change of occupancy
or use involving less than 25% of the overall floor area.
Note: This table applies only to the local fire sprinkler amendments. The
California Building Code has specific fire sprinkler requirements based on
occupancy group (examples: all “H” occupancies or all “A2” occupancies with
an occupant load over 100 require sprinklers).
Highest Hazard (life safety and exiting)
1. A1, A2, A3 or A4 (300 or more occupants); E; 1; H1, H2
2. A1, A2, A3 or A4 (50 -299 occupants), A5
3. R1, R2, R2.1, R3, R3.1
4. B; F; H (other than H1 or H2); M; S1
5. S2
6. U
Lowest Hazard (life safety and exiting)
For the purposes of this table, occupancies with a classification designated under a
previous building code shall have their existing use classified as the occupancy most
closely resembling the current edition of the California Building Code.
The above table is derived from Table 5-B of the 1997 Uniform Code for Building
Conservation.
Effective Date: February 2017 Ted Semonious, Fire Deputy Chief
Current Revision Date: 5/2/2024 Section 401.014
Next Revision (1) Date: 5/2/2027 Page 3 of 3