Best Practices for Project Management, Design, and Construction of ...

Provisions of California Fire Code and NFPA Standards
The following information requires the review and approval of the Local Fire Authority:
• Location of fire hose cabinets and connections;
• Location of fire hydrants and fire department connections (FDCs);
• Location and configuration of fire department access;
• Means for emergency entry for fire department access to stairs of buildings four or more
stories in height;
• Location and configuration of fire department alarm and/or notification panels (and
subpanels where used);
• Designation of remote station location other than a public fire communication center or
similar governmental agency;
• Designation of primary and alternate floor levels for elevator recall;
• Location of temporary walls needed to separate the occupied spaces from the
construction zone to show how this will affect exiting and exiting width within the occupied
areas of the building during construction;
• Location of key box(es), when used;
• Location of flammable liquid and LPG storage tanks;
• Location and configuration of fire command center;
• Provisions for removal of occupants from locked facilities and safe dispersal areas; and
• More restrictive requirements adopted by local ordinance.
Working with the Local Fire Authority
OSHPD reviews fire sprinkler and standpipe installations, for compliance with the minimum
requirements of NFPA Standard No. 13-2010, NFPA Standard No. 14-2007 and NFPA Standard
No. 24-2010. OSHPD does not review projects for compliance with local fire flow, hydrant
spacing, connection and control valve configuration, or location requirements. Review and
approval by the local fire authority will be requested prior to final plan approval of the project.
Local approval should be provided on forms available from OSHPD; however, it is best practice to
provide drawings that document the locations and details showing compliance to Fire Code and
NFPA requirement.
Local Fire Authority Fire Sprinkler and Fire Hydrant Requirements
• The location of the Fire Department Connection (FDC) must be in accordance with NFPA
Standard No. 24, Section 5.9.5 and California Fire Code, Section 912.
• The location and type of system control valve(s) must be in accordance with NFPA
Standard No. 13, Section 8.16.1.1.
• Fire flow and hydrant spacing must be in accordance with the requirements of NFPA
Standard No. 24, Section 7.2.1 (for new construction only).
(OSHPD Best Practices) Page 29 DRAFT FINAL, Sept. 2011