A. Section 105.2 Amended – Work Exempt From Permit. Section 105.2 items 1 and 2 amended to read as follows:

1. One-story residential detached accessory structures used as tool and storage sheds, playhouses and similar uses, provided that the floor area does not exceed 120 square feet (11.15 mm²). It is permissible that these structures still be regulated by Section 710A, despite exemption from permit.

2. Residential fences not over 7 feet (2,134 mm) high, not including masonry block wall fences.

B. Section 110.3.6 Amended – Lath, Gypsum Board and Gypsum Panel Product Inspection. Section 110.3.6 is amended by omitting the exception.

C. Section 406.3.2.1 Amended – Dwelling Unit Separation. Section 406.3.2.1 is amended to read as follows:

406.3.2.1 Dwelling unit separation. The private garage shall be separated from the dwelling unit and its attic area by means of a minimum 5/8-inch Type X (15.9 mm) gypsum board applied to the garage side. Garages beneath habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable rooms above by not less than a 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X gypsum board or equivalent and the same applied to structures supporting the separation from the habitable rooms above the garage.

D. Section 903.2.1 Amended – Group A. Section 903.2.1 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.1 Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof used as Group A occupancies as provided in this section. For Group A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the entire building containing a Group A-1, A-2, A-3 or A-4 occupancy. For Group A-5 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in the spaces indicated in Section 903.2.1.5.

E. Section 903.2.1.1 Amended – Groups A-1, A-3, and A-4. Section 903.2.1.1 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.1.1 Groups A-1, A-3 and A-4. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-1, A-3 and A-4 occupancies.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. Assembly rooms or spaces with a cumulative area less than 1,000 square feet (93 m²) and located on a level of exit discharge where no alcohol is consumed and a fire alarm is installed when required by Section 907.2.1.

2. A Group A-3 occupancy with a fire area that does not exceed 5,000 square feet (464.5 m²), an occupant load less than 100, the A-3 is located on the level of exit discharge and the building contains a fire alarm as required by Section 907.2.1.

F. Section 903.2.1.3 Deleted – Group A-3. Section 903.2.1.3 is deleted.

G. Section 903.2.1.4 Deleted – Group A-4. Section 903.2.1.4 is deleted.

H. Section 903.2.2.1 Added – Group B. Section 903.2.2.1 is added to read as follows:

903.2.2.1 Group B. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings containing a Group B occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:

1. A Group B fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet (929 m²);

2. A Group B fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane; or

3. The combined area of all Group B fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2,230 m²).

I. Section 903.2.3 Amended – Group E. Section 903.2.3, Item 1 is amended to read as follows:

1. Throughout all Group E fire areas greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m²) in area.

J. Section 903.2.4 Amended – Group F. Section 903.2.4 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.4 Group F. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing a Group F occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:

1. A Group F fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet (929 m²);

2. A Group F fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane; or

3. The combined area of all Group F fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2,230 m²).

4. A Group F fire area is used for cannabis cultivation, processing or extraction.

K. Section 903.2.7 Amended – Group M. Section 903.2.7, Item 1 is amended to read as follows:

1. A Group M fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet (929 m²).

2. A Group M fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane.

3. The combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2,230 m²).

4. A Group M fire area is used for retail of cannabis or cannabis products.

L. Section 903.2.8.5 Added – Manufactured Homes. Section 903.2.8.5 is added to Chapter 9 of the Kern County Fire Code to read as follows:

903.2.8.5 Manufactured Homes. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in new manufactured homes, as defined in Health and Safety Code Sections 18007 and 18009, and multiple family manufactured homes with two dwelling units, as defined in Health and Safety Code Section 18008.7, in accordance with Title 25 of the California Code of Regulations.

M. Section 903.2.9 Amended – Group S-1. Section 903.2.9, Item 1 is amended to read as follows:

1. A Group S-1 fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet (929 m²);

N. Section 903.2.9.1 Amended  – Repair Garages. Section 903.2.9.1 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.9.1 Repair garages. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings used as repair garages in accordance with the Kern County Building Code, as follows:

1. Buildings with a fire area containing a repair garage exceeding 10,000 square feet (929 m²).

2. Buildings with a repair garage servicing vehicles parked in the basement.

3. A Group S-1 fire area used for the repair of commercial motor vehicles where the fire area exceeds 5,000 square feet (464 m²).

O. Section 903.2.10 Amended – Group S-2. Section 903.2.10 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.10 Group S-2. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings classified as a Group S-2 occupancy where one of the following conditions exist:

1. A Group S-2 fire area exceeds 10,000 square feet (929 m²).

2. Where an enclosed parking garage is located beneath other occupancy groups.

3. The combined area of all Group S-2 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2,230 m²).

P. Section 903.2.11.3 Amended – Multi-Story Buildings And Buildings 55 Feet or More in Height. Section 903.2.11.3 is amended to read as follows:

903.2.11.3 Multi-story buildings and buildings 55 feet or more in height. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout buildings more than 3 stories in height or with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more that is located 55 feet (16,764 mm) or more above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.

Q. Section 903.3.1.2.3 Amended – Attics. Section 903.3.1.2.3, Item 3 is amended to read as follows:

3. Attics not required by Items 1 or 2 to have sprinklers shall comply with one of the following if the building is more than two stories in height:

3.1 Provide automatic sprinkler system protection.

3.2 Construct the attic using noncombustible materials.

3.3 Construct the attic using fire-retardant-treated wood complying with Section 2303.2 of the International Building Code.

3.4 Fill the attic with noncombustible insulation.

R. Section 903.3.10 Added – Fire Sprinkler Control Room. Section 903.3.10 is added to read as follows:

903.3.10 Fire sprinkler control room. When an automatic fire sprinkler system is installed in a building constructed for multiple tenants and the system protects multiple tenant spaces, the main controls, risers, gauges and appurtenances shall be located in an attached room or enclosure with access only from an exterior door which has a minimum size of 3'-0" wide and 6'-8" high. The equipment required to be in the fire sprinkler control room shall be located in the fire alarm control room when one is required in accordance with Section 907.9.

S. Section 903.6 Added – Existing Buildings. Section 903.6 is added to read as follows:

903.6 Existing buildings. In other than Group U occupancies, when the floor area of an existing building is increased and the total floor area exceeds ten thousand (10,000) square feet (929 m²) before or after the addition, or is otherwise required to be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this code, an automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire building.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. If new or existing fire areas are clearly established within the limits of this code and approved by the Fire and Building Official.

2. Where a fire wall of 4 hour fire-resistance-rated construction without openings is installed to separate the new and existing portions of the building, only the new portion need comply.

T. Section 905.5.3 Deleted – Class II System 1-Inch Hose. Section 905.5.3 is deleted.

U. Section 907.2.1 Amended – Group A. Section 907.2.1 first paragraph is amended to read as follows:

907.2.1 Group A. A manual alarm system that activates the occupant notification system in accordance with Section 907.5 shall be installed in all Group A occupancies.

The exception is deleted.

V. Section 907.2.8.1 Amended – Manual Fire Alarm System. Section 907.2.8.1 is amended by deleting Exception 2.

W. Section 907.2.9.1 Amended – Manual Fire Alarm Systems. Section 907.2.9.1 is amended by deleting Exception 2.

X. Section 907.9 Added – Fire Alarm Control Room.

Y. Section 1607.1 Amended – Minimum Uniformly Distributed Live Loads and Minimum Concentrated Live Loads. Table 1607.1, Line 4 of item 26 is amended to read as follows:

Habitable attics and sleeping rooms – 40 psf

The remainder of item 26 of this table remains unchanged. (Ord. 721 §3, 2022).