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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-11637 2025 BUILDING CODESRESOLUTION NO. 11637 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORANGE SETTING FORTH FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO LOCAL CLIMATIC AND GEOGRAPHIC CONDITIONS JUSTIFYING AMENDMENTS TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA RESIDENTIAL CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA PLUMBING CODE, THE 2025 CALIFORNIA GREEN BUILDING CODE, AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA ELECTRICAL CODE WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the City of Orange City") shall adopt Ordinances and regulations imposing the same or modified or changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922; and WHEREAS,the State of California is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent edition of the California Building Code, the California Residential Code, and the California Electrical Code (collectively Codes"); and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the City to make modifications or changes to the Codes, which are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the City Council, before making any modifications or changes to the Codes, shall make an express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geographic or topographic conditions; and WHEREAS, the Community Development Department has recommended that changes and modifications be made to the Codes and has advised that said changes and modifications to the California Building Code, 2025 Edition, the California Residential Code, 2025 Edition, the California and the California Electrical Code, 2025 Edition, are reasonably necessary due to local conditions in the City and have further advised that the remainder of said changes and modifications are of an administrative or procedural nature, or concern themselves with subjects not covered by the Codes or are reasonably necessary to safeguard life and property within the City. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Orange that amendments related to life and fire safety contained in Sections 103.1, 3109.2, 15.52.010(E), Appendices P and Q of the 2025 Edition of the California Building Code,Appendices BB,BF,CI, and CJ of the 2025 Edition of the California Residential Code, and Appendix 5.1 of the 2025 Edition of the California Green Building Code, Appendix R of the 2025 Edition of the California Plumbing Code, Annexes A-D of the 2025 Edition of the California Electrical Code as recommended by the Community Development Department are hereby found to be reasonably necessary due to the following local conditions: SECTION 1: A. Climatic Conditions 1. Hot, dry Santa Ana winds are common to all areas within the City of Orange and Orange County in general. These winds, which can cause small fires that spread quickly, are a contributing factor to the high fire danger in the area,and create the need for an increased level of fire protection. This added protection will supplement normal fire department response available and provide immediate protection for life and safety of multiple occupancy occupants during fire occurrences. 2. Orange County and the City of Orange are in a semi-arid Mediterranean type climate, which predisposes all fuels, including wood shingles, to rapid ignition and spread of fire. Therefore,there exists a need for additional fire protection measures. 3. The warm, dry climate is conducive to swimming pools, which creates a higher probability of child drownings where pools are unprotected. B. Geographic Conditions 1. Orange County and the City of Orange are in a high seismically active area. There are earthquake faults that run along both the northeastern and southwestern boundaries of Orange County. The Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone (NIFZ) which runs through Orange County was the source of the destructive 1933 Long Beach earthquake (6.3 magnitude, hypocenter off Newport Beach coast), which took 120 lives, with areas damaged from Laguna Beach to Marina del Rey and inland to Whittier, and poses one of the greatest hazards to lives and property in the nation. Regional planning for reoccurrence is recommended by the State of California, Department of Conservation. There was also an earthquake in December 1989, with the epicenter located near the City of Irvine. The fault on which this quake occurred was unknown prior to this activity. The October 17, 1989, Santa Cruz earthquake resulted in only one major San Francisco fire in the Marina district, but when combined with the 34 other fires and over 500 responses, the department was taxed to its full capabilities. The Marina fire was difficult to contain because mains supplying water to the district burst during the earthquake. If more fires had been ignited by the earthquake, it would have been difficult for the fire department to contain them. Experts predict a major earthquake in our area within the next 50 years. This situation creates the need for both additional fire protection measures and automatic on-site fire protection for building occupants since a multitude of fires may result from breakage of gas and electric lines as a result of an earthquake. As noted by "Planning Scenario on a Major Earthquake on the Newport-Inglewood Fault Zone, 1988, State Department of Conservation," page 59, 2 unfortunately, barely meeting the minimum earthquake standards of building codes places a building on the verge of being legally unsafe." 2. Traffic and circulation congestion presently existing in the City of Orange often places fire department response time to fire occurrences at risk. This condition will be exacerbated by any major disaster, including any earthquake wherein damage to the highway system will occur. This condition makes the need for additional on-site protection for property occupants necessary. 3. Untreated wood roofs cause or contribute to serious fire hazard and to the rapid spread of fires when such fires are accompanied by high winds. Pieces of burning wooden roofs become flying brands and are carried by the wind to other locations and thereby spread fire quickly. Past Grand Jury Report findings support this concern. 4. Code Section Findings in Section 1 103.1 CBC Administrative 3109.2 CBC A-3, B-2 15.52.010(E) OMC Administrative Appendices P, Q CBC Administrative Appendices BB, BF, CI, CJ CRC Administrative Appendix R CPC Administrative Appendix 5.1 CGBC Administrative Annexes A-D CEC Administrative The aforementioned amendments have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance 16-25 or are existing amendments unchanged. SECTION 2: The Community Development Department shall file copies of Resolution 11637 and Ordinance 16-25 with the California Building Standards Commission and Department of Housing as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. ADOPTED this 14th day of October 2025. 2)roota ia,-S1 Daniel R. Slater, Mayor, City of Orange ATTEST: r c Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange 3 APPROVED AS TO FORM: Nathalie Adouri , City Attorney, City of Orange I, PAMELA COLEMAN, City Clerk of the City of Orange, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly adopted by the City Council of the City of Orange at a regular meeting thereof held on the 14th day of October 2025 by the following vote: AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS: Bilodeau, Barrios, Tavoularis, Gutierrez, Gyllenhammer, Slater NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBER umitru Pamela Coleman, City Clerk, City of Orange 4