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The City of Santa Ana is located in an area subject to a climatic condition of high <br />winds and Iow humidity. This combination of events creates an environment, which is <br />conducive to rapidly spreading fires. Control of such fires requires rapid response. <br />Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street lights and utility <br />poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of stairs will greatly <br />impact the response time to reach an incident scene. Additionally Table 16-G identifies <br />a significant increase in the amount of wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use of <br />aerial type fire fighting apparatus above this height would place rescue personnel at <br />increased risk of injury. <br /> <br /> The City of Santa Ana is located in the middle of the seismically active area <br />identified as Seismic Zone 4. The viability of the public water system would be <br />questionable at best after a major seismic event. This would leave tall buildings <br />vulnerable to uncontrolled rites due to a lack of available water and an inability to pump <br />sufficient quantities of any available water to floors above the 55-foot level. A severe <br />seismic event has the potential to negatively impact any rescue or fire suppression <br />activities because it is likely to create obstacles similar to those indicated under the high <br />wind section above. With the probability of strong aftershocks there exists a need to <br />provide increased protection for anyone on upper floors. <br /> <br /> SECTION 9: That section 8-113 is added to Chapter 8 of the Santa Ana Municipal <br />Code to read in full as follows: <br /> <br />Sec 8-113. Section 403.1 is amended to read as follows: <br /> <br />SECTION 403.1 Scope. This section applies to all occupancies each having floors <br />used for human occupancy located more than 55 feet (16,764 mm) above the lowest <br />level of fire department vehicle access. Such buildings shall be of Type I or Type II- <br />F.R. construction and shall be provided with an approved automatic fire sprinkler <br />system in accordance with Section 403.2. <br /> <br /> SECTION 10: The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines <br />and declares that adoption of Section 8-114 amending California Building Code section <br />403.2 is necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographic conditions. This <br />expressed finding is supported and based upon the following more specific findings, <br />and determinations: <br /> <br /> The City of Santa Ana is located in an area subject to a climatic condition of high <br />winds and Iow humidity. This combination of events creates an environment, which is <br />conducive to rapidly spreading fires. Control of such fires requires rapid response. <br />Obstacles generated by a strong wind, such as fallen trees, street lights and utility <br />poles, and the requirement to climb 75 feet vertically up flights of stairs will greatly <br />impact the response time to reach an incident scene. Additionally Table 16-G identifies <br />a significant increase in the amount of wind force at 60 feet above the ground. Use of <br /> <br />Ordinance No. NS-2522 <br /> Page 7 of 47 <br /> <br /> <br />