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Building Code Amendment — High -rise Definition August 4, 2015 Page 2 geologic or topographic conditions as permitted for amendment by the California Building Standards Commission, The effect of this change in definition has been that applicants wishing to construct a building over 55 -feet in height have become subject to the additional Building Code requirements applicable to high -rise development which substantially increases construction costs, making projects over this height financially infeasible, Improved building materials and design in conjunction with evolving fire suppression technology has continued to increase both the passive and active life safety provisions included in each new Building Code cycle, Requirements such as automated fire suppression systems, smoke controls, fire- rating of assemblies, and compartmentalization are among a number of elements that now make buildings safer to occupy and safer to access by fire personnel in the event of a fire. Additionally, firefighting methods and fire technology also continue to advance making firemen more efficient and effective in stopping fires once they have started, in 2013 the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released a study on high -rise building fires and concluded that "Automatic fire protection equipment and fire - resistive construction are more common in high -rise buildings that have fires than in other buildings of the game property use that have fires. The risks of fire, fire death, and direct property damage due to fire tend to be lower in high -rise buildings than in shorter buildings of the same property use," 1 Based on these combined advancements in firefighting and building safety, the Building Safety Division and Orange County Fire Authority are recommending that the definition of a high -rise be amended back to the approved definition in the 2013 California Building Code of 75 -feet above the lowest floor level having building access. The threat to life safety is not increased by defining a high -rise based on 75 -feet versus 55 -feet above the lowest floor level having building access. By reverting back to the original building code language, development projects within zoning districts which allow high -rise development will be able to achieve the full height permitted in Building Code without having to adhere to code requirements that were developed for taller structures. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal No. 3 Economic Development, Objective No, 3 (Promote a solutions -based customer focus in all efforts to facilitate development and investment in the community), FISCAL IMPACT There Is no fiscal Impact associated with this action, Hassan Hagh ni, AICP Executive Director Planning & Building Agency MF:rb mfQV1Me5URF0A \RF0A_H18hr1se Qe6n1llon 84,2018 Exhibit: 1. Chapter 8 and 14 Code Amendments 'Hall, T. (2013). Hlgt1 -Rise Building Fires. Natdanal Elra7r& aZanay.