City Provides Scripps Ranch and Tierrsanta Fire Victims
With Recommended Changes to Building Codes
Expedited Code Changes to Be Considered by City Council on Jan. 20

SAN DIEGO - As an additional step to assist property owners who lost their homes during the 2003 wildfires, the City of San Diego today sent letters to Scripps Ranch and Tierrasanta residents advising them of recommended building code changes designed to help prevent future fires. The proposed changes also would apply to all future building within the City of San Diego once approved by the City Council and can be found on the city's website in the "News and Announcements" www.sandiego.gov. The proposed changes will also be available at the San Diego City Clerk's office at 202 C Street.

City officials expedited the development of the recommendations to ensure they were available in a timely manner to homeowners and contractors in the process of applying for building permits for the reconstruction of homes lost during the fires. The code changes were recommended by the Fire-Rescue Department in a collaborative effort with various city departments including Development Services and the City Attorney's Office.

"The families who have lost their homes have already suffered more than their share," said Fire Marshal Sam Oates. "Providing them with this information will make it easier for them to plan for the rebuilding process as they work to restore their lives."

Two sets of standards are required: those for new buildings and additions in high fire hazard areas and a general set of citywide standards.

The recommendations for homes in high fire hazard areas include requiring:

• Class A non-combustible roofing for residential buildings - such as cement shingles or sheets, exposed concrete slab roofs, ferrous or copper shingles or sheets, slate shingles and clay or concrete roofing tile.
• Sprinklers in residential occupancies, including inside attics and garages
• All exterior walls to be of fire resistant material (one-hour rated) and double layered glazing in openings
• Boxed eaves - enclosing the underside of roof overhangs with non combustible material
• Added protection for attic and eave vents and fireplace chimneys; and restricted location of these vents
• Tempered or double glazing for skylights
• Non-combustible material for roof gutters and down spouts
• No exposed wood fences, decks or garage doors

Proposed requirements for buildings throughout the city include:

• Banning wood shake/shingles on new roofs and re-roofs over 25 percent of roof area
• Class A roofing only for all new roofs and re-roofs over 25 percent
• All existing wood shake/shingle roofs to be replaced in 25 years

As part of the approval process, the proposed building codes changes will be reviewed by the Building Board of Appeals in a Jan. 8, 2004, meeting. On Jan. 20, the recommended changes will go before the San Diego City Council for consideration.

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