Note: Ord. 1712 was repealed by Ord. 1764, 12/9/2025.
The 2025 California Building Code, incorporating the International Building Code, 2024 Edition, including all appendices, is hereby adopted by reference as the building code of the city of Buena Park, together with the amendments, additions, deletions and exceptions set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 1764, 12/9/2025)
A. 
Sections 202 Definitions is hereby revised by adding "OCFA" and "Spark Arrester" as follows:
202 Definitions.
OCFA. Orange County Fire Authority, fire authority having jurisdiction.
SPARK ARRESTER. A listed device constructed of noncombustible material specifically for the purpose of meeting one of the following conditions:
1. Removing and retaining carbon and other flammable particles/debris from the exhaust flow of an internal combustion engine in accordance with California Vehicle Code Section 38366.
2. Fireplaces that burn solid fuel in accordance with California Building Code Chapter 28.
B. 
Section 502.1 Address identification is hereby revised as follows:
502.1 Address identification. New and existing buildings shall be provided with approved address identification. The address identification shall be legible and placed in a position that is visible from the street or road fronting the property. Address identification characters shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be Arabic numbers or alphabetical letters. Numbers shall not be spelled out. Each character shall be not less than 4 inches in height with a stroke width of not less than 0.5 inch. For R-3 and other occupancies the numbers shall be a minimum of 6 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 1 inch. Where required by the fire code official, address identification shall be provided in additional approved locations to facilitate emergency response. Where access is by means of a private road and the building address cannot be viewed from the public way, a monument, pole or other sign or means shall be used to identify the structure. Address identification shall be maintained.
C. 
Adopt Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems is adopted in its entirety with the following amendments:
1. 
Section 903.2 Where required is hereby revised to read as follows:
903.2 Where required. Approved automatic sprinkler systems in buildings and structures shall be provided when one of the following conditions exists:
1. New buildings. Notwithstanding any applicable provisions of Sections 903.2.1 through 903.2.19, an automatic fire-extinguishing system shall also be installed in all occupancies when the total building area exceeds 5,000 square feet as defined in Section 202, regardless of fire areas or allowable area, or is more than two stories in height.
Exception: Subject to approval by the Fire Code Official, open parking garages in accordance with Section 406.5 of the California Building Code that are smaller than the area specified in Section 903.2.10(3) or 903.2.10.1 of the California Fire Code.
2. Existing Buildings. Notwithstanding any applicable provisions of this code, an automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in an existing building when an addition occurs and one of the following conditions exists:
a. When an addition is 33% or more of the existing building area, and the resulting building area exceeds 5,000 square feet.
b. When an addition exceeds 2,000 square feet and the resulting building area exceeds 5,000 square feet.
c. An additional story is added above the second floor regardless of fire areas or allowable area.
Exception: Additions to Group R-3 occupancies shall comply with Section 903.2.8(2).
2. 
Section 903.2.8 Group R is hereby revised as follows:
903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all buildings with a Group R fire area as follows:
1. New Buildings. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout all new buildings.
2. Existing R-3 Buildings. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout when one of the following conditions exists:
1. When the floor area of alterations within any two-year period exceeds 50 percent of gross floor area of the existing structure and the building gross floor area exceeds 5,500 square feet; or
2. When an existing Group R Occupancy is being substantially renovated, and where the scope of the renovation is such that the Building Code Official determines that the complexity of installing a sprinkler system would be similar as in a new building.
3. 
Section 903.3.5.3 Hydraulically calculated systems is hereby added as follows:
903.3.5.3 Hydraulically calculated systems. The design of hydraulically calculated fire sprinkler systems shall not exceed 90% of the water supply capacity.
Exception: When static pressure exceeds 100 psi, and when required by the fire code official, the fire sprinkler system shall not exceed the water supply capacity specified by Table 903.3.5.3.
TABLE 903.3.5.3
Hydraulically Calculated Systems
D. 
Chapter 15 Roof Assemblies and Rooftop Structures.
1. 
Table 1505.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:
TABLE 1505.1
MINIMUM ROOF COVERING CLASSIFICATIONS TYPES OF CONSTRUCTIONa
IA
IB
IIA
IIB
IIIA
IIIB
IV
VA
VB
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m.2
a. Unless otherwise required in accordance with Chapter 7A.
2. 
Section 1505.1.3 is hereby revised as follows:
1505.1.2 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class B.
Section 1505.5 is deleted.
Section 1505.7 is deleted.
E. 
Chapter 35 Referenced Standards is adopted in its entirety with the following amendments:
1. 
NFPA 13, 2025 Edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems is hereby amended as follows:
a. 
Section 16.12.3.3 is hereby revised as follows:
16.12.3.3. Fire department connections (FDC) shall be of an approved type. The location shall be approved and be no more than 150 feet from a public hydrant. The FDC may be located within 150 feet of a private fire hydrant when approved by the fire code official. The size of piping and the number of 2 1/2" inlets shall be approved by the fire code official. If acceptable to the water authority, it may be installed on the backflow assembly. Fire department inlet connections shall be painted OSHA safety red or as approved. When the fire sprinkler density design requires more than 500 gpm (including inside hose stream demand), or a standpipe system is included, four 21/2" inlets shall be provided.
b. 
Section 9.4.3.1 is hereby revised as follows:
9.4.3.1. When fire sprinkler systems are installed in shell buildings of undetermined use (Spec Buildings) other than warehouses (S occupancies), fire sprinklers of the quick-response type shall be used. Use is considered undetermined if a specific tenant/occupant is not identified at the time the fire sprinkler plan is submitted. Sprinklers in light hazard occupancies shall be one of the following:
1) Quick-response type as defined in Section 3.6.4.8.
2) Residential sprinklers in accordance with the requirements of Section 8.4.5.
3) Quick response CMSA sprinklers.
4) ESFR sprinklers
5) Standard-response sprinklers used for modifications or additions to existing light hazard systems equipped with standard-response sprinklers.
6) Standard-response sprinklers used where individual standard-response sprinklers are replaced in existing light hazard systems.
c. 
Section 9.2.1.7 is hereby revised as follows:
9.2.1.7. Concealed spaces filled with noncombustible insulation shall not require sprinkler protection when approved by the fire code official.
2. 
NFPA 13D 2025 Edition, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes is hereby amended as follows:
a. 
Section 7.1.2 is hereby revised as follows:
7.1.2. The sprinkler system piping shall not have separate control valves installed unless supervised by a central station, proprietary, or remote station alarm service.
3. 
NFPA 14, 2025 Edition, Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems is hereby amended as follows:
a. 
Section 7.3.1.1 is hereby deleted in its entirety.
4. 
NFPA 24, 2025 Edition, Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances is hereby amended as follows:
a. 
Section 6.2.8.1 is hereby added as follows:
6.2.8.1. All indicating valves controlling fire suppression water supplies shall be painted OSHA red.
Exceptions:
1. Brass or bronze valves on sprinkler risers mounted to the exterior of the building may be left unpainted.
2. Where OS&Y valves on the detector check assembly are the only control valves, at least one OS&Y valve shall be painted red.
b. 
Section 6.2.9 is hereby revised to read as follows:
6.2.9. All connections to private fire service mains for fire protection systems shall be arranged in accordance with one of the following so that they can be isolated:
(1) A post indicator valve installed not less than 40ft (12 m) from the building.
(a) For buildings less than 40 ft (12m) in height, a post indicator valve shall be permitted to be installed closer than 40 ft (12m) but at least as far from the building as the height of the wall facing the post indicator valve.
(2) A wall post indicator valve.
(3) An indicating valve in a pit, installed in accordance with Section 6.4.
(4) A backflow preventer with at least one indicating valve not less than 40 ft (12 m) from the building.
(a) For buildings less than 40 ft (12 m) in height, a backflow preventer with at least one indicating valve shall be permitted to be installed closer than 40 ft (12 m) but at least as far from the building as the height of the wall facing the backflow preventer.
(5) Control valves installed in a fire-rated room accessible from the exterior.
(6) Control valves in a fire-rated stair enclosure accessible from the exterior.
c. 
Section 10.1.5 is hereby added as follows:
10.1.5. All ferrous pipe and joints shall be polyethylene encased per AWWA C150, Method A, B, or C. All fittings shall be protected with a loose 8-mil polyethylene tube or sheet. The ends of the tube or sheet shall extend past the joint by a minimum of 12 inches and be sealed with 2-inch wide tape approved for underground use. Galvanizing does not meet the requirements of this section.
Exception: 304 or 316 stainless steel pipe and fittings.
d. 
Section 10.4.1.1 is hereby revised to read as follows:
10.4.1.1. All bolted joint accessories shall be cleaned and thoroughly coated with asphalt or other corrosion-retarding material after installation.
Exception: Bolted joint accessories made from 304 or 316 stainless steel.
e. 
Section 10.4.1.1.1 is hereby added as follows:
10.4.1.1.1. All bolts used in pipe-joint assembly shall be 316 stainless steel.
f. 
Section 10.4.3.2 is hereby deleted.
(Ord. 1764, 12/9/2025)