HISTORY

Since the great fire of 1851, which destroyed as much as three quarters of the City, San Francisco has learned a lot about fire safety. Through the decades, it has implemented certain measures that seek to create safe environments for its residents and workers that can mitigate the damage, even in the worst emergencies.

TIMELINE:
Sprinkler installation requirements in SF are nothing new.

Rooted in historical precedent, these life-saving ordinances have been evolving over many decades. Fire safety is incremental, and SF’s high-rise retrofit ordinance is no exception. Here’s some background on its history.

  • TRIGGERING FIRE-FATALITY EVENTS:

    In the years leading up to ‘86, multiple fatal SRO fires occurred in the Tenderloin and SoMa neighborhoods. These fires, many of which began in corridors, affected mostly elderly and disabled residents, and were often the consequence of blocked exits.

    RESULTING REQUIREMENT:

    Sprinklers must be installed in public and common areas of existing SROs.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 319-86 (SF Fire Code)

  • TRIGGERING FIRE-FATALITY EVENTS:

    Multi-fatality low- and mid-rise apartment fires were traced to garbage and laundry chutes acting as chimneys.

    RESULTING REQUIREMENT:

    Targeted sprinklers must be installed in garbage chutes, laundry chutes, and trash and linen rooms.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 399-89 (former sec. 906)

  • TRIGGERING FIRE-FATALITY EVENTS:

    National and local high-rise fires, firefighter deaths and near-misses, and the inability to suppress fires above 75 feet became common.

    RESULTING REQUIREMENT:

    Retrofit sprinklers are mandated in existing high-rises of all occupancies, to be completed by February 15, 2006.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 377-93

  • TRIGGERING FIRE-FATALITY EVENT:

    In recent years, continued fatal sleeping-room fires occurred despite corridor sprinklers, resulting in deaths before reaching exits.

    RESULTING REQUIREMENT:

    Full-building sprinkler systems become mandatory in 20-plus-room SROs.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 165-01 (Fire and Housing Codes)

  • TRIGGERING FIRE-FATALITY EVENT:

    Economic hardship arguments were made during the retrofit rollout, specific to SROs.

    RESULTING REQUIREMENT:

    A compliance deadline extension
    — but not scope reduction — is granted.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 170-02

  • REQUIREMENT:

    Automatic sprinklers must be installed in non-residential areas of SROs upon sale or transfer.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Ord. 239-17

  • REQUIREMENT:

    This ordinance amends the SF fire code to require automatic sprinkler systems in all existing high-rise residential buildings.

    ORDINANCE/CODE ACTION:

    Board file no. 220038