City of Murrieta
Fire & Rescue
41825 Juniper St, Murrieta CA. 92562
Phone: (951) 304-3473
ALTERNATE MATERIALS, DESIGN & METHODS REQUEST
SECTIONS A, B & C TO BE COMPLETED BY OWNER OR AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE A. APPLICANT INFORMATION B. PROJECT INFORMATION
OWNER’S NAME PROJECT NAME
APPLICANT’S NAME PROJECT ADDRESS
APPLICANT’S PHONE NUMBER OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION CONSTRUCTION TYPE APPLICANT’S EMAIL NUMBER OF STORIES TOTAL FLOOR AREA
C. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS & PROPOSALS – Attach supporting documents, if any CODE REQUIREMENT (identify code section and corresponding code language) CODE DEFICIENCY (provide brief description)
ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL (provide brief description)
JUSTIFICATION (explain how the alternative is equal to or exceeds code requirements)
The above project does not fully conform to the 2022 California Fire Code. Pursuant to 2022 CFC Chapter 1, Section 104.10, I am requesting approval of an alternative material and/or method of construction to achieve the intent of the provisions of the code and provide at least an equivalent level of protection to that prescribed therein. I understand that approval of this request applies only to this project and shall not be construed as establishing a precedent for other projects. If approved, a copy of this AM&M request form shall be provided on all subsequent plan submittals of this project to Murrieta Fire and Rescue (MFR) or Building Department.
SIGNATURE TITLE & COMPANY DATE DATE
THIS SECTION TO BE COMPLETED BY MFR
MFR OTHER AHJ CONCURRENCE:
PERMIT # PLAN TYPE
COMMENTS:
EVALUATED BY:
COMMENTS:
REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
APPROVED NOT APPROVED
APPROVED NOT APPROVED
BUILDING OFFICIAL
OTHER:
DATE DATE FIRE MARSHAL OR DEPUTY FIRE MARSHAL SIGNATURE TITLE
NAME
SIGNATURE
Sancerra Communities - Whitewood, LLC
Sancerra Communities - Whitewood, LLC - Adam Smith
Whitewood 1 Residential Development
Intersection of Clinton Keith Road and Whitewood Road
1) 100 feet of on-site fuel modification zone/defensible space from structures Due to site constraints, along with the adjacent property owners not allowing the applicant to obtain and establish off-site fuel modification easements on their properties, a full 100 feet of fuel modification is not achievable. There are two existing SFR lots directly to the north of the property which are required to maintain FMZ equivalent fuel modification around their structures, which are within 100 feet of the property line. Furthermore, directly to the west is Whitewood Road and an existing residential community; directly to the south is Clinton Keith Road which provides off-site equivalent FMZ; and directly to the east is Arendt Lane, which will be brought up to code, and existing SFR lots that are within 100 feet of the property and required to maintain their defensible space.
Each of the proposed single-family townhome structures within the development will be constructed with ignition resistant construction materials and each townhouse unit will be separated with its own fire-resistance rated common wall in accordance with the CRC Section R302.2.2 and shall be rated for fire exposure on both sides. Furthermore, each townhouse unit will include the installation of its own NFPA 13D automatic fire sprinkler system per CRC Section R313, meeting Item 1 of CRC Section R302.2.2 and the latest adopted Building and Fire Codes for occupancy type.
Additionally, based on fire behavior modeling and analysis of the hazards within the adjacent areas, 100 feet of FMZ is not needed to adequately protect the proposed development. With that said, the project proposes code-exceeding alternative materials and methods of construction to provide the functional equivalency of 100 feet of defensible space. The exposed sides of the structures along the northern property boundary, including the proposed restroom structure, and in the NW portion of the development shall also include the addition of one (1) layer of 5/8" Type X fire-rated gypsum sheathing applied behind the exterior covering of cladding (stucco or exterior siding) on the exterior side of the framing from the foundation to the roof of the facade facing the open space areas to the north. Additionally, code-exceeding dual pane dual tempered windows facing the open space and naturally vegetated areas to the north and preservation areas will also be installed on the structures. CONT.
By providing up to 1-hour fire-rated exterior non-combustible wall assemblies with the additional installation of code-exceeding one (1) layer of 5/8" Type X fire-rated gypsum drywall around the exterior of the structure facing the north open space areas, the burn through time of the wall assembly is greatly increased, providing not less than 2-hours of fire resistance. In addition to the code-exceeding wall assemblies, all windows on the exposed sides of the structures along the northern property boundary and in the NW portion of the property will be upgraded with code-exceeding dual pane dual tempered glazed windows, providing not less than 40 minutes of fire resistance (dual pane with one pane tempered pane windows provide not less than 20 minutes of fire resistance), so by providing duel tempering the fire resistance is doubled. Finally, the construction of a non-combustible, six-foot-tall heat-deflecting fire wall (6-foot high CMU wall or lower 2 feet CMU wall with upper 4 feet dual pane one pane tempered glazing) will provide additional deflection for the structures to compensate for the reduced fuel modification zones. Walls like these have proven to deflect heat and airborne embers on numerous wildfires in San Diego, Orange County,Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara County. Several other jurisdictions utilize these walls as Alternate methods based on observed performance during .....CONT.
Fire Protection Planner - Dudek 03-1-2024
Adam Smith - (949) 466-9606
[email protected]
Type V-B
2 to 3 stories
AM&M – Whitewood 1 FPP AM&M Request form additional sheet.
Alternative Proposal Continued:
…. In addition, the applicant shall provide a noncombustible, 6-foot-high concrete masonry unit (CMU) fire wall along the northern edge where 100 feet of FMZ is not achievable , making sure the wall extends 20 feet beyond the footprint of the buildings. These walls will be installed to function as heat-deflecting walls.
The northern boundary provides an opportunity to place a non-combustible, six-foot tall, heat-deflecting wall (lower 1 to 2 feet block wall and upper 4 to 5 feet dual pane, one pane tempered glazing or a six-foot high CMU block wall) to provide additional deflection for these lots to compensate for the reduced fuel modification zones. Walls like these have proven to deflect heat and airborne embers on numerous wildfires in San Diego, Oran ge, Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara County. Rancho Santa Fe Fire Protection District, Laguna Beach Fire Department, Orange County Fire Authority, and others utilize these walls as Alternative methods based on observed performance during wildfires. This has led to these agencies approving use of non -combustible landscape walls as mitigations for reduced fuel modification zones and reduced setbacks at top of slope. These walls are consistent with NFPA 1144 Standard for Reducing Structure Ignition Hazards from Wildland Fire – 2008 Edition, Section 5.1.3.3 and A.5.1.3.3 and International Urban Wildland Interface Code (ICC 2012). NFPA 1144, A.5.1.3.3 states: “Noncombustible walls and barriers are effective for deflecting radiant heat and windblown embers from structures.” These walls and barriers are usually constructed of noncombustible materials (concrete block, bricks, stone, stucco) or earth and the open cells of the CM U fire wall shall be filled . CODE EXCEEDING MITIGATION MEASURE.
Justification section Continued:
…wildfires. This has led to these agencies approving use of non-combustible landscape walls as mitigations for reduced fuel modification zones and reduced setbacks at top of slope. These walls are consistent with NFPA 1144 Standard for Reducing Structure Ig nition Hazards from Wildland Fire – 2008 Edition, Section
5.1.3.3 and A.5.1.3.3 and International Urban Wildland Interface Code (ICC 2012). NFPA 1144, A.5.1.3.3 states: “Noncombustible walls and barriers are effective for deflecting radiant heat and windblown embers from structures.” These walls and barriers are usually constructed of noncombustible materials (concrete block, bricks, stone, stucco) or earth with emergency access openings built around a development where 30 feet (9 meters) of defensible space is not available.