Los Angeles Municipal Code Div. 20 Fire Protection Systems

(Division amended by Ord. No. 184,692, Eff. 12/30/16.)

Section

• 94.2000.0 General.

• 94.2001.0 Scope.

• 94.2005.0 Location.

• 94.2006.0 [Protection from Mechanical Damage.]

• 94.2010.0 NFPA 13.

• 94.2013.0 NFPA 13R.

• 94.2014.0 NFPA 13D.

• 94.2020.0 NFPA 14.

• 94.2030.0 NFPA 20 Fire Pump and Drivers.

• 94.2040.0 NFPA 24 Installation of Private Fire Service Mains and Their Appurtenances.

• 94.2050.0 Fire Protection Tanks.

(Added by Ord. No. 185,198, Eff. 11/22/17.)

The standards of this Division 20 provide the minimum requirements for the design and installation of automatic fire protection systems. The design of all fire protection systems shall be in conformity with accepted engineering practices and the provisions of the LAMC.

Automatic fire sprinkler systems shall be installed in locations required by the Los Angeles Building Code, and all fire sprinkler systems shall be in conformance with the approved plans and the LAMC.

No fire protection system shall be located on any lot other than the lot that is the site of the building, structure or premises served by that system.

All fire-protection equipment and piping shall be adequately protected from mechanical damage.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 13 is adopted by reference and the following Subsections are added to read as follows:

94.2010.1. Comply with the sprinkler provisions in Chapters 4 and 9 of the California Building Code as they pertain to sprinkler systems.

94.2010.2. NFPA 13 Section 3.3.252 is added to read as follows:

3.3.252. Water Curtain is a line of closely spaced fire sprinklers (or a single sprinkler) aligned adjacent to openings to keep fire from penetrating those openings.

94.2010.3. NFPA 13 Section 9.3.5.5 is added to read as follows:

9.3.5.5. Water curtains shall consist of closely spaced sprinklers and draft stops that are made of noncombustible or limited combustible material. The draft stops shall be located immediately adjacent to the opening and shall be at least 18 inches (47.2 mm) deep measured from the sprinkler deflector to the bottom of the draft stop and shall be of noncombustible or limited-combustible material. Sprinklers shall be spaced not more than 6 feet (1929.8 mm) apart and placed 6 to 12 inches (152.4 mm to 304.8 mm) from the draft stop on the side away from the opening. Where sprinklers are closer than 6 feet (1828.8 mm), cross baffles shall be provided in accordance with NFPA 13 Section 10.2.6.4.2.

94.2010.4. NFPA 13 Section 16.9.10.5 is added to read as follows:

Locations. Floor control valves shall be within a stairway enclosure or within the vestibule or on the access balcony of a smoke proof enclosure.

EXCEPTIONS:

1. In buildings with three or fewer stories or where there is no stairway that serves a floor, control valves may be located elsewhere on the floor level.

2. Unenclosed stairways in parking garages.

94.2010.5. NFPA 13 Section 19.3.3.6 is added to read as follows:

19.3.3.6. Water curtains shall be hydraulically calculated in accordance with NFPA 13 Section 19.3.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 13R is adopted by reference and LAMC Subsection 94.2013.1 is added to read as follows:

94.2013.1. Comply with the sprinkler provisions in Chapters 4 and 9 of the California Building Code as they pertain to NFPA 13R.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 13D is adopted by reference and LAMC Subsection 94.2014.1 is added to read as follows:

94.2014.1. Comply with the sprinkler provisions in Chapters 4 and 9 of the California Building Code as they pertain to sprinkler systems in residential occupancies within the scope of NFPA 13D.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 14 is adopted by reference and the following Los Angeles Municipal Code subsections are added to read as follows:

94.2020.1. Comply with the fire sprinkler provisions in Chapters 4, 9, and 33 of the California Building Code as they pertain to NFPA 14.

• 94.2020.3. NFPA 14 Section 9.1.5 is hereby added to read as follows:

• 9.1.5. Water supplies from the following sources shall be permitted:

• 1. A public waterworks system where pressure and flow rate are adequate;

2. Automatic fire pumps connected to an approved water source in accordance with NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection.

94.2020.4. Pressure Regulator Hose Valve Test.

94.2020.4.1. Test Required. When required by the Fire Department, 2 1/2 inch (63.5 mm) pressure regulator hose valves installed on standpipe outlets shall be tested for proper operation at a flow of 300 g.p.m. with a minimum residual pressure of 125 psi in the presence of a representative of the Fire Department.

94.2020.4.2. Safety. Test nozzles and other equipment shall be adequately secured so as to eliminate danger to personnel.

94.2020.4.3. Opening. An accessible 2 1/2 inch (63.5 mm) capped or plugged test opening shall be installed adjacent to each pressure regulator valve.

94.2020.4.4. Drain. The test openings shall drain to a minimum 3 inch (76.2 mm) drain line constructed and installed as required for fire sprinkler drains. The drains shall not discharge where they may cause damage. Where available, drains shall terminate to the fire water storage tank. When test openings are located below tank elevation alternate means for testing and drainage shall be provided as needed.

94.2020.4.5. Interconnection. TThe test drain shall either be separate or connect to a fire sprinkler drain. Low point Auxiliary drains shall be added if required.

94.2020.5. NFPA 14 Section 12.2.22 is amended to read as follows:

12.2.22. Flushing the System Riser. Water shall flow from the topmost outlet of each riser until the system is clear of debris.

12.2.22.1. Roof Outlets. Standpipe risers going through the last floor of the building, through a floor under a roof, or adjacent to a roof shall be designed so that they can be flushed through outlets located on roof.

12.2.22.2. Flow. All standpipes shall be flushed individually through the roof, or in the absence of roof outlets, through the topmost outlet at a residual pressure of at least 65 psi. The flow for Class I and Class III standpipes shall be at least 500 g.p.m through each riser.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 20 is adopted by reference and Los Angeles Municipal Code Subsections 94.2030.1, 94.2030.2, and 94.2030.3 are amended or added to read as follows:

94.2030.1. Comply with the fire pump provisions in Chapters 4 and 9 of the California Building Code.

94.2030.2. NFPA 20 Sec. 4.16.11 is added to read as follows:

4.16.11. Fire Department Connections. Fire Department connections shall not be connected to the suction side of the pump.

94.2030.3. The discharge from the test header shall terminate to the fire storage tank when available and shall be readily accessible for testing and maintenance.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Chapter 35 of the 2025 California Building Code to the extent it adopts and amends NFPA 24 is adopted by reference.

94.2040.1. Comply with the provisions in Chapter 9 of the California Building Code as it pertains to the installation of private fire service mains and their appurtenances.

(Amended by Ord. No. 188,797, Eff. 12/31/25.)

Comply with the fire tank provisions in Chapters 4 and 9 of the California Building Code as it pertains to Fire Protection Tanks.

94.2050.1. Water Tanks in High-Rise Buildings.

1. One or more water tanks shall be installed to serve the fire sprinklers and standpipes in a high-rise building. No tanks shall serve more than one building, however, one water service may supply tanks for more than one building, structure or tower.

2. The tank shall be supplied from the City water main via an automatic fill line. The auto-fill system shall be sized to replenish the water in the tank at a rate equal to, or greater than, the required fire pump capacity. The auto-fill lines shall be a minimum of two inches in diameter and shall not exceed a maximum of four inlets into the tank. The auto-fill system bypass shall be provided around all fill lines with a shut off valve that is normally closed. Means shall be provided to flow test the automatic fill valves individually and collectively. A minimum 2 inches tank auxiliary drain valve shall be required for all water storage tanks to accommodate testing.

3. The capacity of the tank shall be based on the requirements in Section 403.3.3 of the California Building Code.