Fire commission adopts updated administrative bulletins on alarms, lockboxes, EV charging and energy storage

The San Francisco Fire Commission on Jan. 22 adopted a series of administrative bulletins that update department guidance for fire‑alarm signaling, fire department connection security, electric‑vehicle charging in enclosed garages, key‑box vendors and residential energy‑storage systems.

Fire Marshal Ken Coughlin described each bulletin and the operational rationale behind the clarifications. Administrative Bulletin 2.01 updates plan‑submission guidance about legacy “plain old telephone service” (POTS) lines for alarm systems and clarifies when and how the department will accept alternate communications for alarm monitoring. Coughlin said the bulletin simply updates the model code language to provide clearer submission instructions.

Administrative Bulletin 4.05 introduces Knox‑brand locking caps for fire department inlet connections. Coughlin said metal inlet caps have been removed or replaced with plastic caps in some locations, leaving inlets vulnerable to debris; Knox locking caps will be required on new sprinkler systems and voluntary for many existing systems, with enforcement steps available where maintenance problems persist.

Administrative Bulletin 4.29 clarifies acceptable methods for protecting electric‑vehicle charging stations in enclosed garages, including options to compartmentalize charging stalls with fire‑rated barriers or to upgrade sprinkler mains and sprinkler protection to meet higher hazard classifications. The bulletin is intended to provide building owners options that reduce fire spread without requiring full retrofits that can be cost‑prohibitive.

Administrative Bulletin 5.09 notifies the public that the department has transitioned its key‑box vendor from Traxxas to Knox and described a registration process; the department retrofitted approximately 800 lids to make existing boxes compatible with the new system and said the change will allow audit‑capable logs of key use.

Administrative Bulletin 5.12 revises the department’s approach to solar energy‑storage systems (ESS). The bulletin clarifies that the department will review ESS installations larger than 1 kilowatt for fire safety and describes required protections for garage installations (for example, impact protection, gypsum board requirements and heat detection). Coughlin said the change is intended to streamline permitting and safety review while avoiding unnecessary hurdles for premanufactured, contractor‑installed systems; Department of Building Inspection (DBI) staff and industry commenters said SFFD and DBI are coordinating to reduce permitting turnaround times.

Votes at a glance

- Administrative Bulletin 2.01 (Fire Alarm and Signaling System submissions): Motion to adopt made and seconded; President Armee Morgan and Commissioner Steven Nakajo (named votes) said yes; motion passed. - Administrative Bulletin 4.05 (Knox locking caps for fire department inlets): Motion to adopt made and seconded; motion passed. - Administrative Bulletin 4.29 (EV charging in enclosed garages): Motion to adopt moved; motion passed after discussion of compartmentalization and water‑supply constraints. - Administrative Bulletin 5.09 (Key lock boxes: Traxxas → Knox): Motion moved and seconded; motion passed. - Administrative Bulletin 5.12 (Energy storage systems permitting): Motion to adopt moved and seconded; motion passed after public comment from an industry representative and clarifications about permitting timeframes with DBI.

Fire Marshal Coughlin said the department will work with DBI’s MIS group to create or improve permit workflows so reviews for solar and ESS installations can be completed more quickly. Industry representatives praised the department’s responsiveness and urged continued emphasis on permit turnaround times.