Commission adopts ordinance to make ATC disaster placards official (File 61,211)

The San Francisco Building Inspection Commission voted to adopt an ordinance (file 61,211) to formalize the use of post-disaster placards — the red/yellow/green notices used after major events — and make them enforceable. Vernon Takasuka, DBI’s emergency program coordinator, told the commission, "The goal today is to propose a formal adoption of the post disaster placards to the commission." The ordinance directs DBI to use the standard forms recommended by the Applied Technology Council and aligns placarding with Office of Emergency Services and California Building Officials guidance.

City Attorney staff said penalties for removing or tampering with placards exist elsewhere in the building code; John Malmick of the City Attorney’s office told the commission the ordinance references those penalty sections rather than restating amounts in the placard language. The Code Advisory Committee recommended emphasizing those penalties on the placard itself; the commission adopted a compromise amendment directing DBI and the City Attorney to add clear removal/tampering language and to reference applicable penalties.

Supporters said standardization will speed regional mutual-aid efforts and reduce confusion among evaluators and volunteers after a large event. Ray Louis, speaking for emergency management interests, said uniform tags avoid retraining visiting personnel. The commission approved the measure by voice vote as amended.

The ordinance does not itself change enforcement authorities but makes the placard forms officially required and enforceable; DBI staff said the forms follow the ATC-20 recommendations and include new caution language and a comment section for follow-up inspections. The ordinance was sponsored by the Board of Supervisors (file 61,211) and was approved by the commission "as amended."