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Board of Appeals continues hearing on Valencia fire-escape permit to allow DBI and architect to verify occupant load
Summary
The San Francisco Board of Appeals continued an appeal of a DBI-issued permit for a drop-down fire-escape ladder at 524–528 Valencia to Feb. 28 after the appellant argued the device violates state fire-code requirements for buildings with more than 50 occupants and DBI staff said plans lacked clear occupant-load calculations.
The San Francisco Board of Appeals on Feb. 7 continued an appeal over a Department of Building Inspection permit that authorized a drop-down fire-escape ladder at 524–528 Valencia Street.
Joe Kennis, a tenant at the Crown Hotel, told the Board the ladder was installed without a permit on April 12, 2017, and argued the 2016 California Fire Code requires a stairway terminating at ground level for buildings with occupant loads above 50. “It’s a fire safety issue,” Kennis said, urging commissioners to condemn the drop ladder as a life‑safety bottleneck for residents who use canes or walkers.
Architect Patrick Mora and owner Nilesh Patel said the ladder was relocated following review and recommendation by the fire department and DBI plan check to avoid obstructing a restaurant exit. Mora said the change was processed under San Francisco’s local equivalency AB19 and that drawings were prepared to document the modification.
DBI senior inspector Joe Duffy told the Board that AB19 is a local code equivalency frequently used for older, narrow San Francisco buildings, and that plans should include an occupant-load calculation. Duffy said he had not reviewed the architect’s drawings prior to the hearing and recommended the Board continue the matter so DBI plan check, the fire department and the architect can confirm whether the upper floors’ occupant load complies with the AB19 conditions that allow a drop ladder.
Commissioner Daryl Honda moved to continue the appeal to Feb. 28. The Board directed the permit holder to provide 11 copies of the plans and occupant-load documentation to the Board and to deliver the same materials to the appellant before the continued hearing. President Frank Fung, Commissioner Bobby Wilson and Vice President Rick Swig voted to continue the matter.
The continuance leaves unresolved the appellant’s safety concerns and places primary evidentiary weight on the architect’s drawings and DBI and fire-department review. The Board said staff will re-evaluate the plans and occupant-load calculations before the Feb. 28 hearing.
