Sprinkler proposal for nonresidential areas of residential hotels continued for two weeks to address commercial-space impacts

Item 4 would amend the fire and housing codes to require automatic sprinklers in nonresidential areas of residential hotels sold or transferred after 08/01/2017, and to forward the ordinance to the California Building Standards Commission. Sponsor Supervisor Aaron Peskin said many fires have begun in commercial areas and basements — as in the 801 Pacific Avenue fire — and described the proposal as a "modest step" that is triggered upon transfer or sale rather than being mandatory for all buildings.

Peskin thanked community organizations (including the Chinatown Community Development Center), tenants displaced in the 801 Pacific fire, the SRO Task Force, the Fire Department and DBI for support, and said staff and the Deputy City Attorney were working on narrow tweaks to address concerns that sprinkler requirements could pass through costs to tenants or threaten affordable commercial spaces under certain lease structures. He proposed a two-week continuance to draft those amendments.

Tenant speakers and advocates — including Avis (Mission SRO Collaborative alumnus), Yang Ying (speaking for low-income families), Loheng Wing Ho of the Community Tenants Association, an 88-year-old survivor of the 801 Pacific fire (Fongsuo Nu), and other senior tenants — testified strongly in favor of the sprinkler requirement, stressing senior mobility and vulnerability and the need to prevent displacement caused by fires. After public comment, the committee approved a motion to continue the item for two weeks to allow staff to prepare the narrow amendments; the motion was taken without objection.

The committee did not adopt the ordinance at this hearing; it was continued to allow policy language to be refined to limit unintended impacts on affordable commercial tenants while preserving life-safety aims.