19180-19183
HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE
SECTION 19180-19183
19180. The Legislature finds and declares that: (a) It is generally accepted that various areas of the state will experience moderate and severe earthquakes in the foreseeable future. (b) A serious threat to life and property resulting from these earthquakes is the threat of fire resulting from earthquake damage. (c) In order to mitigate, as much as possible, the effects of a major earthquake, including fire resulting from an earthquake, local governments should be authorized to adopt ordinances requiring installation of earthquake sensitive gas shutoff devices in buildings. 19181. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the governing body of any city, county, or city and county may enact an ordinance requiring the installation of earthquake sensitive gas shutoff devices in buildings open to the public. Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall conform to standards adopted by the State Architect pursuant to Section 19182. 19182. (a) The State Architect shall adopt standards governing earthquake sensitive gas shutoff devices for installation in buildings. These standards shall reasonably provide for convenient installation and maintenance of gas shutoff devices, as well as maintaining the safety of persons occupying buildings equipped with such devices. (b) In adopting standards pursuant to this section, the State Architect shall consider standards for such devices developed by the Z-21 American National Standards Committee and the comments or suggestions from various public utilities. 19183. Manufacturers of earthquake sensitive gas shutoff devices or other devices required by an ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 19182 shall first obtain certification, pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 19200), that the device meets the standards established pursuant to Section 19182.