| Adopting agency | BSC | BSC-CG | SFM | HCD | DSA | OSHPD | BSCC | DPH | AGR | DWR | CEC | CA | SL | SLC | |||||||
| 1 | 2 | 1/AC | AC | SS | SS/CC | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | ||||||||||||
| Adopt entire chapter | X | X | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||
| Adopt entire chapter as amended (amended sections listed below) | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
| Adopt only those sections that are listed below | X | X | X | X | |||||||||||||||||
| Chapter / Section | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 403 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.2.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.2.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3.2.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.3.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.4.7 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.4.7.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.4.8.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.5.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.5.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 403.7 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 404.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 404.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 404.11 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.3.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.3.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.3.6 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 406.4.1 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 406.6.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.9 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.9.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.9.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 406.9.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.2.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.3.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.3.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.3.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.1.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.3.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.3.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.5.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.5.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.6.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.4.4.6.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.5.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.6.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.8 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.9 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.10 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.11 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.11.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.11.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.11.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 407.11.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.1.2.7 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.2.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.6.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.8.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.9 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.10 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.3.11 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.4.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.5.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.6.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.8 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.8.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.9 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.9.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.12 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.13 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.14 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.3.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.3.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 408.15.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 410.3.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 412.3.8 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 414.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 414.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 414.5.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.12.1.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.13 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.13.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.13.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 415.13.3 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 419.7 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 419.9 | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
| 420.1 | X | X | X | ||||||||||||||||||
| 420.4 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 420.5 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 420.6 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 420.7 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 420.8 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 420.8.1 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 420.9 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 420.10 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 422.1 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 435 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 436 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 439 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 440 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 441 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 442 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 443 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 444 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 446 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 449 | X | X | |||||||||||||||||||
| 450 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 452 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 453 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 455 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||
User note: Code change proposals to sections preceded by the designation [F] will be considered by the International Fire Code Development Committee during the 2016 (Group B) Code Development Cycle. See explanation on page ix.
In addition to the occupancy and construction requirements in this code, the provisions of this chapter apply to the special uses and occupancies described herein.
The provisions of this section shall apply to buildings or structures defined herein as covered or open mall buildings not exceeding three floor levels at any point nor more than three stories above grade plane. Except as specifically required by this section, covered and open mall buildings shall meet applicable provisions of this code.
Exceptions:
A covered mall building and attached anchor buildings and parking garages shall be surrounded on all sides by a permanent open space or not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm). An open mall building and anchor buildings and parking parking garages adjoining the perimeter line shall be surrounded on all sides by a permanent open space of not less than 60 feet (18 288 mm).
Exception: The permanent open space of 60 feet (18 288 mm) shall be permitted to be reduced to not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm), provided the following requirements are met:
- The reduced open space shall not be allowed for more than 75 percent of the perimeter of the covered or open mall building and anchor buildings;
- The exterior wall facing the reduced open space shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 3 hours;
- Openings in the exterior wall facing the reduced open space shall have opening protectives with a fire protection rating of not less than 3 hours; and
- Group E, H, I or R occupancies are not located within the covered or open mall building or anchor buildings.
For the purpose of this code, a perimeter line shall be established. The perimeter line shall encircle all buildings and structures which comprise the open mall building and shall encompass any open-air interior walkways, open-air courtyards or similar open-air spaces. The perimeter line shall define the extent of the open mall building. Anchor buildings and parking structures shall be outside of the perimeter line and are not considered as part of the open mall building.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
Each owner of a covered mall building or of an open mall building shall provide both the building and fire departments with a lease plan showing the location of each occupancy and its exits after the certificate of occupancy has been issued. No modifications or changes in occupancy or use shall be made from that shown on the lease plan without prior approval of the building official.
The construction of covered and open mall buildings, anchor buildings and parking garages associated with a mall building shall comply with Sections 402.4.1 through 402.4.3.
The building area and type of construction of covered mall or open mall buildings, anchor buildings and parking garages shall comply with this section.
The building area of any covered mall or open mall building shall not be limited provided the covered mall or open mall building does not exceed three floor levels at any point nor three stories above grade plane, and is of Type I, II, III or IV construction.
The building area and building height of any anchor building shall be based on the type of construction as required by Section 503 as modified by Sections 504 and 506.
Exception: The building area of any anchor building shall not be limited provided the anchor building is not more than three stories above grade plane, and is of Type I, II, III or IV construction.
The building area and building height of any parking garage, open or enclosed, shall be based on the type of construction as required by Sections 406.5 and 406.6, respectively.
Fire-resistance-rated separation is not required between tenant spaces and the mall. Fire-resistance-rated separation is not required between a food court and adjacent tenant spaces or the mall.
Each tenant space shall be separated from other tenant spaces by a fire partition complying with Section 708. A tenant separation wall is not required between any tenant space and the mall.
An anchor building shall be separated from the covered or open mall building by fire walls complying with Section 706.
Exceptions:
- Anchor buildings of not more than three stories above grade plane that have an occupancy classification the same as that permitted for tenants of the mall building shall be separated by 2-hour fire-resistance-rated fire barriers complying with Section 707.
- The exterior walls of anchor buildings separated from an open mall building by an open mall shall comply with Table 602.
Upcodes Diagrams
Except for the separation between Group R-1 sleeping units and the mall, openings between anchor buildings of Type IA, IB, IIA or IIB construction and the mall need not be protected.
An attached garage for the storage of passenger vehicles having a capacity of not more than nine persons and open parking garages shall be considered as a separate building where it is separated from the covered or open mall building or anchor building by not less than 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
Parking garages, open or enclosed, which are separated from covered mall buildings, open mall buildings or anchor buildings shall comply with the provisions of Table 602.
Pedestrian walkways and tunnels which connect garages to mall buildings or anchor buildings shall be constructed in accordance with Section 3104.
Floor assemblies in, and roof assemblies over, the open mall of an open mall building shall be open to the atmosphere for not less than 20 feet (9096 mm), measured perpendicular from the face of the tenant spaces on the lowest level, from edge of balcony to edge of balcony on upper floors and from edge of roof line to edge of roof line. The openings within, or the unroofed area of, an open mall shall extend from the lowest/grade level of the open mall through the entire roof assembly. Balconies on upper levels of the mall shall not project into the required width of the opening.
Pedestrian walkways connecting balconies in an open mall shall be located not less than 20 feet (9096 mm) from any other pedestrian walkway.
Covered and open mall buildings and buildings connected shall be protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, which shall comply with the all of the following:
- The automatic sprinkler system shall be complete and operative throughout occupied space in the mall building prior to occupancy of any of the tenant spaces. Unoccupied tenant spaces shall be similarly protected unless provided with approved alternative protection.
- Sprinkler protection for the mall of a covered mall building shall be independent from that provided for tenant spaces or anchor buildings.
- Sprinkler protection for the tenant spaces of an open mall building shall be independent from that provided for anchor buildings.
- Sprinkler protection shall be provided beneath exterior circulation balconies located adjacent to an open mall.
- Where tenant spaces are supplied by the same system, they shall be independently controlled.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in spaces or areas of open parking garages separated from the covered or open mall building in accordance with Section 402.4.2.3 and constructed in accordance with Section 406.5.
Interior finishes within the mall and installations within the mall shall comply with Sections 402.6.1 through 402.6.4.
Interior wall and ceiling finishes within the mall of a covered mall building and within the exits of covered or open mall buildings shall have a minimum flame spread index and smoke-developed index of Class B in accordance with Chapter 8. Interior floor finishes shall meet the requirements of Section 804.
Kiosks and similar structures (temporary or permanent) located within the mall of a covered mall building or within the perimeter line of an open mall building shall meet the following requirements:
- Combustible kiosks or other structures shall not be located within a covered or open mall unless constructed of any of the following materials:
- 1.1. Fire-retardant-treated wood complying with Section 2303.2.
- 1.2. Foam plastics having a maximum heat release rate not greater than 100 kW (105 Btu/h) when tested in accordance with the exhibit booth protocol in UL 1975 or when tested in accordance with NFPA 289 using the 20 kW ignition source.
- 1.3. Aluminum composite material (ACM) meeting the requirements of Class A interior finish in accordance with Chapter 8 when tested as an assembly in the maximum thickness intended.
- Kiosks or similar structures located within the mall shall be provided with approved automatic sprinkler system and detection devices.
- The horizontal separation between kiosks or groupings thereof and other structures within the mall shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm).
- Each kiosk or similar structure or groupings thereof shall have an area not greater than 300 square feet (28 m2).
Children's play structures located within the mall of a covered mall building or within the perimeter line of an open mall building shall comply with Section 424. The horizontal separation between children's play structures, kiosks and similar structures within the mall shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm).
Plastics other than foam plastics used in signs shall be light-transmitting plastics complying with Section 2606.4 or shall have a self-ignition temperature of 650°F (343°C) or greater when tested in accordance with ASTM D1929, and a flame spread index not greater than 75 and smoke-developed index not greater than 450 when tested in the manner intended for use in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723 or meet the acceptance criteria of Section 803.1.2.1 when tested in accordance with NFPA 286.
Foam plastics used in signs shall have flame-retardant characteristics such that the sign has a maximum heat-release rate of 150 kilowatts when tested in accordance with UL 1975 or when tested in accordance with NFPA 289 using the 20 kW ignition source, and the foam plastics shall have the physical characteristics specified in this section. Foam plastics used in signs installed in accordance with Section 402.6.4 shall not be required to comply with the flame spread and smoke-developed indices specified in Section 2603.3.
Covered and open mall buildings, anchor buildings and associated parking garages shall be provided with emergency systems complying with Sections 402.7.1 through 402.7.5.
Covered and open mall buildings shall be equipped throughout with a standpipe system as required by Section 905.3.3.
Upcodes Diagrams
Where a covered mall building contains an atrium, a smoke control system shall be provided in accordance with Section 404.5.
Exception: A smoke control system is not required in covered mall buildings where an atrium connects only two stories.
Covered mall buildings greater than 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) in area and open mall buildings greater than 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) within the established perimeter line shall be provided with emergency power that is capable of operating the emergency voice/alarm communication system in accordance with Section 2702.
Where the total floor area is greater than 50,000 square feet (4645 m2) within either a covered mall building or within the perimeter line of an open mall building, an emergency voice/alarm communication system shall be provided.
Emergency voice/alarm communication systems serving a mall, required or otherwise, shall be accessible to the fire department. The systems shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.
Rooms or areas containing controls for air-conditioning systems, automatic fire-extinguishing systems, automatic sprinkler systems or other detection, suppression or control elements shall be identified for use by the fire department.
Covered mall buildings, open mall buildings and each tenant space within a mall building shall be provided with means of egress as required by this section and this code. Where there is a conflict between the requirements of this code and the requirements of Sections 402.8.1 through 402.8.8, the requirements of Sections 402.8.1 through 402.8.8 shall apply.
For the purpose of providing required egress, malls are permitted to be considered as corridors but need not comply with the requirements of Section 1005.1 of this code where the width of the mall is as specified in this section.
The aggregate clear egress width of the mall in either a covered or open mall building shall be not less than 20 feet (6096 mm). The mall width shall be sufficient to accommodate the occupant load served. No portion of the minimum required aggregate egress width shall be less than 10 feet (3048 mm) measured to a height of 8 feet (2438 mm) between any projection of a tenant space bordering the mall and the nearest kiosk, vending machine, bench, display opening, food court or other obstruction to means of egress travel.
The occupant load permitted in any individual tenant space in a covered or open mall building shall be determined as required by this code. Means of egress requirements for individual tenant spaces shall be based on the occupant load thus determined.
In determining required means of egress of the mall, the number of occupants for whom means of egress are to be provided shall be based on gross leasable area of the covered or open mall building (excluding anchor buildings) and the occupant load factor as determined by Equation 4-1.
(Equation 4-1)where:
OLF = The occupant load factor (square feet per person).
GLA = The gross leasable area (square feet).
Exception: Tenant spaces attached to a covered or open mall building but with a means of egress system that is totally independent of the open mall of an open mall building or of a covered mall building shall not be considered as gross leasable area for determining the required means of egress for the mall building.
The occupant load factor (OLF) is not required to be less than 30 and shall not exceed 50.
The occupant load of anchor buildings opening into the mall shall not be included in computing the total number of occupants for the mall.
The occupant load of a food court shall be determined in accordance with Section 1004. For the purposes of determining the means of egress requirements for the mall, the food court occupant load shall be added to the occupant load of the covered or open mall building as calculated above.
Wherever the distance of travel to the mall from any location within a tenant space used by persons other than employees is greater than 75 feet (22 860 mm) or the tenant space has an occupant load of 50 or more, no fewer than two means of egress shall be provided.
Assembly occupancies with an occupant load of 500 or more located within a covered mall building shall be so located such that their entrance will be immediately adjacent to a principal entrance to the mall and shall have not less than one-half of their required means of egress opening directly to the exterior of the covered mall building. Assembly occupancies located within the perimeter line of an open mall building shall be permitted to have their main exit open to the open mall.
Required means of egress for anchor buildings shall be provided independently from the mall means of egress system. The occupant load of anchor buildings opening into the mall shall not be included in determining means of egress requirements for the mall. The path of egress travel of malls shall not exit through anchor buildings. Malls terminating at an anchor building where no other means of egress has been provided shall be considered as a dead-end mall.
Within each individual tenant space in a covered or open mall building, the distance of travel from any point to an exit or entrance to the mall shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).
The distance of travel from any point within a mall of a covered mall building to an exit shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm). The maximum distance of travel from any point within an open mall to the perimeter line of the open mall building shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).
Where more than one exit is required, they shall be so arranged that it is possible to travel in either direction from any point in a mall of a covered mall building to separate exits or from any point in an open mall of an open mall building to two separate locations on the perimeter line, provided neither location is an exterior wall of an anchor building or parking garage. The width of an exit passageway or corridor from a mall shall be not less than 66 inches (1676 mm).
Where exit passageways provide a secondary means of egress from a tenant space, doorways to the exit passageway shall be protected by 1-hour fire door assemblies that are self- or automatic-closing by smoke detection in accordance with Section 716.5.9.3.
Mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, building service areas and service elevators are permitted to open directly into exit passageways, provided the exit passageway is separated from such rooms with not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire protection rating of openings in the fire barriers shall be not less than 1 hour.
Horizontal sliding or vertical security grilles or doors that are a part of a required means of egress shall conform to the following:
- Doors and grilles shall remain in the full open position during the period of occupancy by the general public.
- Doors or grilles shall not be brought to the closed position when there are 10 or more persons occupying spaces served by a single exit or 50 or more persons occupying spaces served by more than one exit.
- The doors or grilles shall be openable from within without the use of any special knowledge or effort where the space is occupied.
- Where two or more exits are required, not more than one-half of the exits shall be permitted to include either a horizontal sliding or vertical rolling grille or door.
New high-rise buildings and new Group I-2 occupancies having occupied floors located more than 75 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall comply with Sections 403.2 through 403.7.
Exception: The provisions of Sections 403.2 through 403.7 shall not apply to the following buildings and structures:
- Airport traffic control towers in accordance with Section 412.3.
- Open parking garages in accordance with Section 406.5.
- The portion of a building containing a Group A-5 occupancy in accordance with Section 303.6.
- Special industrial occupancies in accordance with Section 503.1.1.
- Buildings such as power plants, lookout towers, steeples, grain houses and similar structures with noncontinuous human occupancy, when so determined by the enforcing agency.
For existing high-rise buildings and for existing Group R occupancies, see California Fire Code Chapter 11 and California Existing Building Code.
For the purpose of this section, in determining the level from which the highest occupied floor is to be measured, the enforcing agency should exercise reasonable judgment, including consideration of overall accessibility to the building by fire department personnel and vehicular equipment. When a building is located on sloping terrain and there is building access on more than one level, the enforcing agency may select the level that provides the most logical and adequate fire department access.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2.
The construction of high-rise buildings shall comply with the provisions of Sections 403.2.1 through 403.2.4.
The fire-resistance-rating reductions listed in Sections 403.2.1.1 and 403.2.1.2 shall be allowed in buildings that have sprinkler control valves equipped with supervisory initiating devices and water-flow initiating devices for each floor.
The following reductions in the minimum fire-resistance rating of the building elements in Table 601 shall be permitted as follows:
- For buildings not greater than 420 feet (128 000 mm) in building height, the fire-resistance rating of the building elements in Type IA construction shall be permitted to be reduced to the minimum fire-resistance ratings for the building elements in Type IB.Exception: The required fire-resistance rating of the primary structural frame shall not be permitted to be reduced.
- In other than Group F-1, M and S-1 occupancies, the fire-resistance rating of the building elements in Type IB construction shall be permitted to be reduced to the fire-resistance ratings in Type IIA.Exception: The required fire-resistance rating of the primary structural frame shall not be permitted to be reduced.
- The building height and building area limitations of a building containing building elements with reduced fire-resistance ratings shall be permitted to be the same as the building without such reductions.
For buildings not greater than 420 feet (128 000 mm) in building height, the required fire-resistance rating of the fire barriers enclosing vertical shafts, other than interior exit stairway and elevator hoistway enclosures, is permitted to be reduced to 1 hour where automatic sprinklers are installed within the shafts at the top and at alternate floor levels.
For seismic considerations, see Chapter 16.
For high-rise buildings of Risk Category III or IV in accordance with Section 1604.5, and for all buildings that are more than 420 feet (128 000 mm) in building height, enclosures for interior exit stairways and elevator hoistway enclosures shall comply with Sections 403.2.3.1 through 403.2.3.4.
The wall assemblies making up the enclosures for interior exit stairways and elevator hoistway enclosures shall meet or exceed Soft Body Impact Classification Level 2 as measured by the test method described in ASTM C1629/C1629M.
The face of the wall assemblies making up the enclosures for interior exit stairways and elevator hoistway enclosures that are not exposed to the interior of the enclosures for interior exit stairways or elevator hoistway enclosure shall be constructed in accordance with one of the following methods:
- The wall assembly shall incorporate no fewer than two layers of impact-resistant construction board each of which meets or exceeds Hard Body Impact Classification Level 2 as measured by the test method described in ASTM C1629/C1629M.
- The wall assembly shall incorporate no fewer than one layer of impact-resistant construction material that meets or exceeds Hard Body Impact Classification Level 3 as measured by the test method described in ASTM C1629/C1629M.
- The wall assembly incorporates multiple layers of any material, tested in tandem, that meets or exceeds Hard Body Impact Classification Level 3 as measured by the test method described in ASTM C1629/C1629M.
The bond strength of the SFRM installed throughout the building shall be in accordance with Table 403.2.4.
MINIMUM BOND STRENGTH
| HEIGHT OF BUILDINGa | SFRM MINIMUM BOND STRENGTH |
| Up to 420 feet | 430 psf |
| Greater than 420 feet | 1,000 psf |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 pound per square foot (psf) = 0.0479 kW/m2.
- Above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access.
Buildings and structures shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 and a secondary water supply where required by Section 403.3.3. A sprinkler water-flow alarm-initiating device and a control valve with a supervisory signal-initiating device shall be provided at the lateral connection to the riser for each floor.
Exception: An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required in open parking garages in accordance with Section 406.5.
Each sprinkler system serving a floor in buildings that are more than 420 feet (128 000 mm) in building height shall be connected to a minimum of two sprinkler risers or combination standpipe system risers located in separate shafts. Each sprinkler system shall be hydraulically designed so that when one connection is shut down, the other connection shall be capable of supplying the sprinkler system design demand.
Sprinkler risers shall be placed in interior exit stairways and ramps that are remotely located in accordance with Section 1015.2.
In buildings having an occupied floor that are more than 120 feet (36 576 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, required fire pumps shall be supplied by connections to no fewer than two water mains located in different streets. Separate supply piping shall be provided between each connection to the water main and the pumps. Each connection and the supply piping between the connection and the pumps shall be sized to supply the flow and pressure required for the pumps to operate.
Exception: Two connections to the same main shall be permitted provided the main is valved such that an interruption can be isolated so that the water supply will continue without interruption through no fewer than one of the connections.
Redundant fire pump systems shall be required for high-rise buildings having an occupied floor more than 200 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. Each fire pump system shall be capable of automatically supplying the required demand for the automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems.
An automatic secondary on-site water supply having a usable capacity of not less than the hydraulically calculated sprinkler demand, including the hose stream requirement, shall be provided for high-rise buildings and Group I-2 occupancies having occupied floors located more than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access assigned to Seismic Design Category C, D, E or F as determined by Section 1613. An additional fire pump shall not be required for the secondary water supply unless needed to provide the minimum design intake pressure at the suction side of the fire pump supplying the automatic sprinkler system. The secondary water supply shall have a useable capacity of not less than the hydraulically calculated sprinkler demand plus 100 GPM for the inside hose stream, allowance, for a duration of not less than 30 minutes or as determined by the occupancy hazard classification in accordance with NFPA 13, whichever is greater. The Class I standpipe system demand shall not be required to be included in the secondary on-site water supply calculations. In no case shall the secondary on-site water supply be less than 15,000 gallons.
Fire pumps shall be located in rooms protected in accordance with Section 913.2.1.
The detection, alarm and emergency systems of high-rise buildings shall comply with Sections 403.4.1 through 403.4.8.
Smoke detection shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.13.1.
A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.13.
A high-rise building shall be equipped with a standpipe system as required by Section 905.3.
An emergency voice/alarm communication system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.
Emergency responder radio coverage shall be provided in accordance with Section 510 of the California Fire Code.
A fire command center complying with Section 911 shall be provided in a location approved by the fire department.
All portions of high-rise buildings shall be provided with a smoke control system in accordance with Section 909
A standby power system complying with Section 2702 and Section 3003 shall be provided for the standby power loads specified in Section 403.4.8.3. An emergency power system complying with Section 2702 shall be provided for the emergency power loads specified in Section 403.4.8.4.
If the standby or emergency power system includes a generator set inside a building, the system shall be located in a separate room enclosed with 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. System supervision with manual start and transfer features shall be provided at the fire command center.
Exception: In Group I-2, manual start and transfer features for the critical branch of the emergency power are not required to be provided at the fire command center.
Fuel lines supplying a generator set inside a building shall be separated from areas of the building other than the room the generator is located in by an approved method or assembly that has a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours. Where the building is protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, the required fire-resistance rating shall be reduced to 1 hour.
The following are classified as standby power loads:
- Power and lighting for the fire command center required by Section 403.4.6.
- Ventilation and automatic fire detection equipment for smokeproof enclosures.
- Elevators.
- Where elevators are provided in a high-rise building for accessible means of egress, fire service access or occupant self-evacuation, the standby power system shall also comply with Sections 1009.4, 3007 or 3008, as applicable.
The following are classified as emergency power loads:
- Exit signs and means of egress illumination required by Chapter 10.
- Elevator car lighting.
- Emergency voice/alarm communications systems.
- Automatic fire detection systems.
- Fire alarm systems.
- Electrically powered fire pumps.
Required interior exit stairways shall be separated by a distance not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) or not less than one-fourth of the length of the maximum overall diagonal dimension of the building or area to be served, whichever is less. The distance shall be measured in a straight line between the nearest points of the enclosure surrounding the interior exit stairways. In buildings with three or more interior exit stairways, no fewer than two of the interior exit stairways shall comply with this section. Interlocking or scissor stairways shall be counted as one interior exit stairway.
For buildings other than Group R-2 that are more than 420 feet (128 000 mm) in building height, one additional interior exit stairway meeting the requirements of Sections 1011 and 1023 shall be provided in addition to the minimum number of exits required by Section 1006.3. The total width of any combination of remaining interior exit stairways with one interior exit stairway removed shall be not less than the total width required by Section 1005.1. Scissor stairways shall not be considered the additional interior exit stairway required by this section.
Exception: An additional interior exit stairway shall not be required to be installed in buildings having elevators used for occupant self-evacuation in accordance with Section 3008.
Stairway doors other than the exit discharge doors shall be permitted to be locked from the stairway side. Stairway doors that are locked from the stairway side shall be capable of being unlocked simultaneously without unlatching upon a signal from the fire command center. Upon failure of electrical power to the locking mechanism the door shall unlock.
Every exit enclosure in high-rise buildings shall comply with Sections 909.20 and 1023.11. Every required interior exit stairway in Group I-2 occupancies serving floors more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall be a smokeproof enclosure in accordance with Sections 909.20 and 1023.11.
Exception: In high-rise buildings, exit enclosures serving three or less adjacent floors where one of the adjacent floors is the level of exit discharge.
Luminous egress path markings shall be provided in accordance with Section 1024.
Emergency escape and rescue openings required by Section 1029 are not required.
Elevator installation and operation in high-rise buildings shall comply with Chapter 30 and Sections 403.6.1 and 403.6.2.
Enclosed elevator lobbies shall be provided in accordance with Section 3006. Exceptions 2. 3, 4, and 5 of 3006.3 shall only be permitted where approved by the Fire Chief in accordance with Section 1.11.2.1.1 or in accordance with Section 1.11.2.1.2 for all state-owned buildings, state-occupied buildings, and state institutions throughout the state.
In buildings with an occupied floor more than 120 feet (36 576 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, no fewer than two fire service access elevators, or all elevators, whichever is less, shall be provided in accordance with Section 3007. Each fire service access elevator shall have a capacity of not less than 3,500 pounds (1588 kg) and shall comply with Section 3002.4.
Where installed in accordance with Section 3008, passenger elevators for general public use shall be permitted to be used for occupant self-evacuation.
For existing high-rise buildings, see California Fire Code Chapter 11 and California Existing Building Code.
In other than Group H occupancies, and where permitted by Section 712.1.6, the provisions of Sections 404.1 through 404.9 shall apply to buildings or structures containing vertical openings defined as "Atriums."
Upcodes Diagrams
The floor of the atrium shall not be used for other than low fire hazard uses and only approved materials and decorations in accordance with the California Fire Code shall be used in the atrium space.
Exception: The atrium floor area is permitted to be used for any approved use where the individual space is provided with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire building.
Exceptions:
- That area of a building adjacent to or above the atrium need not be sprinklered provided that portion of the building is separated from the atrium portion by not less than 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
- Where the ceiling of the atrium is more than 55 feet (16 764 mm) above the floor, sprinkler protection at the ceiling of the atrium is not required.
Upcodes Diagrams
A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.14.
A smoke control system shall be installed in accordance with Section 909.
Atrium spaces shall be separated from adjacent spaces by a 1-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
Exceptions:
- A fire barrier is not required where a glass wall forming a smoke partition is provided. The glass wall shall comply with all of the following:
- 1.1. Automatic sprinklers are provided along both sides of the separation wall and doors, or on the room side only if there is not a walkway on the atrium side. The sprinklers shall be located between 4 inches and 12 inches (102 mm and 305 mm) away from the glass and at intervals along the glass not greater than 6 feet (1829 mm). The sprinkler system shall be designed so that the entire surface of the glass is wet upon activation of the sprinkler system without obstruction;
- 1.2. The glass wall shall be installed in a gasketed frame in a manner that the framing system deflects without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates; and
- 1.3. Where glass doors are provided in the glass wall, they shall be either self-closing or automatic-closing.
- A fire barrier is not required where a glass-block wall assembly complying with Section 2110 and having a 3/4-hour fire protection rating is provided.
- In other than Group I and R-2.1 occupancies, a fire barrier is not required between the atrium and the adjoining spaces of any three floors of the atrium provided such spaces are accounted for in the design of the smoke control system.
Equipment required to provide smoke control shall be provided with standby power in accordance with Section 909.11.
Upcodes Diagrams
The interior finish of walls and ceilings of the atrium shall be not less than Class B with no reduction in class for sprinkler protection.
Exit access travel distance for areas open to an atrium shall comply with the requirements of this section.
Upcodes Diagrams
Where required access to the exits is not through the atrium, exit access travel distance shall comply with Section 1017.
Where the path of egress travel is through an atrium space, exit access travel distance at the level of exit discharge shall be determined in accordance with Section 1017.
Where the path of egress travel is not at the level of exit discharge from the atrium, that portion of the total permitted exit access travel distance that occurs within the atrium shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).
A maximum of 50 percent of interior exit stairways are permitted to egress through an atrium on the level of exit discharge in accordance with Section 1028.
Upcodes Diagrams
Required means of egress from sleeping rooms in Group I and R-2.1 occupancies shall not pass through the atrium.
The provisions of Sections 405.2 through 405.9 apply to building spaces having a floor level used for human occupancy more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the finished floor of the lowest level of exit discharge.
Exception: The provisions of Section 405 are not applicable to the following buildings or portions of buildings:
- One- and two-family dwellings, sprinklered in accordance with Section 903.3.1.3.
- Parking garages provided with automatic sprinkler systems in compliance with Section 405.3.
- Fixed guideway transit systems.
- Grandstands, bleachers, stadiums, arenas and similar facilities.
- Where the lowest story is the only story that would qualify the building as an underground building and has an area not greater than 1,500 square feet (139 m2) and has an occupant load less than 10.
- Pumping stations and other similar mechanical spaces intended only for limited periodic use by service or maintenance personnel.
Upcodes Diagrams
The underground portion of the building shall be of Type I construction.
The highest level of exit discharge serving the underground portions of the building and all levels below shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Water-flow switches and control valves shall be supervised in accordance with Section 903.4.
A building having a floor level more than 60 feet (18 288 mm) below the finished floor of the lowest level of exit discharge shall be divided into no fewer than two compartments of approximately equal size. Such compartmentation shall extend through the highest level of exit discharge serving the underground portions of the building and all levels below.
Exception: The lowest story need not be compartmented where the area is not greater than 1,500 square feet (139 m2) and has an occupant load of less than 10.
The compartments shall be separated from each other by a smoke barrier in accordance with Section 709. Penetrations between the two compartments shall be limited to plumbing and electrical piping and conduit that are firestopped in accordance with Section 714. Doorways shall be protected by fire door assemblies that are automatic-closing by smoke detection in accordance with Section 716.5.9.3 and are installed in accordance with NFPA 105 and Section 716.5.3. Where provided, each compartment shall have an air supply and an exhaust system independent of the other compartments.
Upcodes Diagrams
Where elevators are provided, each compartment shall have direct access to an elevator. Where an elevator serves more than one compartment, an elevator lobby shall be provided and shall be separated from each compartment by a smoke barrier in accordance with Section 709. Doors shall be gasketed, have a drop sill and be automatic-closing by smoke detection in accordance with Section 716.5.9.3.
A smoke control system is required to control the migration of products of combustion in accordance with Section 909 and the provisions of this section. Smoke control shall restrict movement of smoke to the general area of fire origin and maintain means of egress in a usable condition.
Each floor level shall be provided with no fewer than two exits. Where compartmentation is required by Section 405.4, each compartment shall have no fewer than one exit and shall also have no fewer than one exit access doorway into the adjoining compartment.
Every required stairway serving floor levels more than 30 feet (9144 mm) below the finished floor of its level of exit discharge shall comply with the requirements for a smokeproof enclosure as provided in Section 1023.11.
A standby power system complying with Section 2702 shall be provided for the standby power loads specified in Section 405.8.1. An emergency power system complying with Section 2702 shall be provided for the emergency power loads specified in Section 405.8.2.
- Smoke control system.
- Ventilation and automatic fire detection equipment for smokeproof enclosures.
- Fire pumps.
- Elevators, as required in Section 3003.
Upcodes Diagrams
- Emergency voice/alarm communications systems.
- Fire alarm systems.
- Automatic fire detection systems.
- Elevator car lighting.
- Means of egress and exit sign illumination as required by Chapter 10.
The underground building shall be equipped throughout with a standpipe system in accordance with Section 905.
Upcodes Diagrams
Upcodes Diagrams
Motor-vehicle-related occupancies shall comply with Sections 406.1 through 406.8.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
Upcodes Diagrams
Private garages and carports shall be classified as Group U occupancies. Each private garage shall be not greater than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) in area. Multiple private garages are permitted in a building where each private garage is separated from the other private garages by 1-hour fire barriers in accordance with Section 707, or 1-hour horizontal assemblies in accordance with Section 711, or both.
Exception: The area of a private garage accessory to Group R-3 one- or two-family dwellings shall not be greater than 3,000 square feet in area.
In private garages and carports, the clear height in vehicle and pedestrian traffic areas shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm). (HCD 1-AC) The clear height of vehicle and pedestrian areas required to be accessible shall comply with Chapter 11A.
Garage floor surfaces shall be of approved noncombustible material. The area of floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.
For other than private garages adjacent to dwelling units, the separation of private garages from other occupancies shall comply with Section 508. Separation of private garages from dwelling units shall comply with Sections 406.3.4.1 through 406.3.4.3.
Upcodes Diagrams
The private garage shall be separated from the dwelling unit and its attic area by means of gypsum board, not less than 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) in thickness, applied to the garage side. Garages beneath habitable rooms shall be separated from all habitable rooms above by not less than a 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X gypsum board or equivalent and 1/2-inch (12.7 mm) gypsum board applied to structures supporting the separation from habitable rooms above the garage. Door openings between a private garage and the dwelling unit shall be equipped with either solid wood doors or solid or honeycomb core steel doors not less than 13/8 inches (34.9 mm) in thickness, or doors in compliance with Section 716.5.3 with a fire protection rating of not less than 20 minutes. Doors shall be self-closing and self-latching.
Openings from a private garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall not be permitted.
Ducts in a private garage and ducts penetrating the walls or ceilings separating the dwelling unit from the garage, including its attic area, shall be constructed of sheet steel of not less than 0.019 inch (0.48 mm) in thickness and shall have no openings into the garage.
Carports shall be open on at least two sides. Carport floor surfaces shall be of an approved noncombustible material. Carports not open on at least two sides shall be considered a garage and shall comply with the requirements for private garages.
Exception: Asphalt surfaces shall be permitted at ground level in carports.
Upcodes Diagrams
Automatic garage door openers, if provided, shall be listed in accordance with UL 325. See Health and Safety Code Sections 19890 and 19891 for additional provisions for residential garage door openers.
Parking garages other than private parking garages, shall be classified as public parking garages and shall comply with the provisions of Sections 406.4.2 through 406.4.8 and shall be classified as either an open parking garage or an enclosed parking garage. Open parking garages shall also comply with Section 406.5. Enclosed parking garages shall also comply with Section 406.6. See Section 510 for special provisions for parking garages.
The clear height of each floor level in vehicle and pedestrian traffic areas shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm). (DSA-AC & HCD 1-AC) The clear height of vehicle and pedestrian areas required to be accessible shall comply with Chapter 11A or 11B, as applicable.
Guards shall be provided in accordance with Section 1013. Guards serving as vehicle barriers shall comply with Sections 406.4.3 and 1013.
Vehicle barriers not less than 2 feet 9 inches (835 mm) in height shall be placed at the ends of drive lanes, and at the end of parking spaces where the vertical distance to the ground or surface directly below is greater than 1 foot (305 mm). Vehicle barriers shall comply with the loading requirements of Section 1607.8.3.
Exception: Vehicle barriers are not required in vehicle storage compartments in a mechanical access parking garage.
Vehicle ramps shall not be considered as required exits unless pedestrian facilities are provided. Vehicle ramps that are utilized for vertical circulation as well as for parking shall not exceed a slope of 1:15 (6.67 percent).
Parking surfaces shall be of concrete or similar noncombustible and nonabsorbent materials.
The area of floor used for parking of automobiles or other vehicles shall be sloped to facilitate the movement of liquids to a drain or toward the main vehicle entry doorway.
Exceptions:
- Asphalt parking surfaces shall be permitted at ground level.
- Floors of Group S-2 parking garages shall not be required to have a sloped surface.
Parking garages shall be separated from other occupancies in accordance with Section 508.1.
Connection of a parking garage with any room in which there is a fuel-fired appliance shall be by means of a vestibule providing a two-doorway separation.
Exception: A single door shall be allowed provided the sources of ignition in the appliance are not less than 18 inches (457 mm) above the floor.
Openings from a parking garage directly into a room used for sleeping purposes shall not be permitted.
Upcodes Diagrams
Open parking garages shall be of Type I, II or IV construction. Open parking garages shall meet the design requirements of Chapter 16. For vehicle barriers, see Section 406.4.3.
For natural ventilation purposes, the exterior side of the structure shall have uniformly distributed openings on two or more sides. The area of such openings in exterior walls on a tier shall be not less than 20 percent of the total perimeter wall area of each tier. The aggregate length of the openings considered to be providing natural ventilation shall be not less than 40 percent of the perimeter of the tier. Interior walls shall be not less than 20 percent open with uniformly distributed openings.
Exception: Openings are not required to be distributed over 40 percent of the building perimeter where the required openings are uniformly distributed over two opposing sides of the building.
Upcodes Diagrams
Upcodes Diagrams
Area and height of open parking garages shall be limited as set forth in Chapter 5 for Group S-2 occupancies and as further provided for in Section 508.1.
OPEN PARKING GARAGES AREA AND HEIGHT
| TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | AREA PER TIER (square feet) | HEIGHT (in tiers) | ||
| Ramp access | Mechanical access | |||
| Automatic sprinkler system | ||||
| No | Yes | |||
| IA | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| IB | Unlimited | 12 tiers | 12 tiers | 18 tiers |
| IIA | 50,000 | 10 tiers | 10 tiers | 15 tiers |
| IIB | 50,000 | 8 tiers | 8 tiers | 12 tiers |
| IV | 50,000 | 4 tiers | 4 tiers | 4 tiers |
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2.
Where the open parking garage is used exclusively for the parking or storage of private motor vehicles, with no other uses in the building, the area and height shall be permitted to comply with Table 406.5.4, along with increases allowed by Section 406.5.5.
Exception: The grade-level tier is permitted to contain an office, waiting and toilet rooms having a total combined area of not more than 1,000 square feet (93 m2). Such area need not be separated from the open parking garage.
In open parking garages having a spiral or sloping floor, the horizontal projection of the structure at any cross section shall not exceed the allowable area per parking tier. In the case of an open parking garage having a continuous spiral floor, each 9 feet 6 inches (2896 mm) of height, or portion thereof, shall be considered a tier.
The clear height of a parking tier shall be not less than 7 feet (2134 mm), except that a lower clear height is permitted in mechanical-access open parking garages where approved by the building official.
The allowable area and height of open parking garages shall be increased in accordance with the provisions of this section. Garages with sides open on three-fourths of the building's perimeter are permitted to be increased by 25 percent in area and one tier in height. Garages with sides open around the entire building's perimeter are permitted to be increased by 50 percent in area and one tier in height. For a side to be considered open under the above provisions, the total area of openings along the side shall not be less than 50 percent of the interior area of the side at each tier and such openings shall be equally distributed along the length of the tier. For purposes of calculating the interior area of the side, the height shall not exceed 7 feet (2134 mm).
Allowable tier areas in Table 406.5.4 shall be increased for open parking garages constructed to heights less than the table maximum. The gross tier area of the garage shall not exceed that permitted for the higher structure. No fewer than three sides of each such larger tier shall have continuous horizontal openings not less than 30 inches (762 mm) in clear height extending for not less than 80 percent of the length of the sides and no part of such larger tier shall be more than 200 feet (60 960 mm) horizontally from such an opening. In addition, each such opening shall face a street or yard accessible to a street with a width of not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) for the full length of the opening, and standpipes shall be provided in each such tier.
Open parking garages of Type II construction, with all sides open, shall be unlimited in allowable area where the building height does not exceed 75 feet (22 860 mm). For a side to be considered open, the total area of openings along the side shall not be less than 50 percent of the interior area of the side at each tier and such openings shall be equally distributed along the length of the tier. For purposes of calculating the interior area of the side, the height shall not exceed 7 feet (2134 mm). All portions of tiers shall be within 200 feet (60 960 mm) horizontally from such openings or other natural ventilation openings as defined in Section 406.5.2. These openings shall be permitted to be provided in courts with a minimum dimension of 20 feet (6096 mm) for the full width of the openings.
Exterior walls and openings in exterior walls shall comply with Tables 601 and 602. The distance to an adjacent lot line shall be determined in accordance with Table 602 and Section 705.
Where persons other than parking attendants are permitted, open parking garages shall meet the means of egress requirements of Chapter 10. Where no persons other than parking attendants are permitted, there shall be no fewer than two exit stairways. Each exit stairway shall be not less than 36 inches (914 mm) in width. Lifts shall be permitted to be installed for use of employees only, provided they are completely enclosed by noncombustible materials.
An open parking garage shall be equipped with a standpipe system as required by Section 905.3.
Upcodes Diagrams
Enclosure shall not be required for vertical openings except as specified in Section 406.5.7.
Ventilation, other than the percentage of openings specified in Section 406.5.2, shall not be required.
The following uses and alterations are not permitted:
- Vehicle repair work.
- Parking of buses, trucks and similar vehicles.
- Partial or complete closing of required openings in exterior walls by tarpaulins or any other means.
- Dispensing of fuel.
Enclosed vehicle parking garages and portions thereof that do not meet the definition of open parking garages shall be limited to the allowable heights and areas specified in Sections 504 and 506 as modified by Section 507. Roof parking is permitted.
Upcodes Diagrams
A mechanical ventilation system shall be provided in accordance with the California Mechanical Code.
Exception: Mechanical ventilation shall not be required for enclosed parking garages that serve Group R-3 one- or two-family dwellings.
An enclosed parking garage shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.10.
Upcodes Diagrams
Motor fuel-dispensing facilities shall comply with the California Fire Code and Sections 406.7.1 and 406.7.2.
Canopies under which fuels are dispensed shall have a clear, unobstructed height of not less than 13 feet 6 inches (4115 mm) to the lowest projecting element in the vehicle drive-through area. Canopies and their supports over pumps shall be of noncombustible materials, fire-retardant-treated wood complying with Chapter 23, wood of Type IV sizes or of construction providing 1-hour fire resistance. Combustible materials used in or on a canopy shall comply with one of the following:
- Shielded from the pumps by a noncombustible element of the canopy, or wood of Type IV sizes;
- Plastics covered by aluminum facing having a thickness of not less than 0.010 inch (0.30 mm) or corrosion-resistant steel having a base metal thickness of not less than 0.016 inch (0.41 mm). The plastic shall have a flame spread index of 25 or less and a smoke-developed index of 450 or less when tested in the form intended for use in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723 and a self-ignition temperature of 650°F (343°C) or greater when tested in accordance with ASTM D1929; or
- Panels constructed of light-transmitting plastic materials shall be permitted to be installed in canopies erected over motor vehicle fuel-dispensing station fuel dispensers, provided the panels are located not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from any building on the same lot and face yards or streets not less than 40 feet (12 192 mm) in width on the other sides. The aggregate areas of plastics shall be not greater than 1,000 square feet (93 m2). The maximum area of any individual panel shall be not greater than 100 square feet (9.3 m2).
Canopies that are used to shelter dispensing operations where flammable compressed gases are located on the roof of the canopy shall be in accordance with the following:
Repair garages shall be constructed in accordance with the California Fire Code and Sections 406.8.1 through 406.8.6. This occupancy shall not include motor fuel-dispensing facilities, as regulated in Section 406.7.
Mixed uses shall be allowed in the same building as a repair garage subject to the provisions of Section 508.1.
Repair garages shall be mechanically ventilated in accordance with the California Mechanical Code. The ventilation system shall be controlled at the entrance to the garage.
Exception: Slip-resistant, nonabsorbent, interior floor finishes having a critical radiant flux not more than 0.45 W/cm2, as determined by NFPA 253, shall be permitted.
Heating equipment shall be installed in accordance with the California Mechanical Code.
Repair garages used
for the repair of vehicles fueled by nonodorized gases
including but not limited to hydrogen and nonodorized
LNG, shall be provided with a gas detection system that
complies with Section 916. The gas detection system shall
be designed to detect leakage of nonodorized gaseous fuel.
Where lubrication or chassis service pits are provided in
garages used for repairing nonodorized LNG-fueled vehicles,
gas sensors shall be provided in such pits.
Activation of the gas
detection system shall result in all of the following:
- Initiation of local audible and visible alarms in approved locations.
- Deactivation of all heating systems located in the repair garage.
- Activation of the mechanical ventilation system, where the ventilation system is interlocked with gas detection.
Failure of the gas detection system shall automatically
deactivate the heating system, activate the mechanical
ventilation system where the system is interlocked with
the gas detection system, and cause a trouble signal to
sound in an approved location.
A repair garage shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.9.1.
In any building or interior area used for charging electric vehicles, electrical equipment shall be installed in accordance with the California Electrical Code.
Mechanical exhaust ventilation, when required by the California Electrical Code shall be provided at a rate as required by Article 625 or as required by Section 1203 of the California Building Code whichever is greater. The ventilation system shall include both the supply and exhaust equipment and shall be permanently installed and located to intake supply air from the outdoors, and vent the exhaust directly to, the outdoors without conducting the exhaust air through other spaces within the building.
Exception: Positive pressure ventilation systems shall only be allowed in buildings or areas that have been designed and approved for that application.
The electrical supply circuit to electrically powered mechanical ventilation equipment shall be interlocked with the recharging equipment used to supply the vehicle(s) being charged, and shall remain energized during the entire charging cycle. Electric vehicle recharging equipment shall be marked or labeled in accordance with the California Electrical Code.
Exceptions:
- Exhaust ventilation shall not be required in areas with an approved engineered ventilation system, which maintains a hydrogen gas concentration at less than 25 percent of the lower flammability limit.
- Mechanical exhaust ventilation for hydrogen shall not be required where the charging equipment utilized is installed and listed for indoor charging of electric vehicles without ventilation.
Upcodes Diagrams
Occupancies in Group I-2 wherein
mental health patients are restrained are permitted to be
housed in one-story buildings of Type IIA, Type IIIA or
Type VA construction provided the floor area does not
exceed 5,200 square feet (483 m2) between fire walls of
two-hour fire-resistive construction with openings protected
by fire assemblies having a 11/2-hour fire protection
rating.
Waiting areas and similar spaces constructed as required for corridors shall be permitted to be open to a corridor, only where all of the following criteria are met:
- The spaces are not occupied as care recipient's sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, incidental uses listed in Table 509, or hazardous uses.
- The open space is protected by an automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.
- The corridors onto which the spaces open, in the same smoke compartment, are protected by an automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907, and the smoke compartment in which the spaces are located is equipped throughout with quick-response sprinklers in accordance with Section 903.3.2.
- The space is arranged so as not to obstruct access to the required exits.
- Each space is located to permit direct visual supervision by the facility staff.
Spaces for doctors' and nurses' charting, communications and related clerical areas shall be permitted to be open to, or located within the corridor, provided the required construction along the perimeter of the corridor is maintained. Construction of nurses' stations or portions of nurses' stations, within the envelope of the corridor is not required to be fire-resistive rated. Nurses' stations in new and existing facilities see the California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 1, Article 3, Section 3.11(d) for storage and equipment requirements.
In detention or secure mental health facilities, the provisions above applies to enclosed nurses' stations within the corridor.
Areas wherein psychiatric care recipients who are not capable of self-preservation are housed, or group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces other than incidental uses in accordance with Section 509, under continuous supervision by facility staff, shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, where the following criteria are met:
- Each area does not exceed 1,500 square feet (140 m2).
- The area is located to permit supervision by the facility staff.
- The area is arranged so as not to obstruct any access to the required exits.
- The area is equipped with an automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.2.
- Not more than one such space is permitted in any one smoke compartment.
- The walls and ceilings of the space are constructed as required for corridors.
In Group I-2 occupancies, in areas where nursing home residents are housed, shared living spaces, group meeting or multipurpose therapeutic spaces shall be permitted to be open to the corridor, where all of the following criteria are met:
- The walls and ceilings of the space are constructed as required for corridors.
- The spaces are not occupied as resident sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, incidental uses in accordance with Section 509, or hazardous uses.
- The open space is protected by an automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.
- The corridors onto which the spaces open, in the same smoke compartment, are protected by an automatic smoke detection system installed in accordance with Section 907, and the smoke compartment in which the spaces are located is equipped throughout with quick-response sprinklers in accordance with Section 903.3.2.
- The space is arranged so as not to obstruct access to the required exits.
- Each space is located to permit direct visual supervision by the facility staff.
In Group I-2 occupancies, rooms or spaces that contain a cooking facility with domestic cooking appliances shall be permitted in fully sprinklered buildings where all of the following criteria are met:
- The number of care recipients housed in the smoke compartment is not greater than 30.
- The number of care recipients served by the cooking facility is not greater than 30.
- Only one cooking facility area is permitted in a smoke compartment.
- The types of domestic cooking appliances permitted are limited to ovens, cooktops, ranges, warmers and microwaves.
- A domestic cooking range hood installed and constructed in accordance with the California Mechanical Code is provided over the cooktop or range.
- A portable fire extinguisher shall be installed in accordance with Section 906 of the California Fire Code.
In fully sprinklered buildings, corridor doors, other than those in a wall required to be rated by Section 509.4 or for the enclosure of a vertical opening or an exit, shall not have a required fire protection rating but shall provide an effective barrier to limit the transfer of smoke and shall be equipped with positive latching. In Group I-2 Occupancies, self-closing or automatic-closing devices are not required on corridor doors to patient sleeping rooms, treatment rooms, and offices located in areas specified in Sections 1224 and 1225, excluding offices specified in Sections 1224.21 and 1225.8. Roller latches are not permitted. Other doors shall conform to Section 716.5.
Corridor doors, other than those equipped with self-closing or automatic-closing devices shall not swing into the required width of corridors.
Exception: In detention and/or secure mental health facilities, doors may swing into required width of corridors as long as 44" clear is maintained with any one door open 90 degrees and clear corridor widths required in Chapter 12 can be maintained with doors open 180 degrees.
In fully sprinklered buildings, fixed fully tempered or laminated glass in wood or metal frames may be used in corridor walls, provided the glazed area does not exceed 25 percent of the areas of the corridor wall of the room. The total area of glass in corridor walls is not limited when the glazing is fixed 1/3-hour fire-protection-rated glazing in approved frames and the size of individual glazed panel does not exceed 1,296 square inches (0.836 m2).
Group I-2 and I-2.1 occupancies shall be provided with means of egress complying with Chapter 10 and Sections 407.4.1 through 407.4.4. The fire safety and evacuation plans provided in accordance with Section 1001.4 shall identify the building components necessary to support a defend-in-place emergency response in accordance with Sections 404 and 408 of the California Fire Code.
Locking devices that restrict access to a care recipient's room from the corridor and that are operable only by staff from the corridor side shall not restrict the means of egress from the care recipient's room.
All rooms below grade shall have not less than one exit access that leads directly to an exterior exit door opening directly to an exit discharge at grade plane or the public way.
The distance of travel between any point in a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy sleeping room, not located in a care suite, and an exit access door in that room shall be not greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm).
Care suites in Group I-2 or I-2.1 shall comply with Sections 407.4.4.1 through 407.4.4.4 and either Section 407.4.4.5 or 407.4.4.6.
Exit access from all other portions of a building not classified as a care suite shall not pass through a care suite. In a care suite required to have more than one exit, one exit access is permitted to pass through an adjacent care suite provided all of the other requirements of Sections 407.4 and 1016.2 are satisfied.
Care suites shall be separated from other portions of the building, including other care suites, by not less than a one-hour fire barrier complying with Section 707. Each suite of rooms shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a one-hour fire barrier.
Movement from habitable rooms shall be in accordance with Sections 407.4.4.3.1, 407.4.4.3.2 and 407.4.4.5.3.
Movement from habitable rooms shall not require passage through more than one intervening room and 100 feet (30 480 mm) distance of travel within the care suite.
Movement from habitable rooms other than sleeping rooms located within a care suite, shall not require passage through more than two intervening rooms and 50 feet (15 240 mm) distance of exit access travel within the care suite.
Exception: The distance of travel shall be permitted to be increased to 100 feet (38 100 mm) where an automatic fire sprinkler system is provided throughout the Group I-2 fire area and an automatic smoke detection system is provided throughout the care suite and installed in accordance with NFPA 72.
- Manually operated horizontal sliding doors permitted in accordance with Exception 9 to Section 1010.1.2.
- Power-operated doors permitted in accordance with Exception 7 to Section 1010.1.2.
- Means of egress doors complying with Section 1010.
Upcodes Diagrams
Sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be grouped into care suites where one of the following criteria is met:
- The care suite is not used as an exit access for more than eight care recipient beds.
- The arrangement of the care suite allows for direct and constant visual supervision into the sleeping rooms by care providers.
Exceptions:
- Care suites containing sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be not greater than 7,500 square feet (696 m2) in area where an automatic fire sprinkler system is provided throughout the Group I-2 fire area.
- Care suites containing sleeping rooms shall be permitted to be not greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m2) in area where an automatic fire sprinkler system is provided throughout the Group I-2 fire area and where an automatic smoke detection system is provided throughout the care suite and installed in accordance with Section 907.
Any sleeping room, or any care suite that contains sleeping rooms, of more than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) shall have no fewer than two exit access doors from the care suite located in accordance with Section 1007.
The travel distance between any point in a care suite containing sleeping rooms and an exit access door from that care suite shall be not greater than 100 feet (30 480 mm).
Areas not containing sleeping rooms, but only treatment areas and the associated rooms, spaces or circulation space, shall be permitted to be grouped into care suites and shall conform to the limitations in Sections 407.4.4.6.1 and 407.4.4.6.2.
Care suites of rooms, other than sleeping rooms, shall have an area not greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m2).
Any room or care suite, other than sleeping rooms, with an area of more than 2,500 square feet (232 m2) shall have no fewer than two exit access doors from the room or care suite located in accordance with Section 1007.1.
Smoke barriers shall be provided to subdivide every story used by persons receiving care, treatment or sleeping and to divide other stories with an occupant load of 50 or more persons, regardless of occupancy or use, into no fewer than two smoke compartments. Such stories shall be divided into smoke compartments with an area of not more than 22,500 square feet (2092 m2) and the distance of travel from any point in a smoke compartment to a smoke barrier door shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm). The smoke barrier shall be in accordance with Sections 709 and 909.5.
Exceptions:
- This requirement shall not apply to Group I-2.1 less than 10,000 ft2 (929 m2).
- An area in an adjoining occupancy shall be permitted to serve as a smoke compartment for a Group I-2.1 facility if the following criteria are met:
- This requirement shall not apply to the following:
- 3.1. Any story, not containing a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy, that is located above a story containing a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy.
- 3.2. Areas that do not contain a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy, where such areas are separated from the Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy by a horizontal exit in accordance with Section 1025.2.
- 3.3. Any story, not containing a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy, that is located more than one story below a story containing a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy.
- 3.4. Any story housing only mechanical equipment where such story is located below a story containing a Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancy and is separated from the story above by a horizontal assembly having not less than a 2 hour fire resistance-rating.
Upcodes Diagrams
Refuge areas shall be provided within each smoke compartment. The size of the refuge area shall accommodate the occupants and care recipients from the adjoining smoke compartment. Where a smoke compartment is adjoined by two or more smoke compartments, the minimum area of the refuge area shall accommodate the largest occupant load of the adjoining compartments. The size of the refuge area shall provide the following:
- Not less than 30 net square feet (2.8 m2) for each care recipient confined to bed or stretcher.
- Not less than 6 square feet (0.56 m2) for each ambulatory care recipient not confined to bed or stretcher and for other occupants.
At least two means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers. Means of egress may pass through adjacent compartments provided it does not return through the smoke compartment from which means of egress originated.
Horizontal assemblies supporting smoke barriers required by this section shall be designed to resist the movement of smoke. Elevator lobbies shall be in accordance with Section 3006.2.
Every facility as specified herein wherein more than six clients or patients are housed or cared for on the premises on a 24-hour perday-basis shall have installed and maintained in an operable condition in every building or portion thereof where clients or patients are housed, an automatic sprinkler system of a type approved by the state fire marshal. The provisions of this subsection shall apply to every person, firm or corporation establishing, maintaining or operating a hospital, children's home, children's nursery or institution, or a home or institution for the care of aged or persons with dementia or other cognitive impairments, or any institution for persons with mental illness or persons with developmental disabilities and any nursing or convalescent home, and to any state-owned or state-occupied building used for any of the types of facilities specified herein.
Exceptions:
- This section shall not apply to homes or institutions for the 24-hour-per-day care of ambulatory children if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
- 1.1. The buildings or portions thereof in which children are housed are not more than two stories in height and are constructed and maintained in accordance with regulations adopted by the state fire marshal.
- 1.2. The buildings or portions thereof housing more than six such children shall have installed and maintained in an operable condition therein, a fire alarm system of a type approved by the state fire marshal. Such system shall be activated by detectors responding to invisible particles of combustion other than heat, except that detectors used in closets, usable under-floor areas, storage rooms, bathrooms, attached garages, attics, plenums, laundry rooms and rooms of similar use, may be heat-responsive devices.
- 1.3. The building or portions thereof do not house persons with mental illness or children with developmental disabilities.
- This section shall not apply to any one-story building or structure of an institution or home for the care of the aged providing 24-hour-per-day care if such building or structure is used or intended to be used for the housing of no more than six ambulatory aged persons. Such buildings or institutions shall have installed and maintained in an operable condition herein a fire alarm system of a type approved by the state fire marshal. Such system shall be activated by detectors responding to either visible or invisible particles of combustion other than heat, except that detectors used in closets, usable under-floor areas, storage rooms, bathrooms, attached garages, attics, plenums, laundry rooms and rooms of similar use, may be heat-responsive devices.
- This section shall not apply to occupancies or any alterations thereto conforming to the construction provisions of this exception which were under construction or in existence on March 4, 1972. "Under construction" as used in this exception shall mean that actual work had been performed on the construction site and shall not be construed to mean that the hospital, home, nursery, institution, sanitarium or any portion thereof, was or is in the planning stage. The provisions of this exception shall apply to those buildings or structures having bearing walls and structural flame protected in accordance with the provisions of Column Type 1A of Table 601.
- In detention facilities where inmates are not restrained.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to any facility used to house six or less persons on the premises.
When a new addition is to be made to an unsprinklered building or structure as permitted by this subsection, such new addition shall be sprinklered as required by this section and shall be separated from the existing building or structures by not less than a two-hour fire-resistive fire barrier.
When a sprinkler system is added to an existing unsprinklered building or structure, the sprinklered area(s) shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a one-hour fire-resistive fire barrier. The provisions of this section do not apply to any facility used to house six or less persons on the premises.
A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.6.
Corridors in Group I-2,
Condition 1 occupancies and spaces permitted to be open to
the corridors by Section 407.2 shall be equipped with an automatic
fire detection system.
Group I-2, Condition 2 occupancies shall be equipped with smoke detection as required in Section 407.2.
Group I-2, Condition 2 occupancies shall be equipped with smoke detection as required in Section 407.2.
Exceptions:
- Corridor smoke detection is not required where sleeping rooms are provided with smoke detectors that comply with UL 268. Such detectors shall provide a visual display on the corridor side of each sleeping room and an audible and visual alarm at the care provider's station attending each unit.
- Corridor smoke detection is not required where sleeping room doors are equipped with automatic door-closing devices with integral smoke detectors on the unit sides installed in accordance with their listing, provided that the integral detectors perform the required alerting function.
Grounds are permitted to be fenced and gates therein are permitted to be equipped with locks, provided that safe dispersal areas having 30 net square feet (2.8 m2) for bed and stretcher care recipients and 6 net square feet (0.56 m2) for ambulatory care recipients and other occupants are located between the building and the fence. Such provided safe dispersal areas shall be located not less than 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the building they serve. Each safe dispersal area shall have a minimum of two exits. The aggregate clear width of exits from a safe dispersal area shall be determined on the basis of not less than one exit unit of 22 inches (559 mm) for each 500 persons to be accommodated, and no exit shall be less than 44 inches (1118 mm) in width. Gates shall not be installed across corridors or passageways leading to such dispersal areas unless they comply with egress requirements. Keys to gate locks shall be provided in accordance with the California Fire Code.
In Group I-2 or I-2.1 occupancies, the essential electrical system for electrical components, equipment and systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27 and NFPA 99.
Upcodes Diagrams
Storage and handling of flammable, combustible liquids and hazardous materials shall be in accordance with the California Fire Code.
All exterior openings in a boiler room or room containing central heating equipment, if located below openings in another story, or if less than 10 feet (3048 mm) from other doors or windows of the same building, shall be protected by a fire assembly having a three-fourths-hour fire protection rating.
Rooms occupied by patients whose personal liberties are restrained shall have noncombustible floor surfaces see Sections 308.1 and 804.4.3.
Occupancies in Group I-3 shall comply with the provisions of Sections 408.1 through 408.11 and other applicable provisions of this code (see Section 308.5).
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
CELL.
COURTHOUSE HOLDING FACILITY.
DETENTION ELEVATOR.
DETENTION TREATMENT ROOM.
Group I-3 Occupancies shall be housed in buildings of Type IA or Type IB.
Exception: Such occupancies may be housed in one-story buildings of Type IIA, Type IIIA or Type VA construction provided the floor area does not exceed 5,200 square feet (483 m2) between fire walls of two-hour fire-resistive construction with openings protected by fire assemblies having 1- and 11/2-hour fire-protection rating.
Common rooms and spaces within Group I-3 occupancies can be considered an intervening space in accordance with Section 1014.2, and not considered a corridor, when they meet any of the following:
- Within prisons and local detention facilities of Type I construction, the exit access within a housing unit may be a non-rated corridor provided the required exit occupant load from any dayroom does not exceed 64 persons.
- Within prison, jails, and courthouses, temporary holding areas of noncombustible construction and an occupant load less than 100.
- Within prisons and local detention facilities, correctional medical or mental health housing suites, of noncombustible construction and an occupant load less than 100.
- Within prisons and local detention facilities: detention program areas of noncombustible construction and an occupant load less than 100.
Group I-3 courthouse holding facilities shall be considered a separate and distinct building from the remaining courthouse building for the purpose of determining the type of construction where all of the following conditions are met:
- 2-hour fire barriers in accordance with Section 707 and 2-hour horizontal assemblies in accordance with Section 711 are provided to separate the courthouse holding facility from all other portions of the courthouse building.
- Any of the structure used to support courthouse holding facilities meets the requirements for the Group I-3 portion of the building.
- Each courthouse holding facility located above the first story is less than 1,000 square feet in area, and is designed to hold 10 or less in-custody defendants.
- Courthouse holding facilities located above the first story containing an internal stairway discharging to the main courthouse holding facility at the first story or basement.
- Additional exits from the courthouse holding facility located above the first story shall be permitted to exit through the courtrooms.
- The main courthouse holding facility located on the first story or basement has at least one exit directly to the exterior and additional means of egress shall be permitted to pass through a 1-hour corridor or lobby in the courthouse building.
A Group B Administration building one story in height shall be permitted to be located above a Group I-3 (or Group I-3/I-2) housing/treatment building that is one story above grade and shall be classified as a separate and distinct building for the purpose of determining the type of construction, and shall be considered a separate fire area, where all of the following conditions are met:
- A 3-hour floor-ceiling assembly below the administration building is constructed as a horizontal assembly in accordance with Section 711.
- Interior shafts for stairs, elevators and mechanical systems complete the 3-hour separation between the Group B and Group I-3 (or Group I-3/I-2).
- The Group I-3 occupancy (or Group I-3/I-2 occupancies, correctional medical and mental health uses) below is minimum Type I-B construction with 2-hour fire resistive rated exterior walls.
- No unprotected openings are allowed in lower roofs within 10 feet of unprotected windows in the upper floor.
- The Group B building above is of noncombustible construction and equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- The Group B occupancy building above has all required means of egress capable of discharging directly to the exterior to a safe dispersal area.
In buildings protected with automatic sprinklers, corridor serving temporary holding rooms shall be one hour fire resistance rated when the temporary holding occupant load is greater than 20.
Temporary holding facilities with nine or fewer persons under restraint may be classified as Group B when located in a buildings complying with all of the following conditions:
- The building shall be protected throughout with a monitored automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- The building shall protected with a automatic fire alarm system with notification appliances throughout the holding facility in accordance with Section 907.2.
- The building shall be constructed of Type I, IIA, IIIA or VA construction.
Secure Interview Rooms used for law enforcement shall be permitted to locked, and shall not be classified as Group I-3 occupancies where all of the following conditions are met:
- A monitored automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof including secure interview rooms. The automatic sprinkler system shall comply with Section 903.3.1.1.
- Secure interview rooms shall be located in non-combustible construction.
- Secure interview rooms have glazed or barred openings with direct, continuous observation from law enforcement personnel who have a means to open the secure interview room.
- Not more than 6 occupants in secure interview rooms shall be located in the same fire area.
- An automatic smoke detection system shall be installed within secure interview rooms and mechanical and electrical rooms.
Security door assemblies
shall be constructed in accordance with NFPA 252 or UL
10C, and where a smoke rating is required UL 1784, are
not required to be tested or labeled.
Buildings or portions of buildings in Group I-3 occupancies where security operations necessitate the locking of required means of egress shall be permitted to be classified as a different occupancy. Occupancies classified as other than Group I-3 shall meet the applicable requirements of this code for that occupancy provided provisions are made for the release of occupants at all times.
Means of egress from detention and correctional occupancies that traverse other use areas shall, as a minimum, conform to requirements for detention and correctional occupancies.
Exceptions:
- It is permissible to exit through a horizontal exit into other contiguous occupancies that do not conform to detention and correctional occupancy egress provisions but that do comply with requirements set forth in the appropriate occupancy, as long as the occupancy is not a Group H use.
- Regardless of the provisions of Section 508, laundry areas and kitchens including associated dining areas, where commercial/institutional equipment is used shall be separated from the remainder of the building by construction capable of resisting the passage of smoke.
- For the purpose of occupancy separation only courtroom docks that are directly accessory to courtrooms need not be separated from a courtroom.
Except as modified or as provided for in this section, the means of egress provisions of Chapter 10 shall apply.
Where doors in a means of egress are of the horizontal-sliding type, the force to slide the door to its fully open position shall be not greater than 50 pounds (220 N) with a perpendicular force against the door of 50 pounds (220 N).
A hatch or trap door not less than 16 square feet (610 m2) in area through the floor and having dimensions of not less than 2 feet (610 mm) in any direction shall be permitted to be used as a portion of the means of egress from guard towers.
Spiral stairways that conform to the requirements of Section 1009.12 are permitted for access to and between staff locations.
Ship ladders shall be permitted for egress from control rooms or elevated facility observation rooms in accordance with Section 1009.14.
Exits are permitted to discharge into a fenced or walled courtyard. Enclosed yards or courts shall be of a size to accommodate all occupants, a minimum of 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the building with a net area of 3 square feet (0.28 m2) per person. A gate shall be provided from the safe dispersal area to allow for the necessary relocation of occupants.
Exterior fenced enclosures and fenced enclosures utilized for recreational or activity purposes, used for exit termination for more than 20 persons, and which do not provide a safe dispersal area, shall have not less than two exits.
Fenced enclosures located on roofs of buildings one or more stories in height shall be provided with not less than two exits regardless of occupant load.
Fenced enclosures utilized for central control buildings not normally occupied and not accessed by inmates or the general public are permitted to have only one exit from the fenced enclosure. These fenced enclosures shall only be occupied during emergency response conditions by not more than 29 prison staff occupants. Access to the fenced area shall be controlled remotely or at the gate with a key.
A sallyport shall be permitted in a means of egress where there are provisions for continuous and unobstructed passage through the sallyport during an emergency egress condition.
One interior exit stairway or ramp in each building shall be permitted to have glazing installed in doors and interior walls at each landing level providing access to the interior exit stairway or ramp, provided that the following conditions are met:
- The interior exit stairway or ramp shall not serve more than four floor levels.
- Exit doors shall be not less than 3/4-hour fire door assemblies complying with Section 716.5
- The total area of glazing at each floor level shall not exceed 5,000 square inches (3.2 m2) and individual panels of glazing shall not exceed 1,296 square inches (0.84 m2).
- The glazing shall be protected on both sides by an automatic sprinkler system. The sprinkler system shall be designed to wet completely the entire surface of any glazing affected by fire when actuated.
- The glazing shall be in a gasketed frame and installed in such a manner that the framing system will deflect without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates.
- Obstructions, such as curtain rods, drapery traverse rods, curtains, drapes or similar materials shall not be installed between the automatic sprinklers and the glazing.
Where the number and arrangement of exits complies with the requirements of Chapter 10, other stairways which occur within the secure area of the detention facility and are not used for required exiting but are used primarily for the movement of inmates and security staff need not extend to the exterior.
Exit balconies serving cell tiers shall not extend more than 50 feet (15 240 mm) beyond an exit stairway.
The travel distance may be increased to 300 feet for portions of Group I-3 occupancies open only to staff or where inmates are escorted at all times by staff.
In temporary holding areas of noncombustible construction, a second means of egress is required when the occupant load is greater than 20.
Spaces for custody stations,
communications and related clerical areas shall be permitted
to be open to, or located within the corridor, provided
the required construction along the perimeter of the
corridor is maintained. Construction of custody stations
or portions of custody stations, within the envelope of the
corridor, is not required to be fire-resistance rated. These
provisions shall also apply to an enclosed custody station
within the corridor.
Egress doors are permitted to be locked in accordance with the applicable use condition. Doors from a refuge area to the outside are permitted to be locked with a key in lieu of locking methods described in Section 408.4.1. The keys to unlock the exterior doors shall be available at all times and the locks shall be operable from both sides of the door. Security hardware may be used on any fire-rated door.
Remote release of locks on doors in a means of egress shall be provided with reliable means of operation, remote from the resident living areas, to release locks on all required doors. In Occupancy Conditions 3 or 4, the arrangement, accessibility and security of the release mechanisms required for egress shall be such that with the minimum available staff at any time, the lock mechanisms are capable of being released within 2 minutes.
Exception: Provisions for remote locking and unlocking of occupied rooms in Occupancy Condition 4 are not required provided that not more than 10 locks are necessary to be unlocked in order to move occupants from one smoke compartment to a refuge area within 3 minutes. The opening of necessary locks shall be accomplished with not more than two separate keys.
Power-operated sliding doors or power-operated locks for swinging doors shall be operable by a manual release mechanism at the door. Emergency power shall be provided for the doors and locks in accordance with Section 2702.
Exceptions:
- Emergency power is not required in facilities with 10 or fewer locks complying with the exception to Section 408.4.1.
- Emergency power is not required where remote mechanical operating releases are provided.
Mechanically operated sliding doors or mechanically operated locks shall be provided with a mechanically operated release mechanism at each door and shall be provided with a remote release control.
Any vertical opening shall be protected by a shaft enclosure in accordance with Section 713, or shall be in accordance with Section 408.5.1.
The open space in front of a cell tier and connected chases, not exceeding two tiers in height, shall not be considered a vertical shaft and need not meet the fire-resistive shaft enclosure requirements of Section 713.
Where a floor opening is permitted between communicating floor levels of a housing unit in accordance with Section 408.5.1, plumbing chases serving vertically staked individual cells contained with the housing unit shall be permitted without a shaft enclosure.
Occupancies in Group I-3 shall have smoke barriers complying with Sections 408.8 and 709 to divide every story occupied by residents for sleeping, or any other story having an occupant load of 50 or more persons, into no fewer than two smoke compartments.
Exception: Spaces having a direct exit to one of the following, provided that the locking arrangement of the doors involved complies with the requirements for doors at the smoke barrier for the use condition involved:
- A public way.
- A building separated from the resident housing area by a 2-hour fire-resistance-rated assembly or 50 feet (15 240 mm) of open space.
- A secured yard or court having a holding space 50 feet (15 240 mm) from the housing area that provides 6 square feet (0.56 m2) or more of refuge area per occupant, including residents, staff and visitors.
- Holding facility.
Upcodes Diagrams
The number of residents in any smoke compartment shall be not more than 200. The distance of travel to a door in a smoke barrier from any room door required as exit access shall be not greater than 150 feet (45 720 mm). The distance of travel to a door in a smoke barrier from any point in a room shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).
Exception: The travel distance may be increased by 50 feet from areas open only to the staff.
Not less than 6 net square feet (0.56 m2) per occupant shall be provided on each side of each smoke barrier for the total number of occupants in adjoining smoke compartments. This space shall be readily available wherever the occupants are moved across the smoke barrier in a fire emergency.
A means of egress shall be provided from each smoke compartment created by smoke barriers without having to return through the smoke compartment from which means of egress originates.
In occupancies in Group I-3, windows and doors in 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707, fire partitions constructed in accordance with Section 708 and smoke barriers constructed in accordance with Section 709 shall be permitted to have security glazing installed provided that the following conditions are met.
- Individual panels of glazing shall not exceed 1,296 square inches (0.84 m2).
- The glazing shall be protected on both sides by an automatic sprinkler system. The sprinkler system shall be designed to, when actuated, wet completely the entire surface of any glazing affected by fire.
- The glazing shall be in a gasketed frame and installed in such a manner that the framing system will deflect without breaking (loading) the glass before the sprinkler system operates.
- Obstructions, such as curtain rods, drapery traverse rods, curtains, drapes or similar materials shall not be installed between the automatic sprinklers and the glazing.
Each cell complex shall be separated from other cell complexes or other spaces by a smoke-tight partition.
Doors in openings in partitions required to be smoke tight by Section 408.8 shall be substantial doors, of construction that will resist the passage of smoke. Latches and door closures are not required on cell doors.
For the purposes of this section, a windowless building or portion of a building is one with nonopenable windows, windows not readily breakable or without windows. Windowless buildings shall be provided with an engineered smoke control system to provide a tenable environment for exiting from the smoke compartment in the area of fire origin in accordance with Section 909 for each windowless smoke compartment.
The housing portions of windowless
buildings containing use conditions 3, 4 or 5 shall be
provided with an engineered smoke control system in
accordance with Section 909, windows or doors, smoke
vents, or equivalent means to provide a tenable environment
for exiting from the smoke compartment in the area
of fire origin. A tenable environment for egress shall be as
defined in NFPA 92. If windows, smoke vents or doors are
used to meet this section, at least two windows, smoke
vents or doors to the exterior must be provided at or above
the highest occupied level in each smoke compartment,
and the windows or doors must be operable or readily
breakable and arranged to manually vent smoke.
Exceptions:
- Windowless buildings or portions of a building that
meet all of the following requirements:
- Are Type IA or IB construction.
- Are protected with sprinklers throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- Include a fire alarm system with smoke detection in accordance with NFPA 72 in the dayroom and/or corridor serving as exit access from the cells, reporting to a 24 hour central control at the institution.
- Include at least one exit from each housing unit direct to the exterior where smoke will not accumulate or to the exterior through a 1-hourrated corridor serving only that unit.
- The building is divided into at least two smoke compartments per Section 408.6.1.
- As approved by the enforcing agency, an egress analysis shows that inmates can be evacuated within 6 minutes from the smoke compartment of origin 24 hours per day or when inmates are present, or the facility is provided with gang or electric locks.
- No venting or smoke control is required when an engineering analysis shows an acceptable safe egress time compared to the onset of untenable conditions within a windowless building or portion of a windowless building and approved by the enforcing agency.
- Courtroom holding areas and temporary central
holding areas in courthouses that they meet all of
the following requirements:
- Holding occurs for a duration less than 12 hours.
- The holding areas include no electrical outlets available to the detainees.
- The entire building includes sprinklers throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- The building includes a fire alarm system with smoke detection in accordance with NFPA 72 in the common rooms of holding areas and in the cells of central holding. The fire alarm system shall activate an alert signal on the floor of alarm containing the holding areas, to alert staff.
- As approved by the enforcing agency, an egress analysis shows that detainees can be evacuated within 5 minutes from the holding area of origin, or the facility is provided with gang or electric locks.
- Courtroom holding areas with less than 20 persons in custody.
- Windowless buildings or portions of a building that
meet all of the following requirements:
- Are Type IA or IB construction.
- Are protected with sprinklers throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
- Include a fire alarm system with smoke detection in accordance with NFPA 72 in the dayrooms and corridors serving as exit access from the cells, reporting to a 24-hour central control at the institution.
- Include at least one direct exit from each housing unit through a smoke partition to another smoke compartment. Each housing unit must be its own smoke compartment and can exit through a maximum of one adjacent compartment before reaching a corridor or the exterior.
- As approved by the enforcing agency, an egress analysis shows that inmates can be evacuated within 6 minutes from the smoke compartment of origin 24 hours per day or when inmates are present, or the facility is provided with gang or electric locks.
- Each housing unit includes a pressurization method smoke control system that complies with Section 909.
A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.6.3.
Group I-3 occupancies shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.6.
Special electrical systems, exit illumination, power installations and alternate on-site electrical supplies shall be provided for every building or portion of a building housing 10 or more inmates in a detention or correctional facility in accordance with the provisions of the California Electrical Code. There shall be a source of emergency power in all detention facilities capable of providing minimal lighting in all housing units, activity areas, corridors, stairs and central control points, and to maintain fire and life safety, security, communications and alarm systems.
In security areas within cell complexes sprinklered throughout, the area of glazing in one-hour corridor walls and smoke barrier walls shall not be restricted, provided:
- All openings are protected by fixed glazing listed and labeled for a fire-protection of at least 3/4 hour; or
- Fixed security glazing set in noncombustible frames. Shall comply with the minimum requirements of one of the following test standards: ASTM F1233-98, Class III glass, or; California Department of Corrections, CDC 860-94d, or H.P. White Laboratory, Inc., HPW-TP-0500.02, Forced Entry Level III.
- In lieu of the sizes set forth in CBC, the size and area of glazed assemblies shall conform to the following: Windows required to have a three-fourths-hour fire-resistive rating or windows protected by fixed security glazing, as delineated in Items 1 and 2 above, may have an area not greater than 84 square feet (7.8 m2) with neither width nor height exceeding 12 feet (3658 mm).
Padding material used on walls, floors and ceilings in Group I and R-2.1 occupancies shall be of an approved type tested in accordance with the procedures established by State Fire Marshal Standard 12-8-100, Room Fire Test for Wall and Ceiling Materials, California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 12.
The provisions of Sections 408.15.1 through 408.15.5 shall apply to small management yards. Small management yards may be used by a maximum of two occupants at any one time for a maximum of 2 hours per day.
Small management yards shall be constructed in accordance with all of the following:
- Constructed of Type IB noncombustible materials.
- Fence material shall be noncombustible.
- Have a maximum area of 150 square feet (14 m2).
- Yard area covering shall not exceed 75 square feet (7 m2) or a maximum of 50 percent of the fenced enclosure.
- Electrical lighting or devices of any type shall not be permitted within the yard.
Exception: Low voltage devices dedicated for the operation of toilets.
An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
Exception: Small management yards where a distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) is maintained from all buildings or structures and 4 feet (1220 mm) is maintained from containment fencing.
Exception: Small management yards where a distance of 10 feet (3048 mm) is maintained from all buildings or structures and 4 feet (1220 mm) is maintained from containment fencing.
Except as modified or as provided for in this section, the provisions of Section 408.3 and Chapter 10 shall apply. Small management yards shall comply with all of the following:
- Staff-controlled manual released locks shall be provided.
- Staff escorting inmates to and from small management yards shall be equipped with radios and personal alarms to notify central control in case of a fire.
- The safe dispersal area as defined by Section 1027.5 shall not be reduced due to placement of these yards.
- An exit, remote from the main entrance is required in the containment fencing.
Inmate exercise clothing and toilet paper tissue shall be the only combustible materials permitted in small management yards.
The provisions of Sections 409.1 through 409.5 shall apply to rooms in which ribbon-type cellulose acetate or other safety film is utilized in conjunction with electric arc, xenon or other light-source projection equipment that develops hazardous gases, dust or radiation. Where cellulose nitrate film is utilized or stored, such rooms shall comply with NFPA 40.
Every projection room shall be of permanent construction consistent with the construction requirements for the type of building in which the projection room is located. Openings are not required to be protected.
The room shall have a floor area of not less than 80 square feet (7.44 m2) for a single machine and not less than 40 square feet (3.7 m2) for each additional machine. Each motion picture projector, floodlight, spotlight or similar piece of equipment shall have a clear working space of not less than 30 inches by 30 inches (762 mm by 762 mm) on each side and at the rear thereof, but only one such space shall be required between two adjacent projectors. The projection room and the rooms appurtenant thereto shall have a ceiling height of not less than 7 feet 6 inches (2286 mm). The aggregate of openings for projection equipment shall not exceed 25 percent of the area of the wall between the projection room and the auditorium. Openings shall be provided with glass or other approved material, so as to close completely the opening.
Ventilation shall be provided in accordance with the California Mechanical Code.
Each projection room shall be provided with adequate air supply inlets so arranged as to provide well-distributed air throughout the room. Air inlet ducts shall provide an amount of air equivalent to the amount of air being exhausted by projection equipment. Air is permitted to be taken from the outside; from adjacent spaces within the building, provided the volume and infiltration rate is sufficient; or from the building air-conditioning system, provided it is so arranged as to provide sufficient air when other systems are not in operation.
Projection rooms are permitted to be exhausted through the lamp exhaust system. The lamp exhaust system shall be positively interconnected with the lamp so that the lamp will not operate unless there is the required airflow. Exhaust air ducts shall terminate at the exterior of the building in such a location that the exhaust air cannot be readily recirculated into any air supply system. The projection room ventilation system is permitted to also serve appurtenant rooms, such as the generator and rewind rooms.
Each projection machine shall be provided with an exhaust duct that will draw air from each lamp and exhaust it directly to the outside of the building. The lamp exhaust is permitted to serve to exhaust air from the projection room to provide room air circulation. Such ducts shall be of rigid materials, except for a flexible connector approved for the purpose. The projection lamp or projection room exhaust system, or both, is permitted to be combined but shall not be interconnected with any other exhaust or return system, or both, within the building.
Provisions shall be made for control of the auditorium lighting and the means of egress lighting systems of theaters from inside the projection room and from not less than one other convenient point in the building.
Each projection room shall be provided with rewind and film storage facilities.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
Stages shall be constructed of materials as required for floors for the type of construction of the building in which such stages are located.
Exception: Stages need not be constructed of the same materials as required for the type of construction provided the construction complies with one of the following:
- Stages of Type IIB or IV construction with a nominal 2-inch (51 mm) wood deck, provided that the stage is separated from other areas in accordance with Section 410.3.4.
- In buildings of Type IIA, IIIA and VA construction, a fire-resistance-rated floor is not required, provided the space below the stage is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system or fire-extinguishing system in accordance with Section 903 or 904.
- In all types of construction, the finished floor shall be constructed of wood or approved noncombustible materials. Openings through stage floors shall be equipped with tight-fitting, solid wood trap doors with approved safety locks.
Stage areas shall be measured to include the entire performance area and adjacent backstage and support areas not separated from the pqerformance area by fire-resistance-rated construction. Stage height shall be measured from the lowest point on the stage floor to the highest point of the roof or floor deck above the stage.
Beams designed only for the attachment of portable or fixed theater equipment, gridirons, galleries and catwalks shall be constructed of approved materials consistent with the requirements for the type of construction of the building; and a fire-resistance rating shall not be required. These areas shall not be considered to be floors, stories, mezzanines or levels in applying this code.
Exception: Floors of fly galleries and catwalks shall be constructed of any approved material.
Where protection of openings is required, exterior exit doors shall be protected with fire door assemblies that comply with Section 716. Exterior openings that are located on the stage for means of egress or loading and unloading purposes, and that are likely to be open during occupancy of the theater, shall be constructed with vestibules to prevent air drafts into the auditorium.
Where the stage height is greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm), all portions of the stage shall be completely separated from the seating area by a proscenium wall with not less than a 2-hour fire-resistance rating extending continuously from the foundation to the roof.
Where a proscenium wall is required to have a fire-resistance rating, the stage opening shall be provided with a fire curtain complying with NFPA 80, horizontal sliding doors complying with Section 716.5.2 having a fire protection rating of at least 1 hour, or an approved water curtain complying with Section 903.3.1.1 or, in facilities not utilizing the provisions of smoke-protected assembly seating in accordance with Section 1029.6.2, a smoke control system complying with Section 909 or natural ventilation designed to maintain the smoke level not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the floor of the means of egress.
Combustible materials used in sets and scenery shall be flame resistant in accordance with the provisions set forth in CCR, Title 19, Division 1, Chapter 8, in accordance with Section 806 and the California Fire Code. Foam plastics and materials containing foam plastics shall comply with Section 2603 and the California Fire Code.
Emergency ventilation shall be provided for stages larger than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) in floor area, or with a stage height greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm). Such ventilation shall comply with Section 410.3.7.1 or 410.3.7.2.
Two or more vents constructed to open automatically by approved heat-activated devices and with an aggregate clear opening area of not less than 5 percent of the area of the stage shall be located near the center and above the highest part of the stage area. Supplemental means shall be provided for manual operation of the ventilator. Curbs shall be provided as required for skylights in Section 2610.2. Vents shall be labeled.
Smoke control in accordance with Section 909 shall be provided to maintain the smoke layer interface not less than 6 feet (1829 mm) above the highest level of the assembly seating or above the top of the proscenium opening where a proscenium wall is provided in compliance with Section 410.3.4.
Permanent platforms shall be constructed of materials as required for the type of construction of the building in which the permanent platform is located. Permanent platforms are permitted to be constructed of fire-retardant-treated wood for Types I, II and IV construction where the platforms are not more than 30 inches (762 mm) above the main floor, and not more than one-third of the room floor area and not more than 3,000 square feet (279 m2) in area. Where the space beneath the permanent platform is used for storage or any purpose other than equipment, wiring or plumbing, the floor assembly shall be not less than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated construction. Where the space beneath the permanent platform is used only for equipment, wiring or plumbing, the underside of the permanent platform need not be protected.
The stage shall be separated from dressing rooms, scene docks, property rooms, workshops, storerooms and compartments appurtenant to the stage and other parts of the building by fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. The fire-resistance rating shall be not less than 2 hours for stage heights greater than 50 feet (15 240 mm) and not less than 1 hour for stage heights of 50 feet (15 240 mm) or less.
Dressing rooms, scene docks, property rooms, workshops, storerooms and compartments appurtenant to the stage shall be separated from each other by not less than 1-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both.
Except as modified or as provided for in this section, the provisions of Chapter 10 shall apply.
Where two or more exits or exit access doorways from the stage are required in accordance with Section 1006.2, no fewer than one exit or exit access doorway shall be provided on each side of a stage.
Exit access stairways and ramps serving a stage or platform are not required to be enclosed. Exit access stairways and ramps serving technical production areas are not required to be enclosed.
Technical production areas shall be provided with means of egress and means of escape in accordance with Sections 410.6.3.1 through 410.6.3.5.
No fewer than one means of egress shall be provided from technical production areas.
The exit access travel distance shall be not greater than 300 feet (91 440 mm) for buildings without a sprinkler system and 400 feet (121 900 mm) for buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
Upcodes Diagrams
Where two means of egress are required, the common path of travel shall be not greater than 100 feet (30 480 mm).
Exception: A means of escape to a roof in place of a second means of egress is permitted.
Upcodes Diagrams
The following exit access components are permitted where serving technical production areas:
The path of egress travel within and from technical support areas shall be not less than 22 inches (559 mm).
Stages shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Sprinklers shall be installed under the roof and gridiron and under all catwalks and galleries over the stage. Sprinklers shall be installed in dressing rooms, performer lounges, shops and storerooms accessory to such stages.
Exceptions:
- Sprinklers are not required under stage areas less than 4 feet (1219 mm) in clear height that are utilized exclusively for storage of tables and chairs, provided the concealed space is separated from the adjacent spaces by Type X gypsum board not less than 5/8-inch (15.9 mm) in thickness.
- Sprinklers are not required for stages 1,000 square feet (93 m2) or less in area and 50 feet (15 240 mm) or less in height where curtains, scenery or other combustible hangings are not retractable vertically. Combustible hangings shall be limited to a single main curtain, borders, legs and a single backdrop.
- Sprinklers are not required within portable orchestra enclosures on stages.
Standpipe systems shall be provided in accordance with Section 905.
Special amusement buildings having an occupant load of 50 or more shall comply with the requirements for the appropriate Group A occupancy and Sections 411.1 through 411.8. Amusement buildings having an occupant load of less than 50 shall comply with the requirements for a Group B occupancy and Sections 411.1 through 411.8.
Exception: Amusement buildings or portions thereof that are without walls or a roof and constructed to prevent the accumulation of smoke need not comply with this section.
For flammable decorative materials, see the California Fire Code.
The following term is defined in Chapter 2:
Special amusement buildings shall be equipped with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.
Special amusement buildings shall be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1. Where the special amusement building is temporary, the sprinkler water supply shall be of an approved temporary means.
Exception: Automatic sprinklers are not required where the total floor area of a temporary special amusement building is less than 1,000 square feet (93 m2) and the exit access travel distance from any point to an exit is less than 50 feet (15 240 mm).
Actuation of a single smoke detector, the automatic sprinkler system or other automatic fire detection device shall immediately sound an alarm at the building at a constantly attended location from which emergency action can be initiated including the capability of manual initiation of requirements in Section 907.2.12.2.
An emergency voice/alarm communications system shall be provided in accordance with Sections 907.2.12 and 907.5.2.2, which is also permitted to serve as a public address system and shall be audible throughout the entire special amusement building.
Exit signs shall be installed at the required exit or exit access doorways of amusement buildings in accordance with this section and Section 1013. Approved directional exit markings shall also be provided. Where mirrors, mazes or other designs are utilized that disguise the path of egress travel such that they are not apparent, approved and listed low-level exit signs that comply with Section 1013.5, and directional path markings listed in accordance with UL 1994, shall be provided and located not more than 8 inches (203 mm) above the walking surface and on or near the path of egress travel. Such markings shall become visible in an emergency. The directional exit marking shall be activated by the automatic fire detection system and the automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 907.2.12.2.
The interior finish shall be Class A in accordance with Section 803.1.
Aircraft-related occupancies shall comply with Sections 412.1 through 412.8 and the California Fire Code.
The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:
The provisions of Sections 412.3.1 through 412.3.8 shall apply to airport traffic control towers occupied only for the following uses:
- Airport traffic control cab.
- Electrical and mechanical equipment rooms.
- Airport terminal radar and electronics rooms.
- Office spaces incidental to the tower operation.
- Lounges for employees, including sanitary facilities.
Airport traffic control towers shall be constructed to comply with the height limitations of Table 412.3.1.
HEIGHT LIMITATIONS FOR AIRPORT TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWERS
| TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | HEIGHTa (feet) |
| IA | Unlimited |
| IB | 240 |
| IIA | 100 |
| IIB | 85 |
| IIIA | 65 |
For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2.
- Height to be measured from grade plane to cab floor.
Stairways in airport traffic control towers shall be in accordance with Section 1011. Stairways shall be smokeproof enclosures complying with one of the alternatives provided in Section 909.20.
Exception: Stairways in airport traffic control towers are not required to comply with Section 1011.12.
From observation levels, airport traffic control towers shall be permitted to have a single means of exit access for a distance of travel not greater than 100 feet (30 480 mm). Exit access stairways from the observation level need not be enclosed.
Not less than one exit stairway shall be permitted for airport traffic control towers of any height provided that the occupant load per floor is not greater than 15 and the area per floor does not exceed 1,500 square feet (140 m2).
Where an airport traffic control tower is provided with only one exit stairway, interior wall and ceiling finishes shall be either Class A or Class B.
Airport traffic control towers shall be provided with an automatic fire detection system installed in accordance with Section 907.2.
Where an occupied floor is located more than 35 feet (10 668 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, airport traffic control towers shall be equipped with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
Wires or cables that provide normal or standby power, control signals, communication with the car, lighting, heating, air conditioning, ventilation and fire detecting systems to elevators shall be protected by construction having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour, or shall be circuit integrity cable having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.
Where provided in addition to an exit stairway, occupant evacuation elevators shall be in accordance with Section 3008.
[DSA-AC] In air traffic control towers, an accessible route shall not be required to serve the cab and the equipment areas on the floor immediately below the cab.
Upcodes Diagrams
Exterior walls located less than 30 feet (9144 mm) from lot lines or a public way shall have a fire-resistance rating not less than 2 hours.
Floors shall be graded and drained to prevent water or fuel from remaining on the floor. Floor drains shall discharge through an oil separator to the sewer or to an outside vented sump.
Exception: Aircraft hangars with individual lease spaces not exceeding 2,000 square feet (186 m2) each in which servicing, repairing or washing is not conducted and fuel is not dispensed shall have floors that are graded toward the door, but shall not require a separator.
Heating equipment shall be placed in another room separated by 2-hour fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711, or both. Entrance shall be from the outside or by means of a vestibule providing a two-doorway separation.
Exceptions:
- Unit heaters and vented infrared radiant heating equipment suspended not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) above the upper surface of wings or engine enclosures of the highest aircraft that are permitted to be housed in the hangar need not be located in a separate room provided they are mounted not less than 8 feet (2438 mm) above the floor in shops, offices and other sections of the hangar communicating with storage or service areas.
- Entrance to the separated room shall be permitted by a single interior door provided the sources of ignition in the appliances are not less than_18 inches (457 mm) above the floor.
The process of "doping," involving use of a volatile flammable solvent, or of painting, shall be carried on in a separate detached building equipped with automatic fire-extinguishing equipment in accordance with Section 903.
Aircraft hangars shall be provided with a fire suppression system designed in accordance with NFPA 409, based upon the classification for the hangar given in Table 412.4.6.
Exception: Where a fixed base operator has separate repair facilities on site, Group II hangars operated by a fixed base operator used for storage of transient aircraft only shall have a fire suppression system, but the system is exempt from foam requirements.
[F] TABLE 412.4.6
HANGAR FIRE SUPPRESSION REQUIREMENTSa,b,c
| MAXIMUM SINGLE FIRE AREA (square feet) | TYPE OF CONSTRUCTION | ||||||||
| IA | IB | IIA | IIB | IIIA | IIIB | IV | VA | VB | |
| ≥ 40,001 | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I | Group I |
| 40,000 | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II |
| 30,000 | Group III | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II |
| 20,000 | Group III | Group III | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II | Group II |
| 15,000 | Group III | Group III | |||||||