| Adopting Agency | BSC | BSC- CG | SFM | HCD | DSA | OSHPD | BSCC | DPH | AGR | DWR | CEC | CA | SL | SLC | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-24 | T-19* | 1 | 2 | 1/AC | AC | SS | 1 | 1R | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||
| Adopt Entire Chapter | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adopt Entire Chapter as amended (amended sections listed below) | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adopt only those sections that are listed below | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter / Section | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Table B105.1(1) | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| B105.2 | X | ||||||||||||||||||||||
* The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Fire Code are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 19, Division 1 text for the code user's convenience only. The scope, applicability and appeals procedures of CCR, Title 19, Division I remain the same.
The provisions contained in this appendix are not mandatory unless specifically referenced in the adopting ordinance or legislation of the jurisdiction.
User note:
About this appendix: Appendix B provides a tool for the use of jurisdictions in establishing a policy for determining fire-flow requirements in accordance with Section 507.3. The determination of required fire flow is not an exact science, but having some level of information provides a consistent way of choosing the appropriate fire flow for buildings throughout a jurisdiction. The primary tool used in this appendix is a table that presents fire flow based on construction type and building area based on the correlation of the Insurance Services Office (ISO) method and the construction types used in the International Building Code®.
The procedure for determining fire-flow requirements for buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed shall be in accordance with this appendix. This appendix does not apply to structures other than buildings.
For the purpose of this appendix, certain terms are defined as follows:
FIRE FLOW. The flow rate of a water supply, measured at 20 pounds per square inch (psi) (138 kPa) residual pressure, that is available for fire fighting.
FIRE-FLOW CALCULATION AREA. The floor area, in square feet (m2), used to determine the required fire flow.
The fire code official is authorized to reduce the fire-flow requirements for isolated buildings or a group of buildings in rural areas or small communities where the development of full fire-flow requirements is impractical.
The fire code official is authorized to increase the fire-flow requirements where conditions indicate an unusual susceptibility to group fires or conflagrations. An increase shall be not more than twice that required for the building under consideration.
For information regarding water supplies for fire-fighting purposes in rural and suburban areas in which adequate and reliable water supply systems do not exist, the fire code official is authorized to utilize NFPA 1142.
The fire-flow calculation area shall be the total floor area of all floor levels within the exterior walls, and under the horizontal projections of the roof of a building, except as modified in Section B104.3.
Portions of buildings that are separated by fire walls without openings, constructed in accordance with the California Building Code, are allowed to be considered as separate fire-flow calculation areas.
The fire-flow calculation area of buildings constructed of Type IA and Type IB construction shall be the area of the three largest successive floors.
Exception: Fire-flow calculation area for open parking garages shall be determined by the area of the largest floor.
The minimum fire-flow and flow duration requirements for one- and two-family dwellings, Group R-3 and R-4 buildings and townhouses shall be as specified in Tables B105.1(1) and B105.1(2).
TABLE B105.1(1)
| FIRE-FLOW CALCULATION AREA (square feet) | AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (Design Standard) | MINIMUM FIRE FLOW (gallons per minute) | FLOW DURATION (hours) |
| 0—3,600 | No automatic sprinkler system | 1,000 | 1 |
| 3,601 and greater | No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the required fire-flow rate |
| 0—3,600 | Section 903.3.1.3 of the California Fire Code or Section 313.3 of the California Residential Code | 500 | 1/2 |
| 3,601 and greater | Section 903.3.1.3 of the California Fire Code or Section 313.3 of the California Residential Code | 1/2 value in Table B105.1(2) | 1 |
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m.
TABLE B105.1(2)
REFERENCE TABLE FOR TABLES B105.1(1) AND B105.2
| FIRE-FLOW CALCULATION AREA (square feet) | FIRE FLOW (gallons per minute)b | FLOW DURATION (hours) | ||||
| Type IA and IBa | Type IIA and IIIAa | Type IV and V-Aa | Type IIB and IIIBa | Type V-Ba | ||
| 0—22,700 | 0—12,700 | 0—8,200 | 0—5,900 | 0—3,600 | 1,500 | 2 |
| 22,701—30,200 | 12,701—17,000 | 8,201—10,900 | 5,901—7,900 | 3,601—4,800 | 1,750 | |
| 30,201—38,700 | 17,001—21,800 | 10,901—12,900 | 7,901—9,800 | 4,801—6,200 | 2,000 | |
| 38,701—48,300 | 21,801—24,200 | 12,901—17,400 | 9,801—12,600 | 6,201—7,700 | 2,250 | |
| 48,301—59,000 | 24,201—33,200 | 17,401—21,300 | 12,601—15,400 | 7,701—9,400 | 2,500 | |
| 59,001—70,900 | 33,201—39,700 | 21,301—25,500 | 15,401—18,400 | 9,401—11,300 | 2,750 | |
| 70,901—83,700 | 39,701—47,100 | 25,501—30,100 | 18,401—21,800 | 11,301—13,400 | 3,000 | 3 |
| 83,701—97,700 | 47,101—54,900 | 30,101—35,200 | 21,801—25,900 | 13,401—15,600 | 3,250 | |
| 97,701—112,700 | 54,901—63,400 | 35,201—40,600 | 25,901—29,300 | 15,601—18,000 | 3,500 | |
| 112,701—128,700 | 63,401—72,400 | 40,601—46,400 | 29,301—33,500 | 18,001—20,600 | 3,750 | |
| 128,701—145,900 | 72,401—82,100 | 46,401—52,500 | 33,501—37,900 | 20,601—23,300 | 4,000 | 4 |
| 145,901—164,200 | 82,101—92,400 | 52,501—59,100 | 37,901—42,700 | 23,301—26,300 | 4,250 | |
| 164,201—183,400 | 92,401—103,100 | 59,101—66,000 | 42,701—47,700 | 26,301—29,300 | 4,500 | |
| 183,401—203,700 | 103,101—114,600 | 66,001—73,300 | 47,701—53,000 | 29,301—32,600 | 4,750 | |
| 203,701—225,200 | 114,601—126,700 | 73,301—81,100 | 53,001—58,600 | 32,601—36,000 | 5,000 | |
| 225,201—247,700 | 126,701—139,400 | 81,101—89,200 | 58,601—65,400 | 36,001—39,600 | 5,250 | |
| 247,701—271,200 | 139,401—152,600 | 89,201—97,700 | 65,401—70,600 | 39,601—43,400 | 5,500 | |
| 271,201—295,900 | 152,601—166,500 | 97,701—106,500 | 70,601—77,000 | 43,401—47,400 | 5,750 | |
| 295,901—Greater | 166,501—Greater | 106,501—115,800 | 77,001—83,700 | 47,401—51,500 | 6,000 | |
| — | — | 115,801—125,500 | 83,701—90,600 | 51,501—55,700 | 6,250 | |
| — | — | 125,501—135,500 | 90,601—97,900 | 55,701—60,200 | 6,500 | |
| — | — | 135,501—145,800 | 97,901—106,800 | 60,201—64,800 | 6,750 | |
| — | — | 145,801—156,700 | 106,801—113,200 | 64,801—69,600 | 7,000 | |
| — | — | 156,701—167,900 | 113,201—121,300 | 69,601—74,600 | 7,250 | |
| — | — | 167,901—179,400 | 121,301—129,600 | 74,601—79,800 | 7,500 | |
| — | — | 179,401—191,400 | 129,601—138,300 | 79,801—85,100 | 7,750 | |
| — | — | 191,401—Greater | 138,301—Greater | 85,101—Greater | 8,000 | |
For SI: 1 square foot = 0.0929 m2, 1 gallon per minute = 3.785 L/m, 1 pound per square inch = 6.895 kPa.
- Types of construction are based on the California Building Code.
- Measured at 20 psi residual pressure.
The minimum fire-flow and flow duration for buildings other than one- and two-family dwellings, Group R-3 and R-4 buildings and townhouses shall be as specified in Tables B105.1(2) and B105.2.
Exception: [SFM] Group B, S-2 and U occupancies having a floor area not exceeding 1,000 square feet, primarily constructed of noncombustible exterior walls with wood or steel roof framing, having a Class A roof assembly, with uses limited to the following or similar uses:
- California State Parks buildings of an accessory nature (restrooms).
- Safety roadside rest areas, (SRRA), public restrooms.
- Truck inspection facilities, (TIF), CHP office space and vehicle inspection bays.
- Sand/salt storage buildings, storage of sand and salt.
TABLE B105.2
REQUIRED FIRE FLOW FOR BUILDINGS OTHER THAN ONE- AND TWO-FAMILY DWELLINGS, GROUP R-3 AND R-4 BUILDINGS AND TOWNHOUSES
| AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM (Design Standard) | MINIMUM FIRE FLOW (gallons per minute) | FLOW DURATION (hours) |
| No automatic sprinkler system | Value in Table B105.1(2) | Duration in Table B105.1(2) |
| Section 903.3.1.1 of the California Fire Code | 25% of the value in Table B105.1(2)a | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the reduced flow rate |
| Section 903.3.1.2 of the California Fire Code | 25% of the value in Table B105.1(2)b | Duration in Table B105.1(2) at the reduced flow rate |
For buildings equipped with an approved automatic sprinkler system, the water supply shall be capable of providing the greater of:
- The automatic sprinkler system demand, including hose stream allowance.
- The required fire flow.
See Table B106.1 for standards that are referenced in various sections of this appendix. Standards are listed by the standard identification with the effective date, standard title, and the section or sections of this appendix that reference the standard.
TABLE B106.1
REFERENCED STANDARDS
| STANDARD ACRONYM | STANDARD NAME | SECTIONS HEREIN REFERENCED |
| CBC—22 | California Building Code | B104.2 |
| CRC—22 | California Residential Code | Table B105.1(1) |
| NFPA 1142—17 | Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting | B103.3 |