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Appendix BB Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings

CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE — MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE
APPENDIX BB — FIRE-FLOW REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDINGS
(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user.
See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)
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     X                                        
Adopt Entire Chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)                                              
Adopt only those sections that are listed below                                              
[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1]                                              
Chapter / Section                                              
* 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.

Section BB101 Scope

BB101.1

The procedures determining fire-flow requirements for any school buildings or portions of buildings hereafter constructed for which review and approval is required under Subdivision(a) of Section 17280 of the Government Code shall be in accordance with this appendix as amended by the state fire marshal. This appendix does not apply to structures other than buildings.

Section BB102 Definitions

BB102.1

For the purpose of Appendix III-A, certain terms are defined as follows:
FIRE AREA. The floor area, in square feet, used to determine the required fire flow.
FIRE FLOW. The flow rate of a water supply, measured at 20 psi (137.9 kPa) residual pressure, that is available for firefighting.

Section BB103 Modifications

BB103.1

An alternative method of providing water for fire protection or any other alternative, in lieu of providing the water, may be enforced when deemed appropriate by the fire chief and the state fire marshal.

Section BB104 Fire Area

BB104.1 General

The fire 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 4.

BB104.2 Area Separation

Portions of buildings which are separated by one or more 4-hour area separation walls constructed in accordance with the building code, without openings and provided with a 30-inch (762 mm) parapet, are allowed to be considered as separate fire areas.

BB104.3 Type I and Type IB Construction

The fire area of buildings constructed of Type I and Type IB construction shall be the area of the three largest successive floors.

Section BB105 Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings

BB105.1

The minimum fire flow and flow duration for school buildings shall be as specified in Table BB105.1.
Exception: A reduction in required fire flow of up to 75 percent is allowed when the building is provided with an approved automatic sprinkler system. When a reduction in fire flow is used, fire flow shall not be less than 1500 GPM.
TABLE BB105.1
MINIMUM REQUIRED FIRE-FLOW AND FLOW DURATION FOR BUILDINGS
FIRE AREA (square feet) FIRE-FLOW
(gallons per
minute)b 		FLOW DURATION
(hours)
Type IA and IB a Type IIA and IIIA a Type IV and V-A a Type IIB and IIIB a Type V-B a
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 = 6.895kPa.
  1. Types of construction are based on the California Building Code.
  2. Measured at 20 psi.