Section 3103 — TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

The provisions of Sections 3103.1 through 3103.8 shall apply to structures erected for a period of less than 180 days. Temporary special event structures, tents, umbrella structures and other membrane structures erected for a period of less than 180 days shall also comply with the California Fire Code . Temporary structures erected for a longer period of time and public-occupancy temporary structures shall comply with applicable sections of this code.

Exceptions:

1. Public-occupancy temporary structures complying with Section 3103.1.1 shall be permitted to remain in service for 180 days or more but not more than 1 year where approved by the building official.
2. Public-occupancy temporary structures within the confines of an existing structure are not required to comply with Section 3103.6.

[DSA-SS, DSA-SS/CC] The classification of public-occupancy temporary structure shall not be applied to any school building as defined in Section 4-314 of the California Administrative Code.

3103.1.1 Extended period of service time. Public-occupancy temporary structures shall be permitted to remain in service for 180 days or more without complying with requirements in this code for new building or structures where extensions for up to 1 year are granted by the Building Official in accordance with Section 108.1 and where the following conditions are satisfied:

1. Additional inspections as determined by the building official shall be performed by a qualified person to verify that site conditions and the approved installation comply with the conditions of approval at the time of final inspection.
2. A qualified person shall perform follow-up inspections after initial occupancy at intervals not exceeding 180 days to verify the site conditions and the installation conform to the approved site conditions and installation requirements. Inspection records shall be kept and shall be made available for verification by the building official.
3. An examination shall be performed by a registered design professional to determine the adequacy of the temporary structure to resist the structural loads required in Section 3103.6.
4. Relocation of the public-occupancy temporary structure shall require a new permit application.
5. The use or occupancy approved at the time of final inspection shall remain unchanged.

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6. A request for an extension is submitted to the building official. The request shall include records of the inspections and examination in Items 1 and 3.

3103.1.2 Conformance. Temporary structures and uses shall conform to the structural strength, fire safety, means of egress, accessibility, light, ventilation and sanitary requirements of this code as necessary to ensure public health, safety and general welfare.

3103.1.2.1 Water-filled vessels. [SFM] Water-filled vessels shall not be used to anchor a tent or membrane structure unless approved and in accordance with the tent or membrane structure manufacturer’s instructions. 3103.1.3 Permit required. Temporary structures that cover an area greater than 120 square feet (11.16 m [2] ), including connecting areas or spaces with a common means of egress or entrance that are used or intended to be used for the gathering together of 10 or more persons, shall not be erected, operated or maintained for any purpose without obtaining a permit from the building official.

A permit application and construction documents shall be submitted for each installation of a temporary structure. The construction documents, shall include a site plan indicating the location of the temporary structure and information delineating the means of egress and the occupant load.

Temporary structures shall be located in accordance with the requirements of Table 705.5 based on the fire-resistance rating of the exterior walls for the proposed type of construction.

Temporary structures shall conform to the means of egress requirements of Chapter 10 and shall have an exit access travel distance of 100 feet (30 480 mm) or less.

Temporary bleachers, grandstands and folding and telescopic seating that are not building elements shall comply with ICC 300.

Temporary structures shall comply with the structural requirements of this code. Public-occupancy temporary structures shall be designed and erected to comply with the structural requirements of this code and Sections 3103.6.1 through 3103.6.4.

Exception: Where approved, live loads less than those prescribed by Table 1607.1 shall be permitted provided that a registered design professional demonstrates that a rational approach has been used and that such reductions are warranted.

Temporary non-building structures ancillary to public assemblies or special event structures whose structural failure or collapse would endanger assembled public shall be assigned a risk category corresponding to the risk category of the public assembly. For the purposes of establishing an occupant load for the assembled public endangered by structural failure or collapse, the applicable occupant load determination in Section 1004.5 or 1004.6 shall be applied over the assembly area within a radius equal to 1.5 times the height of the temporary non-building structure

3103.6.1 Structural loads. Public-occupancy temporary structures shall be designed in accordance with Chapter 16, except as modified by Sections 3103.6.1.1 through 3103.6.1.6.

3103.6.1.1 Snow loads. Snow loads on public-occupancy temporary structures shall be determined in accordance with Section 1608. The ground snow loads, p g, in Section 1608 shall be modified according to Table 3103.6.1.1. Exception: Ground snow loads, p g, for public-occupancy temporary structures that employ controlled-occupancy procedures per Section 3103.8 shall be permitted to be modified using a ground snow load reduction factor of 0.65 instead of the ground snow load reduction factors in Table 3103.6.1.1.

Where the public-occupancy temporary structure is not subject to snow loads or not constructed and occupied during times when snow is to be expected, snow loads need not be considered, provided that where the period of time when the public-occupancy temporary structure is in service shifts to include times when snow is to be expected, one of the following conditions is met:

1. The design is reviewed and modified, as appropriate, to account for snow loads.
2. Controlled occupancy procedures in accordance with Section 3103.8 are implemented.

TABLE 3103.6.1.1—REDUCTION FACTORS FOR GROUND SNOW LOADS FOR PUBLIC-OCCUPANCY TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

3103.6.1.2 Wind loads. The design wind load on public-occupancy temporary structures shall be permitted to be modified in accordance with the wind load reduction factors in Table 3103.6.1.2.

Exceptions:

1. Design wind loads for public-occupancy temporary structures that implement controlled occupancy procedures per Section 3103.8 shall be permitted to be modified using a wind load reduction factor of 0.65.

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2. For public-occupancy temporary structures erected in a hurricane-prone region outside of hurricane season, the basic wind speed, V, shall be permitted to be set as follows, depending on risk category: 2.1. Risk Category II: 115 mph. 2.2. Risk Category III: 120 mph. 2.3. Risk Category IV: 125 mph.

TABLE 3103.6.1.2—REDUCTION FACTORS FOR WIND LOADS FOR PUBLIC-OCCUPANCY TEMPORARY STRUCTURES

3103.6.1.3 Flood loads. Public-occupancy temporary structures need not be designed for flood loads specified in Section 1612. Controlled occupancy procedures in accordance with Section 3103.8 shall be implemented.

3103.6.1.4 Seismic loads. Seismic loads on public-occupancy temporary structures assigned to Seismic Design Categories C through F shall be permitted to be taken as 75 percent of those determined by Section 1613. Public-occupancy temporary structures assigned to Seismic Design Categories A and B are not required to be designed for seismic loads.

3103.6.1.5 Ice loads. Ice loads on public-occupancy temporary structures shall be permitted to be determined with a maximum nominal thickness of 0.5 inch (13 mm), for all risk categories. Where the public-occupancy temporary structure is not subject to ice loads or not constructed and occupied during times when ice is to be expected, ice loads need not be considered, provided that where the period of time when the public-occupancy temporary structure is in service shifts to include times when ice is to be expected, one of the following conditions is met:

1. The design is reviewed and modified, as appropriate, to account for ice loads.
2. Controlled occupancy procedures in accordance with Section 3103.8 are implemented.

3103.6.1.6 Tsunami loads. Public-occupancy temporary structures in a tsunami design zone are not required to be designed for tsunami loads specified in Section 1615. Controlled occupancy procedures in accordance with Section 3103.8 shall be implemented.

3103.6.2 Foundations. Public-occupancy temporary structures shall be permitted to be supported on the ground with temporary foundations where approved by the building official. Consideration shall be given for the impacts of differential settlement where foundations do not extend below the ground or where foundations are supported on compressible materials. The presumptive load-bearing value for public-occupancy temporary structures supported on a pavement, slab on grade or on other collapsible or controlled low-strength substrate soils such as beach sand or grass shall be assumed not to exceed 1,000 pounds per square foot (47.88 kPa) unless determined through testing and evaluation by a registered design professional. The presumptive load-bearing values listed in Table 1806.2 shall be permitted to be used for other supporting soil conditions.

ement, slab on grade or on other collapsible or controlled low-strength substrate soils such as beach sand or grass shall be assumed not to exceed 1,000 pounds per square foot (47.88 kPa) unless determined through testing and evaluation by a registered design professional. The presumptive load-bearing values listed in Table 1806.2 shall be permitted to be used for other supporting soil conditions.

3103.6.3 Installation and maintenance inspections. A qualified person shall inspect public-occupancy temporary structures that are assembled using transportable and reusable materials. Components shall be inspected when purchased or acquired and at least once per year. The inspection shall evaluate individual components, and the fully assembled structure, to determine suitability for use based on the requirements in ESTA ANSI E1.21. Inspection records shall be kept and shall be made available for verification by the building official. Additionally, public-occupancy temporary structures shall be inspected at regular intervals when in service to ensure that the structure continues to perform as designed and initially erected.

3103.6.4 Durability. Reusable components used in the erection and the installation of public-occupancy temporary structures shall be manufactured of durable materials necessary to withstand environmental conditions at the service location. Components damaged during transportation or installation or due to the effects of weathering shall be replaced or repaired.

The effects of structural loads or conditions shall not adversely affect the serviceability or performance of the public-occupancy temporary structure.

Where controlled occupancy procedures are required to be implemented for publicoccupancy temporary structures in Section 3103.6.1, the procedures shall comply with this section and ANSI ES1.7. An operations management plan in accordance with ANSI E1.21 shall be submitted to the building official for approval as a part of the permit documents. In addition, the operations management plan shall include an emergency action plan that documents the following information, where applicable:

1. Surfaces on which snow or ice accumulates shall be monitored before and during occupancy of the public-occupancy temporary structure. Any loads in excess of the design snow or ice load shall be removed prior to its occupancy, or the public-occupancy temporary structure shall be vacated in the event that either the design snow or ice load is exceeded during its occupancy.

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2. Wind speeds associated with the design wind loads shall be monitored before and during occupancy of the public-occupancy temporary structure. The public-occupancy temporary structure shall be vacated in the event that the design wind speed is expected to be exceeded during its occupancy.
3. Criteria for initiating occupant evacuation procedures for flood and tsunami events.
4. Occupant evacuation procedures shall be specified for each environmental hazard where the occupant management plan specifies the public-occupancy temporary structure is to be evacuated.
5. Procedures for anchoring or removal of the public-occupancy temporary structure, or other additional measures or procedures to be implemented to mitigate hazards in snow, wind, flood, ice or tsunami events.