Section 1.1 — GENERAL

1.1.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Fire Code, may be cited as such and will be referred to herein as “this code.” The California Fire Code is Part 9 of thirteen parts of the official compilation and publication of the adoptions, amendment and repeal of building regulations to the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also referred to as the California Building Standards Code. This part incorporates by adoption the 2024 International Fire Code of the International Code Council (ICC) with necessary California amendments.

1.1.2 Purpose. The purpose of this code is to establish the minimum requirements consistent with nationally recognized good practices to safeguard the public health, safety and general welfare from the hazards of fire, explosion or dangerous conditions in new and existing build- ings, structures and premises, and to provide safety and assistance to firefighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

1.1.3 Scope. The provisions of this code shall apply to the construction, alteration, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, equip- ment, use and occupancy, location, maintenance, removal and demolition of every building or structure or any appurtenances connected or attached to such building structures throughout the State of California.

This code establishes regulations affecting or relating to buildings, structures, processes, premises and a reasonable degree of life and property safeguards regarding: 1. The hazard of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices. 2. Conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the use or occupancy of buildings, structures or premises. 3. Fire hazards in the buildings, structures or on premises from use of, occupancy of, or operation. 4. Matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression or alarm systems. 5. Conditions affecting the safety of firefighters and emergency responders during emergency operations.

1.1.3.1 Nonstate-regulated buildings, structures and applications. Except as modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8, the following standards in the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Parts 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 11 shall apply to all occu- pancies and applications not regulated by a state agency.

1.1.3.2 State-regulated buildings, structures and applications. The model code, state amendments to the model code, and/or state amendments where there are no relevant model code provisions, shall apply to the following buildings, structures and applica- tions regulated by state agencies as specified in Sections 1.2 through 1.14, except where modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8. When adopted by a state agency, the provisions of this code shall be enforced by the appropriate enforcing agency, but only to the extent of authority granted to such agency by the state legislature.

the following buildings, structures and applica-_ tions regulated by state agencies as specified in Sections 1.2 through 1.14, except where modified by local ordinance pursuant to Section 1.1.8. When adopted by a state agency, the provisions of this code shall be enforced by the appropriate enforcing agency, but only to the extent of authority granted to such agency by the state legislature.

Note: See “How to Distinguish Between Model Code Language and California Amendments” following the Preface. 1. State-owned buildings, including buildings constructed by the Trustees of the California State University, and to the extent permitted by California laws, buildings designed and constructed by the Regents of the University of California, and regu- lated by the Building Standards Commission. See Section 1.2 for additional scope provisions. 2. Local detention facilities regulated by the Board of State and Community Corrections. See Section 1.3 for additional scope provisions. 3. Barbering, cosmetology or electrolysis establishments, acupuncture offices, pharmacies, veterinary facilities and structural pest control locations regulated by the Department of Consumer Affairs. See Section 1.4 for additional scope provisions. 4. Section 1.5 reserved for the California Energy Commission. 5. Dairies and places of meat inspection regulated by the Department of Food and Agriculture. See Section 1.6 for additional scope provisions. 6. Organized camps, laboratory animal quarters, public swimming pools, radiation protection, commissaries serving mobile food preparation vehicles and wild animal quarantine facilities regulated by the Department of Public Health. See Section 1.7 for additional scope provisions. 7. Hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, dwellings, dormitories, condominiums, shelters for homeless persons, congregate residences, employee housing, factory-built housing and other types of dwellings containing sleeping accommodations with or without common toilets or cooking facilities. See Section 1.8.2.1.1 for additional scope provisions. 8. Accommodations for persons with disabilities in buildings containing newly constructed covered multifamily dwellings, new common use spaces serving existing covered multifamily dwellings, additions to existing buildings where the addition alone meets the definition of a “COVERED MULTIFAMILY DWELLING,” and new common-use areas serving new covered multifamily dwellings which are regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.2 for addi- tional scope provisions.

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9. Permanent buildings and permanent accessory buildings or structures constructed within mobile home parks and special occupancy parks regulated by the Department of Housing and Community Development. See Section 1.8.2.1.3 for additional scope provisions. 10. Accommodations for persons with disabilities regulated by the Division of the State Architect. See Section 1.9.1 for addi- tional scope provisions. 11. Public elementary and secondary schools, community college buildings and state-owned or state-leased essential service buildings regulated by the Division of the State Architect. See Section 1.9.2 for additional scope provisions. 12. Qualified historical buildings and structures and their associated sites regulated by the State Historical Building Safety Board with the Division of the State Architect.

13. General acute care hospitals, acute psychiatric hospitals, skilled nursing and/or intermediate care facilities, clinics licensed by the Department of Public Health and correctional treatment centers regulated by the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. See Section 1.10 for additional scope provisions. 14. Applications regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal include, but are not limited to, the following in accordance with Section 1.11:

14.1. Buildings or structures used or intended for use as an: 1. Asylum, jail, prison. 2. Mental hospital, hospital, home for the elderly, children’s nursery, children’s home or institution, school or any similar occupancy of any capacity. 3. Theater, dancehall, skating rink, auditorium, assembly hall, meeting hall, nightclub, fair building or similar place of assemblage where 50 or more persons may gather together in a building, room or structure for the purpose of amusement, entertainment, instruction, deliberation, worship, drinking or dining, awaiting transportation or education. 4. Small family daycare homes, large family daycare homes, residential facilities and residential facili- ties for the elderly, residential care facilities. 5. State institutions or other state-owned or state-occupied buildings. 6. High-rise structures. 7. Motion picture production studios. 8. Organized camps.

9. Residential structures.

14.2. Tents, awnings or other fabric enclosures used in connection with any occupancy. 14.3. Fire alarm devices, equipment and systems in connection with any occupancy. 14.4. Hazardous materials, flammable and combustible liquids. 14.5. Public school automatic fire detection, alarm and sprinkler systems.

14.6. Wildland-urban interface fire areas.

15. Public libraries constructed and renovated using funds from the California Library Construction and Renovation Bond Act of 1988 and regulated by the State Librarian. See Section 1.12 of the California Building Code for additional scope provisions. 16. Section 1.13 reserved for the Department of Water Resources. 17. For applications listed in Section 1.9.1 regulated by the Division of the State Architect—Access Compliance, outdoor environ- ments and uses shall be classified according to accessibility uses described in Chapters 11A, 11B and 11C. 18. Marine Oil Terminals regulated by the California State Lands Commission. See Section 1.14 of the California Building Code for additional scope provisions.

1.1.4 Appendices. Provisions contained in the appendices of this code shall not apply unless specifically adopted by a state agency or adopted by a local enforcing agency in compliance with Health and Safety Code, Section 18901 et. seq. for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code, Section 17950 for State Housing Law and Health and Safety Code, Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts. See Section 1.1.8 of this code.

1.1.5 Referenced codes. The codes, standards and publications adopted and set forth in this code, including other codes, standards and publications referred to therein are, by title and date of publication, hereby adopted as standard reference documents of this code. When this code does not specifically cover any subject related to building design and construction, recognized architectural or engineer- ing practices shall be employed. The National Fire Codes, standards and the Fire Protection Handbook of the National Fire Protection Association are permitted to be used as authoritative guides in determining recognized fire prevention engineering practices.

1.1.6 Nonbuilding standards, orders and regulations. Requirements contained in the California Fire Code, or in any other referenced stan- dard, code or document, which are not building standards as defined in Health and Safety Code, Section 18909 shall not be construed as part of the provisions of this code. For nonbuilding standards, orders and regulations, see other titles of the California Code of Regulations.

1.1.7 Order of precedence and use.

1.1.7.1 Differences. In the event of any differences between these building standards and the standard reference documents, the text of these building standards shall govern.

1.1.7.2 Specific provisions. Where a specific provision varies from a general provision, the specific provision shall apply.

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1.1.7.3 Conflicts. When the requirements of this code conflict with the requirements of any other part of the California Building Stan- dards Code, Title 24, the most restrictive requirements shall prevail.

1.1.7.3.1. Detached one- and two-family dwellings, efficiency dwelling units, lodging houses, live/work units, townhouses not more than three stories above grade plane with a separate means of egress, and their accessory structures, may be designed and constructed in accordance with the California Building Code or the California Residential Code, but not both, unless the proposed structure(s) or element(s) exceed the design limitations established in the California Residential Code, and the code user is specially directed by the California Residential Code to use the California Building Code.

1.1.8 City, county or city and county amendments, additions or deletions. The provisions of this code do not limit the authority of city, county or city and county governments to establish more restrictive and reasonably necessary differences to the provisions contained in this code pursuant to complying with Section 1.1.8.1. The effective date of amendments, additions or deletions to this code of a city, county or a city and county filed pursuant to Section 1.1.8.1 shall be the date filed. However, in no case shall the amend- ments, additions or deletions to this code be effective any sooner than the effective date of this code.

Local modifications shall comply with Health and Safety Code, Section 18941.5 for Building Standards Law, Health and Safety Code, Section 17958 for State Housing Law or Health and Safety Code, Section 13869.7 for Fire Protection Districts.

1.1.8.1 Findings and filings. 1. The city, county or city and county shall make express findings for each amendment, addition or deletion based upon climatic, topographical or geological conditions. Exception: Hazardous building ordinances and programs mitigating unreinforced masonry buildings. 2. The city, county or city and county shall file the amendments, additions or deletions expressly marked and identified as to the applicable findings. Cities, counties, cities and counties and fire departments shall file the amendments, additions or deletions, and the findings with the California Building Standards Commission at 2525 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 130, Sacramento, CA 95833.

3. Findings prepared by fire protection districts shall be ratified by the local city, county or city and county and filed with the California Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of Codes and Standards, P.O. Box 1407, Sacra- mento, CA 95812-1407 or 2020 West El Camino Avenue, Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95833-1829.

1.1.8.2 Locally adopted energy standards—California Energy Code, Part 6

In addition to the provisions of Section 1.1.8.1 of this Part, the provisions of this section apply to cities, counties and city and county amending adopted energy standards affecting buildings and structures subject to the California Energy Code, Part 6.

Applicable provisions of Public Resources Code Section 25402.1 and applicable provisions of Chapter 10 of the California Adminis- trative Code, Part 1 apply to local amendment of energy standards adopted by the California Energy Commission.

1.1.9 Effective date of this code. Only those standards approved by the California Building Standards Commission that are effective at the time an application for building permit is submitted shall apply to the plans and specifications for, and to the construction performed under, that permit. For the effective dates of the provisions contained in this code, see the History Note page of this code.

1.1.10 Availability of codes. At least one complete copy each of Titles 8, 19, 20, 24 and 25 with all revisions shall be maintained in the office of the building official responsible for the administration and enforcement of this code. Each state department concerned and each city, county or city and county shall have an up-to-date copy of the code available for public inspection. See Health and Safety Code, Section 18942(e)(1) and (2).

1.1.11 Format. This part fundamentally adopts the California Fire Code by reference on a chapter-by-chapter basis. When a specific chapter of the California Fire Code is not printed in the code and is marked “Reserved,” such chapter of the California Fire Code is not adopted as a portion of this code. When a specific chapter of the California Fire Code is marked “Not adopted by the State of Califor- nia,” but appears in the code, it may be available for adoption by local ordinance.

Note: Matrix Adoption Tables at the front of each chapter may aid the code user in determining which chapter or sections within a chapter are applicable to buildings under the authority of a specific state agency, but they are not to be considered regulatory.

1.1.12 Validity. If any chapter, section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this code is for any reason held to be unconstitutional, contrary to statute, exceeding the authority of the state as stipulated by statutes or otherwise inoperative, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this code.