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Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND USE

Section 422 — AMBULATORY CARE FACILITIES

2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-29 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

422.1 General.

Occupancies classified as ambulatory care facilities shall comply with the provisions of Sections 422.1 through 422.7 and other applicable provisions of this code. [For OSHPD 3] For clinics licensed by California Department of Public Health also refer to Section 1226.2.

422.2 Separation.

Ambulatory care facilities where the potential for four or more care recipients are to be incapable of self-preservation at any time shall be separated from adjacent spaces, corridors or tenants with a 1-hour fire barrier installed in accordance with Section 707 .

422.3 Smoke compartments.

Where the aggregate area of one or more ambulatory care facilities is greater than 10,000 square feet (929 m [2] ) on one story, the story shall be provided with a smoke barrier to subdivide the story into not fewer than two smoke compartments. The area of any one such smoke compartment shall be not greater than 22,500 square feet (2092 m [2] ). 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 installed in accordance with Section 709 with the exception that smoke barriers shall be continuous from outside wall to an outside wall, a floor to a floor, or from a smoke barrier to a smoke barrier or a combination thereof.

422.3.1 Means of egress. Where ambulatory care facilities require smoke compartmentation in accordance with Section 422.3, the fire safety evacuation plans provided in accordance with Section 1002.2 shall identify the building components necessary to support a defend-in-place emergency response in accordance with Sections 403 and 404 of the California Fire Code . 422.3.2 Refuge area. Not less than 30 net square feet (2.8 m [2] ) for each nonambulatory care recipient and not less than 15 net square feet (1.4 m [2] ) per ambulatory occupant shall be provided within the aggregate area of corridors, care recipient rooms, treatment rooms, lounge or dining areas and other low-hazard areas within each smoke compartment. Each occupant of an ambulatory care facility shall be provided with access to a refuge area without passing through or utilizing adjacent tenant

spaces.

422.3.3 Independent egress. 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 originated.

422.3.4 Distance of travel. The distance of travel between any point in an ambulatory care facility and an exit shall be not greater than 200 feet (60 960 mm).

[F] 422.4 Automatic sprinkler systems. Automatic sprinkler systems shall be provided for ambulatory care facilities in accordance with Section 903.2.2.

[F] 422.5 Fire alarm systems. A fire alarm system shall be provided for ambulatory care facilities in accordance with Section 907.2.2.

[F] 422.6 Electrical systems. In ambulatory care facilities, the essential electrical system for electrical components, equipment and systems shall be designed and constructed in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 27 and California Electrical Code Article 517.

422.7 Domestic cooking.

In fully sprinklered buildings, the installation of cooking appliances used in domestic cooking facilities shall comply with all of the following:

  1. The types of cooking appliances permitted are limited to ovens, cooktops, ranges, warmers and microwaves.

4-54 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND USE

  1. Domestic cooking hoods installed and constructed in accordance with Section 504.3 of the California Mechanical Code shall be provided over cooktops or ranges.
  2. A shutoff for the fuel and electrical supply to the cooking equipment shall be provided in a location to which only staff has

access.

  1. A timer shall be provided that automatically deactivates the cooking appliances within a period of not more than 120 minutes.

  2. A portable fire extinguisher shall be provided. Installation shall be in accordance with Section 906 and the extinguisher shall be located within a 30-foot (9144 mm) distance of travel from each domestic cooking appliance. 6. The area containing the domestic cooking appliances shall be separated from all other areas by fire partitions constructed complying with Section 708.

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
2025 California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  2. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  3. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  4. ▸ Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY A…
    Overview
    1. Section 401 — SCOPE
    2. Section 402 — COVERED MALL AND OPEN MALL BUILDINGS
    3. Section 403 — HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS AND GROUP I-2 OCCUPANCIES HA…
    4. Section 404 — ATRIUMS
    5. Section 405 — UNDERGROUND BUILDINGS
    6. Section 406 — MOTOR-VEHICLE-RELATED OCCUPANCIES
    7. Section 407 — GROUP I-2
    8. Section 408 — GROUP I-3
    9. Section 409 — MOTION PICTURE PROJECTION ROOMS
    10. Section 410 — STAGES, PLATFORMS AND TECHNICAL PRODUCTION AREAS
    11. Section 411 — SPECIAL AMUSEMENT AREAS
    12. Section 412 — AIRCRAFT-RELATED OCCUPANCIES
    13. Section 413 — COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE
    14. Section 414 — HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
    15. Section 415 — GROUPS H-1, H-2, H-3, H-4 AND H-5
    16. Section 416 — SPRAY APPLICATION OF FLAMMABLE FINISHES
    17. Section 417 — DRYING ROOMS
    18. Section 418 — ORGANIC COATINGS
    19. Section 419 — ARTIFICIAL DECORATIVE VEGETATION
    20. Section 420 — GROUPS R-1, R-2, R-2.1, R-2.2, R-3, R-3.1 AND R-4
    21. Section 421 — HYDROGEN FUEL GAS ROOMS
    22. Section 422 — AMBULATORY CARE FACILITIES
    23. Section 423 — STORM SHELTERS
    24. Section 424 — PLAY STRUCTURES
    25. Section 425 — HYPERBARIC FACILITIES
    26. Section 427 — MEDICAL GAS SYSTEMS
    27. Section 435 — SPECIAL PROVISIONS FOR LICENSED 24-HOUR CARE FAC…
    28. Section 436 — GROUP I-4 [SFM]
    29. Section 437 — RESERVED
    30. Section 438 — RESERVED
    31. Section 439 — ROAD TUNNELS, BRIDGES AND OTHER LIMITED-ACCESS H…
    32. Section 440 — HORSE RACING STABLES [SFM]
    33. Section 441 — PET KENNELS AND PET BOARDING FACILITIES [SFM]
    34. Section 442 — COMBUSTION ENGINES AND GAS TURBINES [SFM]
    35. Section 443 — FIXED GUIDEWAY TRANSIT AND PASSENGER RAIL SYSTEM…
    36. Section 444 — EXPLOSIVES [SFM]
    37. Section 445 — RESERVED
    38. Section 446 — WINERY CAVES [SFM]
    39. Section 447 — RESERVED
    40. Section 448 — RESERVED
    41. Section 449 — PUBLIC LIBRARIES [SL AND SFM]
    42. Section 450 — GROUP C [SFM]
    43. Section 451 — RESERVED
    44. Section 452 — SCHOOL FACILITIES FOR KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 12TH …
    45. Section 453 — GROUP L [SFM]
    46. Section 454 — RESERVED
    47. Section 455 — LARGE FAMILY DAY-CARE HOMES [SFM]
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  8. Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR W…
  9. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  10. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  11. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  12. Chapter 11 — RESERVED
  13. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  14. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  15. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  16. Chapter 13 — ENERGY EFFICIENCY
  17. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  18. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  19. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  20. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  22. Chapter 17A — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 18A — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  25. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  26. Chapter 19A — CONCRETE
  27. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  28. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  29. Chapter 21A — MASONRY
  30. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  31. Chapter 22A — STEEL
  32. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  33. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  34. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  35. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  36. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  37. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  38. Chapter 29 — PLUMBING SYSTEMS
  39. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  40. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  41. Chapter 31A — SYSTEMS FOR WINDOW CLEANING OR EXTERIOR BUILDING…
  42. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  43. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  44. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  45. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  46. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  47. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  48. Chapter 34 — RESERVED
  49. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  50. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  51. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  52. Appendix C — GROUP U—AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  54. Appendix E — RESERVED
  55. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  56. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION
  57. Appendix H — SIGNS
  58. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  59. Appendix J — GRADING
  60. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES PROTECTED B…
  61. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING INSTRUMENTATION
  62. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED FLOOD HAZARDS
  63. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  64. Appendix O — PERFORMANCE-BASED APPLICATION
  65. Appendix P — SLEEPING LOFTS
  66. Appendix Q — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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