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Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND USE

Section 446 — WINERY CAVES [SFM]

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.

446.1 Scope.

The use of subterranean space for winery facilities in natural or manmade caves shall be in accordance with this section.

446.2 Definitions.

446.3 General.

For definitions of ASSEMBLY, FIRE APPLIANCE and NONCOMBUSTIBLE, see Chapter 2.

446.4 Limited application.

For the purpose of Section 446, certain terms are defined as follows:

TYPE 1 WINERY CAVES are natural or manmade caves used solely for storage and/or processing of wine at a winery facility. Type 1 winery caves are not accessible to the public.

TYPE 2 WINERY CAVES are natural or manmade caves used for the storage and/or processing of wine at a winery facility. Type 2 winery caves are accessible to the public on guided tours only.

TYPE 3 WINERY CAVES are natural or manmade caves used for the storage and/or processing of wine at a winery facility. Type 3 winery caves are accessible to the public on guided tours and contain assembly use areas.

4-62 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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

SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED ON OCCUPANCY AND USE

446.5 Permits. For permits to operate Type 2 and 3 winery caves, see Section 105.

446.6 Fire apparatus access roads.

Fire apparatus access roads shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with the California Fire Code, Section 503.

446.7 Construction requirements.

446.7.1 Allowable area. The area of winery caves shall not be limited if constructed entirely of noncombustible materials. Winery caves constructed with combustible materials shall be limited in area so that no point is more than 150 feet (45 720 mm) from an exit.

446.7.2 Interior construction. The walls and ceilings of winery caves shall not contain hidden or concealed spaces.

446.8 General requirements.

446.8.1 Public tours. Tours for the public shall be continuously guided by staff knowledgeable in the location of exits and the use of emergency notification devices.

446.8.2 Standby personnel. Per the California Fire Code, Section 2404.20, when, in the opinion of the fire chief, it is essential for public safety, the owner, agent or lessee shall employ one or more qualified persons, as required and approved by the chief, to be on duty at such place. Such individuals shall be in uniform or otherwise easily identifiable.

Standby personnel shall be subject to the fire chief’s orders at all times when so employed and shall remain on duty during the times such places are open to the public or when such activity is being conducted.

Before the start of any activity requiring standby personnel, such individuals shall: 1. Inspect the required fire appliances to ensure they are in the proper place and in good working order. 2. Inspect all exits to verify accessibility and proper operation.

While on duty, such individuals shall not be required or permitted to perform any duties other than those specified by the fire chief.

446.8.3 Open-flame devices. The use of candles and other open-flame devices shall be in accordance with California Fire Code Section 308.1.7.

446.9 Portable fire extinguishers and other fire appliances.

Portable fire extinguishers shall be located to be readily accessible. Its type, location and spacing throughout the facility shall be in accordance with the provisions of Title 19, Chapter 3 and California Fire Code Section 906.1. Other fire appliances shall be maintained at the site as required by the fire chief.

446.10 Fire alarm systems.

An approved manual fire alarm system conforming with the provisions of the California Fire Code, Section 907.2.1 shall be provided in all Type 3 winery caves.

446.11 Exits.

446.11.1 Distribution. Exits shall be located remotely from each other and arranged to minimize any possibility that more than one may be blocked off by any one fire or other emergency condition.

446.11.2 Number. Winery caves shall be provided with a minimum of two exits.

Assembly areas of Type 3 winery caves shall be provided with exits as required by the California Building Code for Group A Occupancies.

446.12 Exit illumination.

446.12.1 General. Exits shall be illuminated to a minimum intensity of not less than 1 foot-candle (10.76 lx) at floor level whenever the winery cave is occupied. Fixtures providing exit illumination shall be supplied from a dedicated circuit or source of power used only for exit illumination.

446.12.2 Separate sources of power. The power supply for exit illumination may be provided by the premises’ wiring system. In the event of its failure, illumination shall be automatically provided from an emergency system in Types 2 and 3 winery caves. Emergency systems shall be supplied from storage batteries or an on-site generator set, and the system shall be installed in accordance with the requirements of the California Electrical Code.

446.13 Exit signs.

Exit signs shall be installed at required exits and where otherwise necessary to clearly indicate the exits from assem- bly areas in Type 3 winery caves.

446.14 Maximum occupant load.

Occupant load requirements in the assembly areas of Type 3 winery caves shall be in accordance with Section 1004.

446.15 Seating arrangements.

Seating arrangements in the assembly areas of Type 3 winery caves shall be in accordance with Califor- nia Fire Code, Section 1028.9.

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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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