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Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES

Section 707 — FIRE BARRIERS

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.

707.1 General.

Fire barriers installed as required elsewhere in this code or the California Fire Code shall comply with this section.

707.2 Materials.

Fire barriers shall be of materials permitted by the building type of construction.

707.3 Fire-resistance rating.

The fire-resistance rating of fire barriers shall comply with this section.

707.3.1 Shaft enclosures. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from a shaft shall comply with Section 713.4.

707.3.2 Interior exit stairway and ramp construction. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from an interior exit stairway or ramp shall comply with Section 1023.1.

707.3.3 Enclosures for exit access stairways. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from an exit access stairway or ramp shall comply with Section 713.4.

707.3.4 Exit passageway. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating building areas from an exit passageway shall comply with Section 1024.3.

707.3.5 Horizontal exit. The fire-resistance rating of the separation between building areas connected by a horizontal exit shall comply with Section 1026.1.

707.3.6 Atriums. The fire-resistance rating of the fire barrier separating atriums shall comply with Section 404.6.

707.3.7 Incidental uses. The fire barrier separating incidental uses from other spaces in the building shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Table 509.1.

707.3.8 Control areas. Fire barriers separating control areas shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that required in Section 414.2.4.

707.3.9 Separated occupancies. Where the provisions of Section 508.4 are applicable, the fire barrier separating mixed occupancies shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Table 508.4 based on the occupancies being separated.

707.3.10 Fire areas. The fire barriers, fire walls, horizontal assemblies or combinations thereof separating a single occupancy into different fire areas shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than that indicated in Table 707.3.10. The fire barriers, fire walls, horizontal assemblies or combinations thereof separating fire areas of mixed occupancies shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than the highest value indicated in Table 707.3.10 for the occupancies under consideration.

7-14 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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

FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES

TABLE 707.3.10—FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATING REQUIREMENTS FOR
FIRE BARRIERS, FIRE WALLS OR HORIZONTAL ASSEMBLIES BETWEEN FIRE AREAS

OCCUPANCY GROUP FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING (hours)
H-1, H-2 4
F-1, H-3, S-1 3
A, B, E, F-2, H-4, H-5, I,L, M, R, S-2 2
U 1

707.3.11 Horizontal separation offsets. The fire-resistance rating of a fire barrier serving as the vertical offset in a horizontal building separation shall comply with Section 510.2.

707.4 Exterior walls.

Where exterior walls serve as a part of a required fire-resistance-rated shaft, or separation or enclosure for a stairway, ramp or exit passageway, such walls shall comply with the requirements of Section 705 for exterior walls and the fire-resistance-rated enclosure or separation requirements shall not apply.

Exceptions:

  1. Exterior walls required to be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Section 1021 for exterior egress balconies, Section 1023.7 for interior exit stairways and ramps, Section 1024.8 for exit passageways and Section 1027.6 for exterior exit stairways and ramps.
  2. Exterior walls required to be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Section 1207 of the California Fire Code for enclosure of energy storage systems.

707.5 Continuity.

Fire barriers shall extend from the top of the foundation or floor/ceiling assembly below to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, slab or deck above and shall be securely attached thereto. Such fire barriers shall be continuous through concealed space, such as the space above a suspended ceiling. Joints and voids at intersections shall comply with Sections 707.8 and 707.9

Exceptions:

  1. Shaft enclosures shall be permitted to terminate at a top enclosure complying with Section 713.12.
  2. Interior exit stairway and ramp enclosures required by Section 1023 and exit access stairway and ramp enclosures required by Section 1019 shall be permitted to terminate at a top enclosure complying with Section 713.12.
  3. An exit passageway enclosure required by Section 1024.3 that does not extend to the underside of the floor sheathing, roof sheathing, slab or deck above shall be enclosed at the top with construction of the same fire-resistance rating as required for the exit passageway. 4. In Group I-2 occupancies, in other than rooms containing stationary fuel cell power systems required to be separated per California Fire Code Section 1206.6.2, fire barriers required by Section 509.4 shall be permitted to terminate at an individu- ally protected structural member in the same plane, provided the structural member has a solid web or solid surface along its length for the full height of the structural member and has a fire-resistance rating of not less than that required for the fire barrier wall.

5. In Group I-2 occupancies, in other than rooms containing stationary fuel cell power systems required to be separated per California Fire Code Section 1206.6.2, fire barrier separations required by Section 509.4 that do not extend to the underside of the roof sheathing.

707.5.1 Supporting construction. The supporting construction for a fire barrier shall be protected to afford the required fireresistance rating of the fire barrier supported. Hollow vertical spaces within a fire barrier shall be fireblocked in accordance with Section 718.2 at every floor level.

Exceptions:

  1. The maximum required fire-resistance rating for assemblies supporting fire barriers separating tank storage as provided for in Section 415.9.1.2 shall be 2 hours, but not less than required by Table 601 for the building construction type.
  2. Supporting construction for 1-hour fire barriers required by Table 509.1 in buildings of Types IIB, IIIB and VB construction is not required to be fire-resistance rated unless required by other sections of this code.

707.6 Openings.

Openings in a fire barrier shall be protected in accordance with Section 716. Openings shall be limited to a maximum aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall, and the maximum area of any single opening shall not exceed 156 square feet (15 m [2] ). Openings in enclosures for shafts, interior exit stairways and ramps and exit passageways shall also comply with Sections 713.7, 1023.4 and 1024.5, respectively.

Exceptions:

  1. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m [2] ) where adjoining floor areas are equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
  2. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m [2] ) or an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where the opening protective is a fire door serving enclosures for exit access stairways and ramps, and interior exit stairways and ramps.

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

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FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES

  1. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m [2] ) or an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where the opening protective has been tested in accordance with ASTM E119 or UL 263 and has a minimum fire-resistance rating not less than the fire-resistance rating of the wall.

  2. Fire window assemblies permitted in atrium separation walls shall not be limited to a maximum aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall.

  3. Openings shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m [2] ) or an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where the opening protective is a fire door assembly in a fire barrier separating an enclosure for exit access stairways and ramps, and interior exit stairways and ramps from an exit passageway in accordance with Section 1023.3.1.

  4. Openings providing entrance to an elevator car shall not be limited to 156 square feet (15 m [2] ) or an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where the opening protective is a fire door assembly in a fire barrier that is an elevator hoistway enclosure.

  5. Openings shall not be limited to an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where opening serves a shaft enclosure in accordance with Section 713.

  6. Openings shall not be limited to an aggregate width of 25 percent of the length of the wall where opening serves a chute access room in accordance with Section 713.13.3 or a chute discharge room in accordance with Section 713.13.4.

707.7 Penetrations. Penetrations of fire barriers shall comply with Section 714.

707.7.1 Prohibited penetrations. Penetrations into enclosures for shafts, interior exit stairways and ramps, and exit passageways shall be allowed only where permitted by Sections 713.8.1, 1023.5 and 1024.6, respectively.

707.8 Joints.

Joints made in or between fire barriers, and joints made at the intersection of fire barriers with the underside of a fireresistance-rated floor or roof sheathing, slab or deck above, and with other fire-resistance-rated wall assemblies shall comply with Section 715.

707.9 Voids at intersections.

The voids created at the intersection of a fire barrier and a nonfire-resistance-rated roof assembly or a nonfire-resistance-rated exterior wall assembly shall comply with Section 715.

707.10 Ducts and air transfer openings.

Penetrations in a fire barrier by ducts and air transfer openings shall comply with Section 717.

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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…
  5. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  6. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  7. ▸ Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
    Overview
    1. Section 701 — GENERAL
    2. Section 702 — MULTIPLE-USE FIRE ASSEMBLIES
    3. Section 703 — FIRE-RESISTANCE RATINGS AND FIRE TESTS
    4. Section 704 — FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS
    5. Section 705 — EXTERIOR WALLS
    6. Section 706 — FIRE WALLS
    7. Section 707 — FIRE BARRIERS
    8. Section 708 — FIRE PARTITIONS
    9. Section 709 — SMOKE BARRIERS
    10. Section 710 — SMOKE PARTITIONS
    11. Section 711 — FLOOR AND ROOF ASSEMBLIES
    12. Section 712 — VERTICAL OPENINGS
    13. Section 713 — SHAFT ENCLOSURES
    14. Section 714 — PENETRATIONS
    15. Section 715 — JOINTS AND VOIDS
    16. Section 716 — OPENING PROTECTIVES
    17. Section 717 — DUCTS AND AIR TRANSFER OPENINGS
    18. Section 718 — CONCEALED SPACES
    19. Section 719 — FIRE-RESISTANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR PLASTER
    20. Section 720 — THERMAL- AND SOUND-INSULATING MATERIALS
    21. Section 721 — PRESCRIPTIVE FIRE RESISTANCE
    22. Section 722 — CALCULATED FIRE RESISTANCE
  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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