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Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES

Section 708 — FIRE PARTITIONS

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.

708.1 General. The following wall assemblies shall comply with this section:

  1. Separation walls as required by Section 420.2 for Group R occupancies.

  2. Walls separating tenant spaces in covered and open mall buildings as required by Section 402.4.2.1.

  3. Corridor walls as required by Section 1020.2 and in Group I-2 as required by Section 407.3.

  4. Enclosed elevator lobby separation as required by Section 3006.3.

  5. Egress balconies as required by Section 1021.2

  6. Walls separating ambulatory care facilities from adjacent spaces, corridors or tenants as required by Section 422.2.

  7. Walls separating dwelling and sleeping units in Groups R-1 and R-2 in accordance with Sections 907.2.8.1 and 907.2.9.1.

  8. Vestibules in accordance with Section 1028.2.

9. Walls separating enclosed tenant spaces in high-rise buildings and in buildings of Types I, IIA, IIIA, IV or VA construction of Group A, E, H, I, L and R-2.1 occupancies and other applications listed in Section 1.11 regulated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

708.2 Materials.

The walls shall be of materials permitted by the building type of construction.

708.3 Fire-resistance rating.

Fire partitions shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour.

Exceptions:

  1. Corridor walls permitted to have a [1] / 2 -hour fire-resistance rating by Table 1020.2.
  2. Dwelling unit and sleeping unit separations in buildings of Types IIB, IIIB and VB construction shall have fire-resistance ratings of not less than [1] / 2 hour in buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

3. Walls separating enclosed tenant spaces in Group B high-rise buildings of Type I and II construction equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

708.4 Continuity.

Fire partitions shall extend from the top of the foundation or floor/ceiling assembly below and be securely attached to one of the following:

  1. The underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above.
  2. The underside of a floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assembly having a fire-resistance rating that is not less than the fire-resistance rating of the fire partition.

Exceptions:

  1. Fire partitions shall not be required to extend into a crawl space below where the floor above the crawl space has a minimum 1-hour fire-resistance rating.

7-16 2025 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

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

FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES

  1. Fire partitions serving as a corridor wall shall not be required to extend above the lower membrane of a corridor ceiling provided that the corridor ceiling membrane is equivalent to corridor wall membrane, and either of the following conditions is met:

2.1. The room-side membrane of the corridor wall extends to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab of a fire-resistance-rated floor or roof above.

2.2. The building is equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2, including automatic sprinklers installed in the space between the top of the fire partition and underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above. 3. Fire partitions serving as a corridor wall shall be permitted to terminate at the upper membrane of the corridor ceiling assembly where the corridor ceiling is constructed as required for the corridor wall. 4. Fire partitions separating tenant spaces in a covered or open mall building complying with Section 402.4.2.1 shall not be required to extend above the underside of a ceiling. Such ceiling shall not be required to be part of a fire-resistance-rated assembly, and the attic or space above the ceiling at tenant separation walls shall not be required to be subdivided by fire partitions.

708.4.1 Fire partition walls enclosing elevator lobbies. Fire partition walls used to enclose elevator lobbies in accordance with Section 3006.3 shall form an enclosure that terminates at a fire barrier or fire partition having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 1 hour, or an outside wall.

708.4.2 Supporting construction. The supporting construction for a fire partition shall have a fire-resistance rating that is equal to or greater than the required fire-resistance rating of the supported fire partition.

Exception: In buildings of Types IIB, IIIB and VB construction, the supporting construction requirement shall not apply to fire partitions separating tenant spaces in covered and open mall buildings, fire partitions separating dwelling units, fire partitions separating sleeping units, fire partitions serving as corridor walls, fire partitions separating ambulatory care facilities from adjacent spaces or corridors, fire partitions separating dwelling and sleeping units from Group R-1 and R-2 occupancies and fire partitions separating vestibules from the level of exit discharge.

708.4.3 Fireblocks and draftstops in combustible construction. In combustible construction where fire partitions do not extend to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above, the space above and along the line of the fire partition shall be provided with one of the following:

  1. Fireblocking up to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above using materials complying with Section 718.2.1.

  2. Draftstops up to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above using materials complying with Section 718.3.1 for floors or Section 718.4.1 for attics.

Exceptions:

  1. Buildings equipped with an automatic sprinkler system installed throughout in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, or in accordance with Section 903.3.1.2 provided that protection is provided in the space between the top of the fire partition and underside of the floor or roof sheathing, deck or slab above as required for systems complying with Section 903.3.1.1.

  2. Where corridor walls provide a sleeping unit or dwelling unit separation, draftstops shall only be required above one of the corridor walls.

  3. In Group R-2 occupancies with fewer than four dwelling units, fireblocking and draftstops shall not be required.

  4. In Group R-2 occupancies up to and including four stories in height in buildings not exceeding 60 feet (18 288 mm) in height above grade plane, the attic space shall be subdivided by draftstops into areas not exceeding 3,000 square feet (279 m [2] ) or above every two dwelling units, whichever is smaller.

  5. In Group R-3 occupancies with fewer than three dwelling units, fireblocking and draftstops shall not be required in floor assemblies.

708.5 Exterior walls.

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

Exception: Exterior walls required to be fire-resistance rated in accordance with Section 1021.2 for exterior egress balconies, Section 1023.7 for interior exit stairways and ramps and Section 1027.6 for exterior exit stairways and ramps.

708.6 Openings.

Openings in a fire partition shall be protected in accordance with Section 716.

708.7 Penetrations. Penetrations of fire partitions shall comply with Section 714.

708.8 Joints. Joints made in or between fire partitions shall comply with Section 715.

708.9 Ducts and air transfer openings.

Penetrations in a fire partition 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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