Section 1008
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
1008.1 Means of egress illumination.¶
Illumination shall be provided in the means of egress in accordance with Section 1008.2. Under emergency power, means of egress illumination shall comply with Section 1008.3.
1008.2 Illumination required.¶
The means of egress serving a room or space shall be illuminated at all times that the room or space is occupied.
Exceptions:
Occupancies in Group U.
Aisle accessways in Group A.
Dwelling units and sleeping units in Groups R-1, R2 and R-3.
Sleeping units of Group I, R-2.1 and R-4 occupancies.
1008.2.1 Illumination level under normal power. The means of egress illumination level shall be not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface.
Exception: For auditoriums, theaters, concert or opera halls and similar assembly occupancies, the illumination at the walking surface is permitted to be reduced during performances by one of the following methods provided that the required illumination is automatically restored upon activation of a premises’ fire alarm system:
Externally illuminated walking surfaces shall be permitted to be illuminated to not less than 0.2 footcandle (2.15 lux).
Steps, landings and the sides of ramps shall be permitted to be marked with self-luminous materials in accordance with Sections 1025.2.1, 1025.2.2 and 1025.2.4 by systems listed in accordance with UL 1994.
1008.2.2 Group I-2. In Group I-2 occupancies where two or more exits are required, on the exterior landings
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100735044
MEANS OF EGRESS
required by Section 1010.1.6, means of egress illumination levels for the exit discharge shall be provided such that failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level on that landing to less than 1 footcandle (11 lux).
1008.2.3 Exit discharge. Illumination shall be provided along the path of travel for the exit discharge from each exit to the public way.
Exception: Illumination shall not be required where the path of the exit discharge meets both of the following requirements:
The path of exit discharge is illuminated from the exit to a safe dispersal area complying with Section 1028.5.
A dispersal area shall be illuminated to a level not less than 1 footcandle (11 lux) at the walking surface.
1008.3 Emergency power for illumination.¶
The power supply for means of egress illumination shall normally be provided by the premises’ electrical supply.
1008.3.1 General. In the event of power supply failure in rooms and spaces that require two or more means of egress, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:
Aisles.
Corridors.
Exit access stairways and ramps.
1008.3.2 Buildings. In the event of power supply failure in buildings that require two or more means of egress, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:
Interior exit access stairways and ramps.
Interior and exterior exit stairways and ramps.
Exit passageways.
Vestibules and areas on the level of discharge used for exit discharge in accordance with Section 1028.1.
Exterior landings as required by Section 1010.1.6 for exit doorways that lead directly to the exit discharge.
6. Group I-2 and I-2.1 exit discharge stairways, ramps, aisles, walkways and escalators leading to a public way or to a safe dispersal area in accordance with Section 1028.5.
7. Operation of a patient room smoke detector in Group I-2, and R-2.1 occupancies shall not include a positive alarm sequence feature.
1008.3.3 Rooms and spaces. In the event of power supply failure, an emergency electrical system shall automatically illuminate all of the following areas:
Electrical equipment rooms.
Fire command centers.
Fire pump rooms.
Generator rooms.
Public restrooms with an area greater than 300 square feet (27.87 m 2 ).
1008.3.4 Duration. The emergency power system shall provide power for a duration of not less than 90 minutes and shall consist of storage batteries, unit equipment or an on-site generator. The installation of the emergency power system shall be in accordance with Section 2702.
1008.3.5 Illumination level under emergency power. Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is not less than an average of 1 footcandle (11 lux) and a minimum at any point of 0.1 footcandle (1 lux) measured along the path of egress at floor level. Illumination levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 footcandle (6 lux) average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 footcandle (0.6 lux) at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum-to-minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded. In Group I-2 occupancies, failure of a single lamp in a luminaire shall not reduce the illumination level to less than 0.2 footcandle (2.2 lux).
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Ask AI about this code▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
- Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
- Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
- Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
- Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
- Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
- Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
- Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED
- Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
- Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
- Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
- Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
▸Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
Overview- Section 1001
- Section 1003
- Section 1004
- Section 1005
- Section 1006
- Section 1007
- Section 1008
- Section 1009
- Section 1010
- Section 1011
- Section 1012
- Section 1013
- Section 1014
- Section 1015
- Section 1016
- Section 1017
- Section 1018
- Section 1019
- Section 1020
- Section 1021
- Section 1022
- Section 1023
- Section 1024
- Section 1025
- Section 1026
- Section 1027
- Section 1028
- Section 1029
- Section 1030
- Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
- Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
- Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
- Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
- Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
- Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
- Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
- Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
- Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
- Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
- Chapter 21 — MASONRY
- Chapter 22 — STEEL
- Chapter 23 — WOOD
- Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
- Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
- Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
- Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
- Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
- Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
- Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
- Chapter 31C — RADIATION
- Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
- Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
- Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
- Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
- Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
- Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
- Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
- Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
- Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
- Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
- Appendix H — SIGNS
- Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
- Appendix J — GRADING
- Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
- Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
- Appendix O — EMERGENCY HOUSING