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Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

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.

METHODS FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE

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CHAPTER 7A [SFM]

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS

FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE

708A.3 Exterior doors.

Exterior doors shall comply with one of the following:

1. The exterior surface or cladding shall be of noncom- bustible material .

2. The exterior surface or cladding shall be of ignition- resistant material.

3. The exterior door shall be constructed of solid core wood that complies with the following requirements:

3.1. Stiles and rails shall not be less than 1 3 /8 inches thick.

3.2. Panels shall not be less than 1 1 /4 inches thick, except for the exterior perimeter of the panel that shall be permitted to taper to a tongue not less than 3 /8 inch thick.

4. The exterior door assembly shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested accord- ing to NFPA 252.

5. The exterior surface or cladding shall be tested to meet the performance requirements of Section 707A.3.1 when tested in accordance with ASTM E2707.

6. The exterior surface or cladding shall be tested to meet the performance requirements of SFM Standard 12-7A- 1.

708A.3.1 Exterior door glazing. Glazing in exterior doors shall comply with Section 708A.2.1.

708A.4 Garage door perimeter gap.

Exterior garage doors shall resist the intrusion of embers from entering by prevent- ing gaps between doors and door openings, at the bottom, sides and tops of doors, from exceeding 1 /8 inch (3.2 mm). Gaps between doors and door openings shall be controlled by one of the following methods:

1. Weather-stripping products made of materials that: (a) have been tested for tensile strength in accordance with ASTM D638 (Standard Test Method for Tensile Prop- erties of Plastics) after exposure to ASTM G155 (Stan-

302 2019 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

100735044

MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE

710A.2 Applicability.

The provisions of this section shall apply to the buildings covered by Section 701A.3, Exception 1. This section shall also apply to specified attached and detached miscellaneous structures that require a building permit, including but not limited to trellises, arbors, patio covers, gazebos, and similar structures.

Exceptions:

1. Decks shall comply with the requirements of Section 709A.

2. Awnings and canopies shall comply with the requirements of Section 3105.

3. Exterior wall architectural trim, embellishments, and fascia.

710A.3 Where required.

No requirements shall apply to accessory buildings or miscellaneous structures when located at least 50 feet from an applicable building. Applica- ble accessory buildings and attached miscellaneous struc- tures, or detached miscellaneous structures that are installed at a distance of less than 3 feet from an applicable building, shall comply with this section. When required by the enforc- ing agency, detached miscellaneous structures that are installed at a distance of more than 3 feet but less than 50 feet from an applicable building shall comply with the require- ments of this section.

710A.3.1 Accessory building requirements. Applicable accessory buildings that are less than 120 square feet in floor area and are located more than 30 feet but less than 50 feet from an applicable building shall be constructed of noncombustible materials or of ignition-resistant materi- als as described in Section 704A.2.

710A.3.2 Attached miscellaneous structure require- ments. Applicable miscellaneous structures that are attached to, or installed at a distance of less than 3 feet from, an applicable building shall be constructed of non- combustible materials or of ignition-resistant materials as described in Section 704A.2.

710A.3.3 Detached miscellaneous structure require- ments. When required by the enforcing agency, applicable detached miscellaneous structures that are installed at a distance of more than 3 feet but less than 50 feet from an applicable building shall be constructed of noncombusti- ble materials or of ignition-resistant materials as described in Section 704A.2.

709A.4 Requirements for type of ignition-resistant material

in Section 709A.3, Item 1 . The material shall be tested in accordance with both ASTM E2632 and ASTM E2726 and shall comply with the conditions of acceptance in Sections 709A.4.1 and 709A4.2. The material shall also be tested in accordance with ASTM E84 or UL 723 and comply with the performance requirements of Section 704A.3.

709A.4.1 Conditions of acceptance for ASTM E2632. The ASTM E2632 test shall be conducted on a minimum of three test specimens and the conditions of acceptance in Items 1 through 3 below shall be met. If any one of the three tests does not meet the conditions of acceptance, three additional tests shall be run. All of the additional tests shall meet the conditions of acceptance.

1. Peak heat release rate of less than or equal to 25 kW/ft 2 (269 kW/m 2 ).

2. Absence of sustained flaming or glowing combus- tion of any kind at the conclusion of the 40-min observation period.

3. Absence of falling particles that are still burning when reaching the burner or floor.

709A.4.2 Conditions of acceptance for ASTM E2726. The ASTM E2726 test shall be conducted, using a “Class A” size roof test brand, on a minimum of three test speci- mens and the conditions of acceptance in Items 1 and 2 below shall be met. If any one of the three tests does not meet the conditions of acceptance, three additional tests shall be run. All of the additional tests shall meet the con- ditions of acceptance.

1. Absence of sustained flaming or glowing combus- tion of any kind at the conclusion of the 40-min observation period.

2. Absence of falling particles that are still burning when reaching the burner or floor.

709A.5 Requirements for type of material in Section

709A.3, Item 7. The material shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E2632 and shall comply with the following condi- tion of acceptance. The ASTM E2632 test shall be conducted on a minimum of three test specimens and the peak heat release rate shall be less than or equal to 25 kW/ft 2 (269 kW/ m 2 ). If any one of the three tests does not meet the conditions of acceptance, three additional tests shall be run. All the additional tests shall meet the condition of acceptance.

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▸Contents — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Appendix G — FLOOD-RESISTANT
  3. Appendix L — EARTHQUAKE RECORDING
  4. Appendix M — TSUNAMI-GENERATED
  5. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND ADMINISTRATION
  6. Chapter 3 — OCCUPANCY CLASSIFICATION AND USE
  7. Chapter 4 — SPECIAL DETAILED REQUIREMENTS BASED
  8. Chapter 5 — GENERAL BUILDING HEIGHTS AND AREAS
  9. Chapter 6 — TYPES OF CONSTRUCTION
  10. Chapter 7 — FIRE AND SMOKE PROTECTION FEATURES
  11. ▸Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION
    Overview
    1. Section 701A
    2. Section 702A
    3. Section 703A
    4. Section 704A
    5. Section 705A
    6. Section 706A
    7. Section 707A
    8. Section 708A
    9. Section 709A
    10. Section 710A
  12. Chapter 8 — INTERIOR FINISHES
  13. Chapter 9 — FIRE PROTECTION AND LIFE SAFETY SYSTEMS
  14. Chapter 10 — MEANS OF EGRESS
  15. Chapter 11A — HOUSING ACCESSIBILITY
  16. Chapter 11B — ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PUBLIC ACCOMM…
  17. Chapter 12 — INTERIOR ENVIRONMENT
  18. Chapter 14 — EXTERIOR WALLS
  19. Chapter 15 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES
  20. Chapter 16 — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  21. Chapter 16A — STRUCTURAL DESIGN
  22. Chapter 17 — SPECIAL INSPECTIONS AND TESTS
  23. Chapter 18 — SOILS AND FOUNDATIONS
  24. Chapter 19 — CONCRETE
  25. Chapter 20 — ALUMINUM
  26. Chapter 21 — MASONRY
  27. Chapter 22 — STEEL
  28. Chapter 23 — WOOD
  29. Chapter 24 — GLASS AND GLAZING
  30. Chapter 25 — GYPSUM BOARD, GYPSUM PANEL PRODUCTS AND PLASTER
  31. Chapter 26 — PLASTIC
  32. Chapter 27 — ELECTRICAL
  33. Chapter 28 — MECHANICAL SYSTEMS
  34. Chapter 30 — ELEVATORS AND CONVEYING SYSTEMS
  35. Chapter 31 — SPECIAL CONSTRUCTION
  36. Chapter 31B — PUBLIC POOLS
  37. Chapter 31C — RADIATION
  38. Chapter 31D — FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS
  39. Chapter 31F — MARINE OIL TERMINALS
  40. Chapter 32 — ENCROACHMENTS INTO THE PUBLIC RIGHT-OF-WAY
  41. Chapter 33 — SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION
  42. Chapter 35 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  43. Appendix A — EMPLOYEE QUALIFICATIONS
  44. Appendix B — BOARD OF APPEALS
  45. Appendix C — GROUP U – AGRICULTURAL BUILDINGS
  46. Appendix D — FIRE DISTRICTS
  47. Appendix F — RODENTPROOFING
  48. Appendix H — SIGNS
  49. Appendix I — PATIO COVERS
  50. Appendix J — GRADING
  51. Appendix K — GROUP R-3 AND GROUP R-3.1 OCCUPANCIES
  52. Appendix N — REPLICABLE BUILDINGS
  53. Appendix O — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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