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Chapter 7A — MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION

Section 709A

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.

709A.1 General.

The walking surface material of decks, porches, balconies and stairs shall comply with the require- ments of this section.

709A.2 Where required.

The walking surface material of decks, porches, balconies and stairs shall comply with the requirements of this section when any portion of such surface is within 10 feet (3048 mm) of the building.

709A.3 Decking Surfaces.

The walking surface material of decks, porches, balconies and stairs shall be constructed with one of the following materials:

1. Material that complies with the performance require- ments of Section 709A.4 when tested in accordance with both ASTM E2632 and ASTM E2726.

2. Ignition-resistant material that complies with the per- formance requirements of 704A.3 when tested in accor- dance with ASTM E84 or UL 723.

3. Material that complies with the performance require- ments of both SFM Standard 12-7A-4 and SFM Stan- dard 12-7A-5.

4. Exterior fire retardant treated wood.

5. Noncombustible material.

6. Any material that complies with the performance requirements of SFM Standard 12-7A-4A when attached exterior wall covering is also composed of noncombustible or ignition-resistant material.

Exception: Wall material may be of any material that oth- erwise complies with this chapter when the decking sur- face material complies with the performance requirements ASTM E84 with a Class B flame spread rating.

7. Any material that complies with the performance requirements of Section 709A.5 when tested in accor- dance with ASTM E2632 and when attached exterior wall covering is also composed of only noncombustible or ignition-resistant materials.

Exception: Wall material shall be permitted to be of any material that otherwise complies with this chapter when the decking surface material complies with the perfor- mance requirements ASTM E84 with a Class B flame spread rating.

708A.2.1 Exterior windows, skylights and exterior glazed door assembly requirements. Exterior windows, skylights and exterior glazed door assemblies shall comply with one of the following requirements:

1. Be constructed of multipane glazing with a minimum of one tempered pane meeting the requirements of Section 2406 Safety Glazing, or

2. Be constructed of glass block units, or

3. Have a fire-resistance rating of not less than 20 minutes when tested according to NFPA 257, or

4. Be tested to meet the performance requirements of SFM Standard 12-7A-2.

708A.2.2 Operable skylights. Operable skylights shall be protected by a non-combustible mesh screen where the dimensions of the openings in the screen shall not exceed 1/8-inch (3.2mm).

708A.2.3 Structural glass veneer. The wall assembly behind structural glass veneer shall comply with Section 707A.3.

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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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