Section 1505 — California Building Code (Title 24, Part 2)

FIRE CLASSIFICATION

[BF] 1505.1 General. Roof assemblies shall be divided into the classes defined in this section. Class A, B and C roof assemblies and roof coverings required to be listed by this section shall be tested in accordance with ASTM E108 or UL 790. In addition, fire-retardant-treated wood roof coverings shall be tested in accordance with ASTM D2898. The minimum roof coverings installed on buildings shall comply with Table 1505.1 based on the type of construction of the building.

Exception: Skylights and sloped glazing that comply with Chapter 24 or Section 2610.

TABLE 1504.9 MINIMUM REQUIRED PARAPET HEIGHT (INCHES) FOR AGGREGATE SURFACED ROOFS ^{a, b, c}

AGGREGATE SIZE	MEAN ROOF HEIGHT (ft)	WIND EXPOSURE AND BASIC DESIGN WIND SPEED (MPH)
AGGREGATE SIZE	MEAN ROOF HEIGHT (ft)	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure B	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd	Exposure Cd
AGGREGATE SIZE	MEAN ROOF HEIGHT (ft)	≤ 95	100	105	110	115	120	130	140	150	≤ 95	100	105	110	115	120	130	140	150
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	15	2	2	2	2	12	12	16	20	24	2	13	15	18	20	23	27	32	37
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	20	2	2	2	2	12	14	18	22	26	12	15	17	19	22	24	29	34	39
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	30	2	2	2	13	15	17	21	25	30	14	17	19	22	24	27	32	37	42
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	50	12	12	14	16	18	21	25	30	35	17	19	22	25	28	30	36	41	47
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	100	14	16	19	21	24	27	32	37	42	21	24	26	29	32	35	41	47	53
ASTM D1863 (No. 7 or No. 67)	150	17	19	22	25	27	30	36	41	46	23	26	29	32	35	38	44	50	56
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	15	2	2	2	2	12	12	12	15	18	2	2	2	13	15	17	22	26	30
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	20	2	2	2	2	12	12	13	17	21	2	2	12	15	17	19	23	28	32
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	30	2	2	2	2	12	12	16	20	24	2	12	14	17	19	21	26	31	35
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	50	12	12	12	12	14	16	20	24	28	12	15	17	19	22	24	29	34	39
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	100	12	12	14	16	19	21	26	30	35	16	18	21	24	26	29	34	39	45
ASTM D1863 (No. 6)	150	12	14	17	19	22	24	29	34	39	18	21	23	26	29	32	37	43	48

For SI: 1 inch = 25.4 mm; 1 foot = 304.8 mm; 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s. a. Interpolation shall be permitted for mean roof height and parapet height. b. Basic design wind speed, V, and wind exposure shall be determined in accordance with Section 1609. c. Where the minimum required parapet height is indicated to be 2 inches (51 mm), a gravel stop shall be permitted and shall extend not less than 2 inches (51

h = 25.4 mm; 1 foot = 304.8 mm; 1 mile per hour = 0.447 m/s. a. Interpolation shall be permitted for mean roof height and parapet height. b. Basic design wind speed, V, and wind exposure shall be determined in accordance with Section 1609. c. Where the minimum required parapet height is indicated to be 2 inches (51 mm), a gravel stop shall be permitted and shall extend not less than 2 inches (51

mm) from the roof surface and not less than the height of the aggregate. d. For Exposure D, add 8 inches (203 mm) to the parapet height required for Exposure C and the parapet height shall not be less than 12 inches (305 mm).

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	TABLE 1505.1 MINIMUM ROOF COVERING CLASSIFICATION FOR TYPES OF CONSTRUCTIONa
IA		IB	IIA IIB IIIA IIIB IV	VA		VB
B		B	B C B C B	B		C

ROOF ASSEMBLIES AND ROOFTOP STRUCTURES

For SI: 1 foot = 304.8 mm, 1 square foot = 0.0929 m ² . a. Unless otherwise required in accordance with Chapter 7A or due to the

location of the building within a fire district in accordance with Appendix D.

1505.1.1 Roof coverings within fire hazard severity zones. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof cov- ering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class A.

Exception: The requirements shall not apply in any jurisdiction that adopts the model ordinance approved by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51189 of the Government Code or an ordinance that substan- tially conforms to the model ordinance and transmits a copy to the State Fire Marshal. 1505.1.2 Roof coverings within all other areas. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing struc- ture, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class C.

1505.1.3 Roofing requirements in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. Roofing requirements for structures located in a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area shall also comply with Section 705A.

[BF] 1505.2 Class A roof assemblies. Class A roof assemblies are those that are effective against severe fire test exposure. Class A roof assemblies and roof coverings shall be listed and identified as Class A by an approved testing agency. Class A roof assemblies shall be permitted for use in buildings or structures of all types of construction.

Exceptions:

Class A roof assemblies include those with coverings of brick, masonry or an exposed concrete roof deck.
Class A roof assemblies also include ferrous or copper shingles or sheets, metal sheets and shingles, clay or concrete roof tile or slate installed on noncombustible decks or ferrous, copper or metal sheets installed without a roof deck on noncombustible framing.
Class A roof assemblies include minimum 16 ounce per square foot (0.0416 kg/m ² ) copper sheets installed over combustible decks.
Class A roof assemblies include slate installed over ASTM D226, Type II underlayment over combustible decks.

[BF] 1505.3 Class B roof assemblies. Class B roof assemblies are those that are effective against moderate fire-test exposure. Class B roof assemblies and roof coverings shall be listed and identified as Class B by an approved testing agency.

[BF] 1505.4 Class C roof assemblies. Class C roof assemblies are those that are effective against light fire-test exposure. Class C roof assemblies and roof coverings shall be listed and identified as Class C by an approved testing agency.

[BF] 1505.5 Nonclassified roofing. Nonclassified roofing is approved material that is not listed as a Class A, B or C roof covering.

[BF] 1505.6 Fire-retardant-treated wood shingles and shakes. Fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles are wood shakes and shingles complying with UBC Standard 15- 3 or 15-4 which are impregnated by the full-cell vacuum- pressure process with fire-retardant chemicals, and which have been qualified by UBC Standard 15-2 for use on Class A, B or C roofs.

Fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles shall comply with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering requirements contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7(j). Each bundle shall bear labels from an ICC accredited quality control agency identifying their roof- covering classification and indicating their compliance with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering requirements contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7(j).

Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7(j). No wood roof covering materials shall be sold or applied in this state unless both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The materials have been approved and listed by the

State Fire Marshal as complying with the require- ments of this section. (2) The materials have passed at least five years of the

10-year natural weathering test. The 10-year natural weathering test required by this subdivision shall be conducted in accordance with standard 15-2 of the 1994 edition of the Uniform Building Code at a test- ing facility recognized by the State Fire Marshal.

[BF] 1505.7 Special purpose roofs. Special purpose wood shingle or wood shake roofing shall conform to the grading and application requirements of Section 1507.8 or 1507.9. In addition, an underlayment of ⁵ /8-inch (15.9 mm) Type X water-resistant gypsum backing board or gypsum sheathing shall be placed under minimum nominal ¹ /2-inch-thick (12.7 mm) wood structural panel solid sheathing or 1-inch (25 mm) nominal spaced sheathing.

[BF] 1505.8 Building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) products. BIPV products installed as the roof covering shall be tested, listed and labeled for fire classification in accordance with Section 1505.1.

[BF] 1505.9 Rooftop mounted photovoltaic (PV) panel systems. Rooftop mounted photovoltaic (PV) panel systems shall be tested, listed and identified with a fire classification in accordance with UL 2703. Listed systems shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer’s installation instructions and their listing. The fire classification shall comply with Table 1505.1 based on the type of construction of the building.

15-6 2022 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE

[BF] 1505.10 Landscaped roofs. Landscaped roofs shall comply with Sections 1505.1 and 1507.15 and shall be installed in accordance with ANSI/SPRI VF-1.