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Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

Section A114 — WALLS OF UNBURNED CLAY, ADOBE OR STONE MASONRY

2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-07-27 · California

Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.

[BS] A114.1 General. Walls of unburned clay, adobe or stone masonry construction shall conform to the following:

  1. Walls of unburned clay, adobe or stone masonry shall not exceed a height- or length-to-thickness ratio specified in Table A114.1.

  2. Adobe shall be allowed a maximum value of 9 pounds per square inch (62.1 kPa) for shear unless higher values are justified by test.

  3. Mortar for repointing may be of the same soil composition and stabilization as the brick, in lieu of cement mortar.

[BS]TABLE A114.1—MAXIMUM HEIGHT-TO-THICKNESS RATIO FOR ADOBE OR STONE WALLS
_SD_1 _SD_1 _SD_1
0.13g ≤****_SD_1 < 0.25g 0.25g ≤****_SD_1 < 0.4g _SD_1 ≥ 0.4g
One-story buildings 12 10 8
Two-story buildings
First story 14 11 9
Second story 12 10 8

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

APPENDIX A-18 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE

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

CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

APPENDIX A

CHAPTER A2 – EARTHQUAKE HAZARD REDUCTION IN EXISTING REINFORCED CONCRETE AND REINFORCED MASONRY WALL BUILDINGS WITH FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGMS

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user. See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)

Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CG		 SFM HCD DSA OSHPD BSCC DPH AGR DWR CEC CA SL SLC
Adopting Agency BSC BSC-
CG		 SFM 1 2 1/AC AC SS SS/CC 1 1R 2 3 4 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6
Adopt Entire Chapter
Adopt Entire Chapter as
amended (amended
sections listed below)		 X
Adopt only those sections
that are listed below
Chapter / Section
A202.1 X

The state agency does not adopt sections identified with the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

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

APPENDIX A-20 2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE

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

APPENDIX A—GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUILDINGS

CHAPTER A2

EARTHQUAKE HAZARD REDUCTION IN EXISTING REINFORCED CONCRETE AND REINFORCED MASONRY WALL BUILDINGS WITH FLEXIBLE DIAPHRAGMS

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▸ Contents — 2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
2025 California Existing Building Code (Title 24, Part 10)
  1. 104.11 for consideration of alternative means of compliance.
  2. Chapter 1 — ADMINISTRATION
  3. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS
  4. Chapter 3 — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  5. Chapter 3A — PROVISIONS FOR ALL COMPLIANCE METHODS
  6. Chapter 4 — REPAIRS
  7. Chapter 4A — REPAIRS
  8. Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  9. Chapter 5A — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD
  10. Chapter 6 — CLASSIFICATION OF WORK
  11. Chapter 7 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 1
  12. Chapter 8 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 2
  13. Chapter 9 — ALTERATIONS—LEVEL 3
  14. Chapter 10 — CHANGE OF OCCUPANCY
  15. Chapter 11 — ADDITIONS
  16. Chapter 12 — HISTORIC BUILDINGS
  17. Chapter 13 — PERFORMANCE COMPLIANCE METHODS
  18. Chapter 14 — RELOCATED OR MOVED BUILDINGS
  19. Chapter 15 — CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS
  20. Chapter 16 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  21. ▸ Appendix A — GUIDELINES FOR THE SEISMIC RETROFIT OF EXISTING B…
    Overview
    1. Section A100 — APPLICATION
    2. Section A101 — PURPOSE
    3. Section A102 — SCOPE
    4. Section A103 — DEFINITIONS
    5. Section A104 — SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS
    6. Section A105 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    7. Section A106 — MATERIALS REQUIREMENTS
    8. Section A107 — QUALITY CONTROL
    9. Section A108 — DESIGN STRENGTHS
    10. Section A109 — ANALYSIS AND DESIGN PROCEDURE
    11. Section A110 — GENERAL PROCEDURE
    12. Section A111 — SPECIAL PROCEDURE
    13. Section A112 — ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
    14. Section A113 — DETAILED BUILDING SYSTEM DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
    15. Section A114 — WALLS OF UNBURNED CLAY, ADOBE OR STONE MASONRY
    16. Section A201 — PURPOSE
    17. Section A202 — SCOPE
    18. Section A203 — DEFINITIONS
    19. Section A204 — SYMBOLS AND NOTATIONS
    20. Section A205 — GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
    21. Section A206 — ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
    22. Section A207 — MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
    23. Section A301 — GENERAL
    24. Section A302 — DEFINITIONS
    25. Section A303 — STRUCTURAL WEAKNESSES
    26. Section A304 — STRENGTHENING REQUIREMENTS
    27. Section A401 — GENERAL
    28. Section A402 — DEFINITIONS
    29. Section A403 — ANALYSIS AND DESIGN
    30. Section A404 — PRESCRIPTIVE MEASURES FOR WEAK STORY
    31. Section A405 — MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION
    32. Section A406 — CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS
    33. Section A407 — QUALITY CONTROL
    34. Section A501 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  22. Appendix B — SUPPLEMENTARY ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR EXIS…
  23. Appendix C — GUIDELINES FOR THE WIND RETROFIT OF EXISTING BUIL…
  24. Appendix D — BOARD OF APPEALS
  25. Appendix E — TEMPORARY EMERGENCY USES
  26. Appendix A — GUIDELINES ON FIRE RATINGS OF ARCHAIC MATERIALS A…

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