Chapter 5 — PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

(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	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Adopt Entire Chapter													X
Adopt Entire Chapter as amended (amended sections listed below)				X	X	X
Adopt only those sections that are listed below	X		X					X	X		X	X		X	X
Chapter / Section
501											X	X		X	X
501.1	X			X
501.1_ Exception 1_					X
501.1_ Exception 2_				X
501.1.1 – 501.5.1			X
501.1.2	X
501.3				†	†	†
501.5			X	X
502											X	X		X	X
502.1_Exception_	X
502.3	X
502.4	X
502.6				†	†	†
503											X	X		X	X
503.1	X
503.2	X
503.3	X							X	X
503.14			X	†	†	†
503.15			X
503.16				†	†	†
503.17			X	†	†	†
504			X	†	†	†					X	X		X	X
505			X								X	X		X	X
505.2				X	X
506			X								X	X		X	X
506.1	X
506.1.1	X
506.2	X
506.3	X
506.4_ Exception_	X
506.6				†	†	†
507				†	†	†

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.

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CHAPTER 5

PRESCRIPTIVE COMPLIANCE METHOD

User note:

About this chapter: Chapter 5 provides details for the prescriptive compliance method—one of the three main options of compliance avail- able in this code for buildings and structures undergoing alteration, addition or change of occupancy.

ratings of building elements and materials shall be permitted to meet the requirements of the current building code. The building is required to meet the other applicable requirements of the California Building Code .

Plans, investigation and evaluation reports, and other data shall be submitted indicating which building elements and materials the applicant is requesting the code official to review and approve for determination of applying the current building code fire-resistance ratings. Any special construction features, including fire-resistance-rated assemblies and smoke-resistive assemblies, conditions of occupancy, means of egress conditions, fire code deficiencies, approved modifications or approved alternative materials, design and methods of construction, and equipment applying to the building that impact required fire-resistance ratings shall be identified in the evaluation reports submitted.

501.3 Health care facilities.¶

In Group I-2 facilities, ambulatory care facilities and outpatient clinics, any altered or added portion of an existing electrical or medical gas systems shall be required to meet installation and equipment requirements in NFPA 99.

501.4 Existing Group R occupancies. [SFM] See the Cali-¶

fornia Residential Code for existing Group R-3 occupancies or Chapter 11 of the California Fire Code for all other exist- ing Group R occupancies.

501.5 Carbon monoxide alarms. [HCD 1, SFM] Pursuant to¶

Health and Safety Code Section 17926, carbon monoxide detection shall be provided in all existing Group R buildings, as required in Section 915 of the California Building Code or Section R315 of the California Residential Code, as applica- ble.

501.5.1 Carbon monoxide detection in alterations to an existing Group E building. Where the alteration adds any of the conditions identified in the California Fire Code Sections 915.1.2 through 915.1.6 to an existing Group E building, not previously required to be provided with carbon monoxide detection, new carbon monoxide detec- tion shall be installed in accordance with Section 915 of the California Fire Code.

Exceptions:

1. The alteration replaces an existing fossil-fuel burning appliance, fireplace or forced-air fur- nace, or any of the conditions identified in Sec- tions 915.1.2 through 9151.6 are already present.

502.6 Enhanced classroom acoustics.¶

In Group E occupancies, enhanced classroom acoustics shall be provided in all classrooms in the addition with a volume of 20,000 cubic feet (565 m ³ ) or less. Enhanced classroom acoustics shall comply with the reverberation time in Section 808 of ICC A117.1.

503.14 Smoke compartments. In Group I-2 occupancies¶

where the alteration is on a story used for sleeping rooms for more than 30 care recipients, the story shall be divided into not less than two compartments by smoke barrier walls in accordance with Section 407.5 of the California Building Code as required for new construction.

503.15 Refuge areas.¶

Where alterations affect the configuration of an area utilized as a refuge area, the capacity of the refuge area shall not be reduced below the required capacity of the refuge area for horizontal exits in accordance with Section 1026.4 of the California Building Code .

Where the horizontal exit also forms a smoke compartment, the capacity of the refuge area for Group I-1, I-2 and I3 occupancies and Group B ambulatory care facilities shall not be reduced below that required in Sections 407.5.3, 408.6.2, 420.6.1 and 422.3.2 of the California Building Code, as applicable.

503.16 Enhanced classroom acoustics.¶

In Group E occupancies, where the work area exceeds 50 percent of the building area, enhanced classroom acoustics shall be provided in all classrooms with a volume of 20,000 cubic feet (565 m ³ ) or less. Enhanced classroom acoustics shall comply with the reverberation time in Section 808 of ICC A117.1.

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503.17 Locking arrangements in educational occupancies.¶

In Group E occupancies, Group B educational occupancies and Group I-4 occupancies, egress doors with locking arrangements designed to keep intruders from entering the room shall comply with Section 1010.2.8 of the California Building Code .

503.18 Two-way communications systems. Where the work¶

area for alterations exceeds 50 percent of the building area and the building has elevator service, a two-way communication systems shall be provided where required by Section 1009.8 of the California Building Code .