Section 508 — FIRE COMMAND CENTER

Where required by other sections of this code and in all buildings classified as high-rise buildings by the California Building Code and Group I-2 occupancies having occupied floors located more than 75 feet (23 m) above the lowest level of fire depart- ment vehicle access and in all F-1 and S-1 occupancies with a building footprint greater than 500,000 square feet (46 451 m [2] ), a fire command center for fire department operations shall be provided and shall comply with Sections 508.1.1 through 508.1.7.

508.1.1 Location and access. The location and access to the fire command center shall be approved by the fire code official.

508.1.2 Separation. The fire command center shall be separated from the remainder of the building by not less than a 2-hour fire barrier constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or horizontal assembly constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code, or both.

508.1.3 Size. The fire command center shall be not less than 0.015 percent of the total building area of the facility served or 200 square feet (19 m [2] ) in area, whichever is greater, with a minimum dimension of 0.7 times the square root of the room area or 10 feet (3048 mm), whichever is greater.

Where a fire command center is required for Group F-1 and S-1 occupancies with a building footprint greater than 500,000 square feet (46 452 m [2] ), the fire command center shall have a minimum size of 96 square feet (9 m [2] ) with a minimum dimension of 8 feet (2438 mm) where approved by the fire code official.

508.1.4 Layout approval. A layout of the fire command center and all features required by this section to be contained therein shall be submitted for approval prior to installation.

508.1.5 Storage. Storage unrelated to operation of the fire command center shall be prohibited. Fire command centers shall not be used for the housing of any boiler, heating unit, generator, combustible storage or similar hazardous equipment or storage.

508.1.6 Required features. The fire command center shall comply with NFPA 72 and shall contain the following features:

1. The emergency voice/alarm communications system control unit.
2. The fire department communications system.
3. Fire alarm system zoning annunciator panel required by Section 907.6.4.3.
4. Annunciator unit visually indicating the location of the elevators and whether they are operational.
5. Status indicators and controls for air distribution systems.
6. The firefighter’s control panel required by Section 909.16 for smoke control systems installed in the building.
7. Controls for unlocking interior exit stairway doors simultaneously.
8. Sprinkler valve and water-flow detector display panels.
9. Emergency and standby power status indicators.
10. A telephone for fire department use with controlled access to the public telephone system.
11. Fire pump status indicators.
12. Schematic building plans indicating the typical floor plan and detailing the building core, means of egress, fire protection systems, firefighter air-replenishment systems, firefighting equipment and fire department access, and the location of fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers and smoke partitions.
13. An approved Building Information Card that includes, but is not limited to, all of the following information: 13.1. General building information that includes: property name, address, the number of floors in the building above and below grade, use and occupancy classification (for mixed uses, identify the different types of occupancies on each floor) and the estimated building population during the day, night and weekend. 13.2. Building emergency contact information that includes: a list of the building’s emergency contacts including but not limited to building manager, building engineer and their respective work phone number, cell phone number and email address.

13.3. Building construction information that includes: the type of building construction including but not limited to floors, walls, columns and roof assembly. 13.4. Exit access stairway and exit stairway information that includes: number of exit access stairways and exit stairways in building; each exit access stairway and exit stairway designation and floors served; location where each exit access stairway and exit stairway discharges, interior exit stairways that are pressurized; exit stairways provided with emergency lighting; each exit stairway that allows reentry; exit stairways providing roof access; elevator information that includes: number of elevator banks, elevator bank designation, elevator car numbers and respective floors that they serve; location of elevator machine rooms, control rooms and control spaces; location of sky lobby; and location of freight elevator banks. 13.5. Building services and system information that includes: location of mechanical rooms, location of building management system, location and capacity of all fuel oil tanks, location of emergency generator and location of natural gas service.

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

FIRE SERVICE FEATURES

13.6. Fire protection system information that includes: location of standpipes, location of fire pump room, location of fire department connections, floors protected by automatic sprinklers and location of different types of automatic sprinkler systems installed including but not limited to dry, wet and pre-action. 13.7. Hazardous material information that includes: location and quantity of hazardous material.

14. Work table.

15. Generator supervision devices, manual start and transfer features.

16. Public address system, where specifically required by other sections of this code.

17. Elevator fire recall switch in accordance with ASME A17.1/CSA B44.

18. Elevator emergency or standby power selector switch(es) in accordance with ASME A17.1/CSA B44. 19. A master switch for unlocking elevator lobby doors permitted by Section 1010.2.12.1.

508.1.7 Fire command center identification. The fire command center shall be identified by a permanent, easily visible sign stating “FIRE COMMAND CENTER” located on the door to the fire command center.

508.1.8 Ventilation. The fire command center shall be provided with an independent ventilation or air-conditioning system.