Section 1030 — California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9)

EMERGENCY ESCAPE AND RESCUE

[BE] 1030.1 General. In addition to the means of egress required by this chapter, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be provided in the following occupancies:

Group R-2 occupancies located in stories with only one exit or access to only one exit as permitted by Tables 1006.3.3(1) and 1006.3.3(2).
Group R-3 and R-4 occupancies.

Basements and sleeping rooms below the fourth story above grade plane shall have not fewer than one exterior emergency escape and rescue opening in accordance with this section. Where basements contain one or more sleeping rooms, emergency escape and rescue openings shall be required in each sleeping room, but shall not be required in adjoining areas of the basement. Such openings shall open directly into a public way or to a yard or court that opens to a public way.

Exceptions:

1. In Groups R-1 and R-2 occupancies constructed of Type I, Type IIA, Type IIIA or Type IV construction equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.

2. Group R-2.1 occupancies meeting the requirements for delayed egress in accordance with Section 1010.1.9.8 may have operable windows that are breakable in sleeping rooms permanently restricted to a maximum of 4-inch open position.

3 . Basements with a ceiling height of less than 80 inches (2032 mm) shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings.

4. Emergency escape and rescue openings are not required from basements or sleeping rooms that have an exit door or exit access door that opens directly into a public way or to a yard, court or exterior exit balcony that opens to a public way.

5. Basements without habitable spaces and having not more than 200 square feet (18.6 m ² ) in floor area shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings.

6 . Within individual dwelling and sleeping units in Groups R-2 and R-3, where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1, 903.3.1.2 or 903.3.1.3, sleeping rooms in basements shall not be required to have emergency escape and rescue openings provided that the basement has one of the following:

6.1. One means of egress and one emergency escape and rescue opening.

6.2. Two means of egress.

7. In Group R-2.2 occupancies a certified fire escape is acceptable as a secondary means of egress of exist- ing buildings for this section of the code.

[BE] 1030.1.1 Operational constraints and opening con- trol devices. Emergency escape and rescue openings and any exit doors shall be maintained free of any obstructions other than those allowed by this section and shall be operational from inside the room without the use of keys or tools. Window-opening control devices complying with ASTM F2090 shall be permitted for use on windows serving as a required emergency escape and rescue opening. The release mecha- nism shall be maintained operable at all times.

Such bars, grills, grates or any similar devices shall be equipped with an approved exterior release device for use by the fire department only when required by the authority hav- ing jurisdiction.

Where security bars (burglar bars) are installed on emer- gency egress and rescue windows or doors, on or after July 1, 2000, such devices shall comply with California Building Standards Code, Part 12, Chapter 12-3 and other applicable provisions of Part 2.

Exception: Group R-1 occupancies provided with a moni- tored fire sprinkler system in accordance with Section 903.2.8 and designed in accordance with NFPA 13 may have openable windows permanently restricted to a maxi- mum 4-inch (102 mm) open position.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.2] Labeling.

Burglar bars shall not be sold in California at wholesale or retail unless warning information as specified in California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 4.3 is pro- vided either on the packaging or provided inside the packag- ing along with the burglar bars.

278 2019 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

Copyright © 2019 ICC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Accessed by Kevin Day (kevin.day@dgs.ca.gov), (California Building Standards Commission) Order Number #100735044 on Jul 24, 2019 03:54 PM (PDT) pursuant to License Agreement with ICC. No further reproduction or distribution authorized. Single user only, copying and networking prohibited. ANY UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION OR DISTRIBUTION IS A VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL COPYRIGHT ACT AND THE LICENSE AGREEMENT, AND SUBJECT TO CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PENALTIES THEREUNDER.

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[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.3(a) through (c)] Warning Information.

(a) Warning information located on or in burglar bar packaging shall contain the following information:

(1) Warning that the burglar bars are intended to deter

or delay intruders, they are not intended to prevent entry.

(2) A reprint of the following requirements from Cali-

fornia Building Code, Part 2, Chapter 10:

“Bars, grilles, grates or similar devices may be installed on emergency escape or rescue windows, doors or window wells, or any required exit door, provided:

1. The devices are equipped with approved release mechanisms which are openable from the inside without the use of a key or special knowledge or effort; and

2. The building is equipped with smoke alarms installed in accordance with California Build- ing Code, Part 2, Section 907.

Such bars, grilles, grates or similar devices shall be equipped with an approved release device for use by the fire department only on the exterior side for the purpose of fire department emergency access, when required by the authority having jurisdiction.”

(3) A statement regarding the necessity of installing

early warning smoke alarms (as required by the California Building Code, Part 2, Section 907) and planning occupant’s escape routes and meeting places.

(4) Contact the local building and fire official to deter-

mine if a local ordinance requires a building permit prior to installation and if the burglar bars are required to have a release mechanism on the out- side for use by the fire department in the event of a fire emergency.

(5) Written directions and illustrations on the opera-

tion of the emergency escape release mechanisms. These directions shall include a warning that the mechanisms be tested on a monthly basis.

(b) The textual information required by this section shall be printed in a minimum 12-point nondecorative lettering providing a sharp contrast to the background.

(c) Graphical information required by this section shall be of sufficient size to clearly illustrate the intended actions.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.4] Warning Information Location.

When placed on burglar bar packaging, the information required by California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Divi- sion 1, Section 4.3 shall be conspicuously located and shall not be covered or made illegible by product advertising not required by Section 4.3.

MEANS OF EGRESS

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.5(a)] Contractor or Installer Disclosures.

Any contractor or installer of burglar bars shall provide the owner of the residential dwelling the warning information required pursuant to California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 4.3 prior to installing burglar bars.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §4.6(a) and (b)] Prohibited Installations.

No person shall install for profit unopenable burglar bars on a residential dwelling:

(a) Where the California Building Code requires openable burglar bars for emergency escape or rescue, or

(b) On mobile homes, manufactured homes, or multi-unit manufactured housing unless at least one window or door to the exterior in each bedroom is openable for emergency escape or rescue.

[BE] 1030.2 Minimum size. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have a minimum net clear opening of 5.7 square feet (0.53 m ² ).

Exception: The minimum net clear opening for gradefloor emergency escape and rescue openings shall be 5 square feet (0.46 m ² ).

[BE] 1030.2.1 Minimum dimensions. The minimum net clear opening height dimension shall be 24 inches (610 mm). The minimum net clear opening width dimension shall be 20 inches (508 mm). The net clear opening dimensions shall be the result of normal operation of the opening.

[BE] 1030.3 Maximum height from floor. Emergency escape and rescue openings shall have the bottom of the clear opening not greater than 44 inches (1118 mm) measured from the floor.

[BE] 1030.4 Window wells. An emergency escape and rescue opening with a finished sill height below the adjacent ground level shall be provided with a window well in accordance with Sections 1030.4.1 and 1030.4.2.

[BE] 1030.4.1 Minimum size. The minimum horizontal area of the window well shall be 9 square feet (0.84 m ² ), with a minimum dimension of 36 inches (914 mm). The area of the window well shall allow the emergency escape and rescue opening to be fully opened.

[BE] 1030.4.2 Ladders or steps. Window wells with a vertical depth of more than 44 inches (1118 mm) shall be equipped with an approved permanently affixed ladder or steps. Ladders or rungs shall have an inside width of not less than 12 inches (305 mm), shall project not less than 3 inches (76 mm) from the wall and shall be spaced not more than 18 inches (457 mm) on center (o.c.) vertically for the full height of the window well. The ladder or steps shall not encroach into the required dimensions of the window well by more than 6 inches (152 mm). The ladder or steps shall not be obstructed by the emergency escape and rescue opening. Ladders or steps required by this section are exempt from the stairway requirements of Section 1011.

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MEANS OF EGRESS

[BE] 1030.5 Bars, grilles, covers and screens. Bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings, bulkhead enclosures, or window wells that serve such openings, provided that the minimum net clear opening size complies with Sections 1030.1.1 through 1030.4.2 and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening. Where such bars, grilles, covers, screens or similar devices are installed in existing buildings, they shall not reduce the net clear opening of the emergency escape and rescue opening and smoke alarms shall be installed in accordance with Section 907.2.10 regardless of the valuation of the alteration.