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Chapter 5 — FIRE SERVICE FEATURES

Section 504

California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-10 · California

CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata

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

ACCESS TO BUILDING OPENINGS AND ROOFS

504.1 Required access. Exterior doors and openings required

by this code or the California Building Code shall be maintained readily accessible for emergency access by the fire department. An approved access walkway leading from fire apparatus access roads to exterior openings shall be provided where required by the fire code official.

[California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.05(b)] Fire Department Access and Egress. (Roofs)

(b) Roofs. No person shall install or maintain any security barrier such as barbed wire fencing, razor wire fencing, chain link fencing, or any other fencing material, cable, aerial, antenna, or other obstruction on the roof of any com- mercial establishment in such a manner as to obstruct or ren- der egress or access hazardous in the event of fire or other emergency.

Exception: Guy wire, rods and aerial antenna masts may be attached to a roof structure having a slope of less than 30 degrees provided there is full clearance of seven feet or more between the roof and said obstruction. Guy wire or rods required to support aerial or antenna masts may be attached to a roof structure a lateral distance from the mast not in excess of one-sixth the height of the mast.

Exceptions & meaning →

504.2 Maintenance of exterior doors and openings.

Exterior doors and their function shall not be eliminated without prior approval. Exterior doors that have been rendered nonfunctional and that retain a functional door exterior appearance shall have a sign affixed to the exterior side of the door with the words THIS DOOR BLOCKED. The sign shall consist of letters having a principal stroke of not less than 3 /4 inch (19.1 mm) wide and not less than 6 inches (152 mm) high on a contrasting background. Required fire department access doors shall not be obstructed or eliminated. Exit and exit access doors shall comply with Chapter 10. Access doors for high-piled combustible storage shall comply with Section 3206.7.

Exceptions & meaning →

504.3 Stairway access to roof. New buildings four or more

stories above grade plane, except those with a roof slope greater than four units vertical in 12 units horizontal (33.3percent slope), shall be provided with a stairway to the roof. Stairway access to the roof shall be in accordance with Section 1011.12. Such stairway shall be marked at street and floor levels with a sign indicating that the stairway continues to the roof. Where roofs are used for roof gardens or for other purposes, stairways shall be provided as required for such occupancy classification.

Exceptions & meaning →

504.4 Roof access. No person shall install or maintain any

security barrier such as barbed wire fencing, razor wire fenc- ing, chain link fencing, or any other fencing material, cable, aerial, antenna, or other obstruction on the roof of any com- mercial establishment in such a manner as to obstruct or ren- der egress or access hazardous in the event of fire or other emergency.

Exception: Guy wire, rods and aerial antenna masts may be attached to a roof structure having a slope of less than 30 degrees provided there is full clearance of 7 feet or more between the roof and said obstruction. Guy wire or rods required to support aerial or antenna masts may be attached to a roof structure a lateral distance from the mast not in excess of one-sixth the height of the mast.

Exceptions & meaning →

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