Chapter 6 — BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

(Matrix Adoption Tables are nonregulatory, intended only as an aid to the code user.

See Chapter 1 for state agency authority and building applications.)

• The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Fire Code are a reprint from the current CCR, Title

19, Division 1 text for the code user’s convenience only. The scope, applicability and appeals procedures of CCR, Title 19, Division I remain the same.

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. 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.

6-2 2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. 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.

CHAPTER 6

BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

User note:

About this chapter: Chapter 6 focuses on building systems and services as they relate to potential safety hazards and when and how they should be installed. This chapter brings together all building system- and service-related issues for convenience and provides a more system- atic view of buildings. The following building services and systems are addressed: electrical equipment wiring and hazards, elevator operation, maintenance and fire service keys, fuel-fired appliances, commercial cooking equipment and systems, commercial cooking oil stor- age, mechanical refrigeration, hyperbaric facilities and clothes dryer exhaust systems. Note that building systems focused on energy systems and components are addressed by Chapter 12. Portions of this chapter were extensively reorganized for the 2021 edition. For clarity, the relo- cation marginal markings have not been included. For complete information, see the relocations table in the preface information of this code.

installation, operation and maintenance of the following building services and systems:

1. Electrical systems, equipment and wiring.

2. Information technology server rooms.

3. Elevator systems, emergency operation and recall.

4. Fuel-fired appliances, heating systems, chimneys and fuel oil storage.

5. Commercial cooking equipment and systems.

6. Commercial cooking oil storage.

7. Mechanical refrigeration systems.

8. Hyperbaric facilities.

9. Clothes dryer exhaust systems.

unsafe or hazardous by the fire code official shall be abated. Equipment, appliances, materials and systems that are modified or damaged and constitute an electrical shock or fire hazard shall not be used.

601.2.1 Correction of unsafe conditions. The fire code official shall be authorized to require the owner, the owner’s authorized agent, operator or occupant of a building or premises to abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe operations or conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action in compliance with this code.

Extension cords shall not be a substitute for permanent wiring and shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 817. Extension cords shall not be affixed to structures, extended through walls, ceilings or floors, or under doors or floor coverings, nor shall such cords be subject to environmental damage or physical impact. Extension cords shall be used only with portable appliances. Extension cords marked for indoor use shall not be used outdoors.

603.6.1 Application and use. Extension cords shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle, relocatable power tap or current tap and, except for approved multiplug extension cords, shall serve only one portable appliance.

603.6.2 Ampacity. The ampacity of the extension cords shall be not less than the rated capacity of the portable appliance supplied by the cord.

603.6.3 Maintenance. Extension cords shall be maintained in good condition without splices, deterioration or damage.

603.6.4 Grounding. Extension cords shall be grounded where serving grounded portable appliances.

Electrical motors shall be maintained free from excessive accumulations of oil, dirt, waste and debris.

electrical power and lighting installations shall not exceed a period of 90 days. Temporary wiring methods shall meet the applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code .

Exception: Temporary wiring for electrical power and lighting installations complying with the applicable provisions of the California Electrical Code is permitted during periods of construction, remodeling, repair or demolition of buildings, structures, equipment or similar activities.

603.8.1 Attachment to structures. Temporary wiring attached to a structure shall be protected from physical damage and supported on insulators spaced not more than 10 feet (3048 mm) apart.

by other sections of this code, portable, electric space heaters shall be permitted to be used in all occupancies in accordance with Sections 603.9.1 through 603.9.5.

603.9.1 Listed and labeled. Only listed and labeled portable, electric space heaters shall be used.

603.9.2 Power supply. Portable, electric space heaters shall be plugged directly into an approved receptacle.

BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS

service equipment is wider than 30 inches (762 mm), the minimum working space shall be not less than the width of the equipment. Storage of materials shall not be located within the designated working space.

603.4.1 Labeling. Doors into electrical control panel rooms shall be marked with a plainly visible and legible sign stating “ELECTRICAL ROOM” or similar approved wording. The disconnecting means for each service, feeder or branch circuit originating on a switchboard or panelboard shall be legibly and durably marked to indicate its purpose unless such purpose is clearly evident. Where buildings or structures are supplied by more than one power source, markings shall be provided at each service equipment location and at all interconnected electric power production sources identifying all electric power sources at the premises in accordance with the California Electrical Code .

construction and use of current taps and relocatable taps shall be in accordance with the California Electrical Code and this code.

603.5.1 Listing. Relocatable power taps shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363. Current taps shall be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 498A.

603.5.1.1 Listing in Group I-2 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities. In Group I-2 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities, relocatable power taps shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363 except under the following conditions:

1. In Group I-2 occupancies, relocatable power taps providing power to patient care-related electrical equipment in the patient care vicinity, as defined by NFPA 99, shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363A or UL 60601-1.

2. In Group I-2 facilities, in care recipient rooms using line-operated patient care-related electrical equipment, relocatable power taps in the patient care vicinity, as defined by NFPA 99, shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363A or UL 60601-1.

3. In ambulatory care facilities, relocatable power taps providing power to patient care-related electrical equipment in the patient care vicinity, as defined by NFPA 99, shall be listed in accordance with UL 1363A or UL 60601-1.

603.5.2 Application and use. Relocatable power taps and current taps shall be directly connected to a permanently installed receptacle.

Exceptions:

1. Where approved for use in a Group A occupancy or in a meeting room in a Group B occupancy, not more than five relocatable power taps shall be permitted to be connected together or connected to an extension cord for temporary use to supply power to electronic equipment.

6-4 2022 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE

Copyright © 2022 by, or licensed to, International Code Council, Inc. (ALL RIGHTS RESERVED); licensed to California Building Standards Commission pursuant to License Agreement. No further reproductions is authorized. 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.

603.9.3 Extension cords. Portable, electric space heaters shall not be plugged into extension cords.

603.9.4 Prohibited areas. Portable, electric space heaters shall not be operated within 3 feet (914 mm) of any combustible materials. Portable, electric space heaters shall be operated only in locations for which they are listed.

603.9.5 Group I-2 occupancies and ambulatory care facilities. Where used in Group I-2 and ambulatory care facilities, portable, electric space heaters shall be limited to those having a heating element that cannot exceed a temperature of 212°F (100°C), and such heaters shall only be used in nonsleeping staff and employee areas.

in plenums that are able to be accessed without causing damage, or requiring demolition to the building, shall be tagged for future use or shall be removed.