515.1 Cooking Equipment — 2025 California Mechanical Code
California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) · 2025 edition · updated 2026-09-25 · California
CBSC: official editions, supplements and errata
Italicized text is a California amendment to the model code, as printed in the official publication.
Cite as: 2025 California Mechanical Code (Title 24, Part 4) § 515.1 · Effective January 1, 2026 · Official source: Building Standards Commission
Cooking equipment shall be approved based on one of the following criteria:
(1) Listings by a testing laboratory.
(2) Test data acceptable to the Authority Having Jurisdiction.
[NFPA 96:13.1.1]
515.1.1 Installation. All listed appliances shall be installed in accordance with the terms of their listings and the manufacturer’s instructions. Solid fuel used for flavoring within a gas-operated appliance shall be in a solid fuel holder (smoker box) that is listed with the equipment.
[NFPA 96:13.1.2.1, 13.1.2.1.1]
EXHAUST SYSTEMS
515.1.1.1 Re-evaluation. Cooking appliances requiring protection shall not be moved, modified, or rearranged without prior re-evaluation of the fireextinguishing system by the system installer or servicing agent, unless otherwise allowed by the design of the fire-extinguishing system. A solid fuel holder shall not be added to an existing appliance until the fireextinguishing system has been evaluated by the fireextinguishing system service provider. [NFPA 96:13.1.2.2, 13.1.2.2.1]
515.1.1.2 Prior Location. The fire-extinguishing system shall not require re-evaluation where the cooking appliances are moved for the purposes of maintenance and cleaning, provided the appliances are returned to approved design location prior to cooking operations, and any disconnected fire-extinguishing system nozzles attached to the appliances are reconnected in accordance with the manufacturer’s listed design manual. [NFPA 96:13.1.2.3] 515.1.1.3 Minimum Space. All deep-fat fryers shall be installed with at least a 16 inch (406 mm) space between the fryer and surface flames from adjacent cooking equipment. [NFPA 96:13.1.2.4] 515.1.1.4 Space Not Required. Where a steel or tempered glass baffle plate is installed at a minimum 8 inches (203 mm) in height between the fryer and surface flames of the adjacent appliance, the requirement for a 16 inch (406 mm) space shall not apply. [NFPA 96:13.1.2.5]
515.1.1.5 Minimum Height. If the fryer and the surface flames are at different horizontal planes, the minimum height of 8 inches (203 mm) shall be measured from the higher of the two. [NFPA 96:13.1.2.5.1]
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