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Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES

Section R902

California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5) · 2019 edition · updated 2026-09-12 · California

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

R902.1 Roofing covering materials.

Roofs shall be covered with materials as set forth in Sections R904 and R905. A min- imum Class A, B or C roofing shall be installed in areas des- ignated by this section or where the edge of the roof is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from a lot line. Class A, B and C roofing required by this section to be listed shall be tested in accordance with UL 790 or ASTM E108.

Exceptions:

  1. Class A roof assemblies include those with coverings of brick, masonry and exposed concrete roof deck.

  2. Class A roof assemblies include ferrous or copper shingles or sheets, metal sheets and shingles, clay or concrete roof tile, or slate installed on noncombustible decks.

  3. Class A roof assemblies include minimum 16 ounces per square foot copper sheets installed over combustible decks.

  4. Class A roof assemblies include slate installed over underlayment over combustible decks.

R902.1.1 Roof coverings within very-high fire hazard severity zones. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof cover- ing applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class A.

Exception: The requirements shall not apply in any jurisdiction that adopts the model ordinance approved by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51189 of the Government Code or an ordinance that substan- tially conforms to the model ordinance and transmits a copy to the State Fire Marshal.

R902.1.2 Roof coverings within state responsibility areas. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, the entire roof cov- ering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class B.

Exception: Areas designated as moderate fire hazard severity zones.

R902.1.3 Roof coverings in all other areas. The entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one- year period, the entire roof covering of every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire-retardant roof covering that is at least Class C.

R902.1.4 Roofing requirements a wildland-urban inter- face fire area. Roofing requirements for structures located in a wildland-urban interface fire area shall also comply with Section R337.5.

R902.2 Fire-retardant-treated shingles and shakes.

Fireretardant-treated wood shakes and shingles are wood shakes and shingles complying with UBC Standard 15-3 or 15-4 which are impregnated by the full-cell vacuum-pressure pro- cess with fire-retardant chemicals, and which have been qualified by UBC Standard 15-2 for use on Class A, B or C roofs. Fire-retardant-treated wood shakes and shingles shall comply with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering require- ments contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j). Each bundle shall bear labels from an ICBO accredited quality control agency identifying their roof-covering classi- fication and indicating their compliance with ICC-ES EG107 and with the weathering requirements contained in Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j).

Health and Safety Code Section 13132.7 (j) No wood roof covering materials shall be sold or applied in this state unless both of the following conditions are met:

(1) The materials have been approved and listed by the

State Fire Marshal as complying with the require- ments of this section.

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.

100735044

ROOF ASSEMBLIES

(2) The materials have passed at least five years of the

10-year natural weathering test. The 10-year natural weathering test required by this subdivision shall be conducted in accordance with Standard 15-2 of the 1994 edition of the Uniform Building Code at a test- ing facility recognized by the State Fire Marshal.

R902.3 Building-integrated photovoltaic product.

Building-integrated photovoltaic products installed as the roof covering shall be tested, listed and labeled for fire classification in accordance with Section R902.1 through R902.1.4.

R902.4 Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panel systems.

Rooftop-mounted photovoltaic panel systems installed on or above the roof covering shall be tested, listed and identified with a fire classification in accordance with UL 1703 and UL 2703. Class A, B or C photovoltaic panel systems and modules shall be installed areas designated by this section, in jurisdictions designated by law as requiring their use or where the edge of the roof is less than 3 feet (914 mm) from a lot line.

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▸Contents — California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
California Residential Code (Title 24, Part 2.5)
  1. Chapter 2 — DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS
  2. Chapter 1 — SCOPE AND APPLICATION
  3. Chapter 3 — BUILDING PLANNING
  4. Chapter 4 — FOUNDATIONS
  5. Chapter 5 — FLOORS
  6. Chapter 6 — WALL CONSTRUCTION
  7. Chapter 7 — WALL COVERING
  8. Chapter 8 — ROOF-CEILING CONSTRUCTION
  9. ▸Chapter 9 — ROOF ASSEMBLIES
    Overview
    1. Section R901
    2. Section R902
    3. Section R903
    4. Section R904
    5. Section R905
    6. Section R906
    7. Section R907
    8. Section R908
    9. Section R918
  10. Chapter 10 — CHIMNEYS AND FIREPLACES
  11. Chapter 44 — REFERENCED STANDARDS
  12. Appendix F — RADON CONTROL METHODS
  13. Appendix H — PATIO COVERS
  14. Appendix I — PRIVATE SEWAGE DISPOSAL
  15. Appendix J — EXISTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
  16. Appendix K — SOUND TRANSMISSION
  17. Appendix L — PERMIT FEES
  18. Appendix O — AUTOMATIC VEHICULAR GATES
  19. Appendix Q — TINY HOUSES
  20. Appendix R — LIGHT STRAW-CLAY CONSTRUCTION
  21. Appendix S — STRAWBALE CONSTRUCTION
  22. Appendix T — SOLAR-READY PROVISIONS—DETACHED ONE- AND
  23. Appendix V — SWIMMING POOL SAFETY ACT
  24. Appendix W — AREAS PROTECTED BY THE FACILITIES
  25. Appendix X — EMERGENCY HOUSING

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