CFC · California Fire Code

Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans (Chapter 4)

Chapter 4 of the CFC defines required fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plan contents, approvals, drills, training and maintenance and ties those requirements to occupancy‑specific triggers.

Last reviewed: July 6, 2026

Overview

Chapter 4 of the California Fire Code is the Emergency Planning and Preparedness chapter that focuses on the human side of life‑safety — how people, procedures and training work with built‑in systems to reduce risk during fires and other emergencies . The chapter includes Sections 401 through 407 (general provisions, definitions, emergency preparedness requirements, the fire safety/evacuation/lockdown plan rules themselves, drills, training and hazard communication) and is listed in the chapter table of contents as “Emergency Planning and Preparedness” .

The core requirements for plan content and approval are in Section §404: §404.1 establishes applicability and the requirement that plans comply with the content rules in §404.2; §404.2.1 lists required elements of fire evacuation plans (egress routes, assisted rescue, accounting for occupants, elevator/defend‑in‑place procedures, notification/reporting, etc.) and §404.2.2 covers fire safety plan elements such as site and floor plans and hazard lists . Lockdown plans are expressly addressed in §404.2.3 and are allowed only where approved by the fire code official; those plans must identify authorized decision‑makers, how lockdown signals differ from fire alarms, door‑securing methods, communication and termination procedures, and drill requirements .

Implementation and upkeep are also required: plans must be reviewed or updated at least annually or when staff, occupancy or building layout changes occur (§404.3), kept available on the premises and provided to the fire code official on request (§404.4 and §404.4.1), and distributed to tenants and service staff as applicable. Chapter 4 links directly to occupancy‑specific triggers and additional requirements in Chapter 4’s emergency‑preparedness sections (§403) and to employee training and drill frequency requirements under §406 .

In this section

Code references

Grounded in the retrieved California Fire Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

  • CFC § 404.1 High relevance — show source text

    404.1 General. Where required by Section 403 or other sections of this code, fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans shall comply with Sections 404.2 through 404.4.1.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.10] Evacuation of Buildings.

    Upon notification of fire, conduct of any fire drill, upon activation of the fire alarm, or upon orders of the fire authority having jurisdic- tion, buildings or structures within the scope of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be immediately evacuated or occupants shall be relocated in accordance with established plans.

    404.2 Contents. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plan contents shall be in accordance with Sections 404.2.1 through 404.2.3.2.

    404.2.1 Fire evacuation plans. Fire evacuation plans shall include the following:

    1. Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation of the building is to be complete by selected floors or areas only or with a defend-in-place response.
    2. Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating.
    3. Procedures for the use of elevators to evacuate the building where occupant evacuation elevators complying with Section 3008 of the California Building Code are provided.
    4. Procedures for assisted rescue for persons unable to use the general means of egress unassisted.
    5. Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed.
    6. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.
    7. The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
    8. The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization.
    9. Identification and assignment of personnel who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan.
    10. A description of the emergency voice/alarm communication system alert tone and preprogrammed voice messages, where provided.

    404.2.2 Fire safety plans. Fire safety plans shall include the following:

    1. The procedure for reporting a fire or other emergency.
    2. The life safety strategy including the following: 2.1. Procedures for notifying occupants, including areas with a private mode alarm system. 2.2. Procedures for occupants under a defend-in-place response. 2.3. Procedures for evacuating occupants, including those who need evacuation assistance.
    3. Site plans indicating the following: 3.1. The occupancy assembly point. 3.2. The locations of fire hydrants. 3.3. The normal routes of fire department vehicle access.
    4. Floor plans identifying the locations of the following:

    4.1. Exits.

    4.2. Primary evacuation routes. 4.3. Secondary evacuation routes.

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    EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

    4.4. Accessible egress routes. 4.4.1. Areas of refuge.

    4.4.2. Exterior areas for assisted rescue.

    4.5. Refuge areas associated with smoke barriers and horizontal exits.

    4.6. Manual fire alarm boxes.

    4.7. Portable fire extinguishers. 4.8. Occupant-use hose stations.

    4.9. Fire alarm annunciators and controls.

  • CFC § 404.2.3 High relevance — show source text

    404.2.3 Lockdown plans. Lockdown plans shall only be permitted where such plans are approved by the fire code official and are in compliance with Sections 404.2.3.1 and 404.2.3.2.

    404.2.3.1 Lockdown plan contents. Lockdown plans shall include the following:

    1. Identification of individuals authorized to issue a lockdown order.

    2. Security measures used during normal operations, when the building is occupied, that could adversely affect egress or fire department operations.

    3. A description of identified emergency and security threats addressed by the plan, including specific lockdown procedures to be implemented for each threat condition.

    4. Means and methods of initiating a lockdown plan for each threat, including: 4.1. The means of notifying occupants of a lockdown event, which shall be distinct from the fire alarm signal. 4.2. Identification of each door or other access point that will be secured. 4.3. A description of the means or methods used to secure doors and other access points. 4.4. A description of how locking means and methods are in compliance with the requirements of this code for egress and accessibility.

    5. Procedures for reporting to the fire department any lockdown condition affecting egress or fire department operations.

    6. Procedures for determining and reporting the presence or absence of occupants to emergency response agencies during a lockdown.

    7. Means for providing two-way communication between a central location and each area subject to being secured during a lockdown.

    8. Identification of the prearranged signal for terminating the lockdown.

    9. Identification of individuals authorized to issue a lockdown termination order.

    10. Procedures for unlocking doors and verifying that the means of egress has been returned to normal operations upon termination of the lockdown.

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    EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

    1. Training procedures and frequency of lockdown plan drills.

    404.2.3.2 Drills. Lockdown plan drills shall be conducted in accordance with the approved plan. Such drills shall not be substituted for fire and evacuation drills required by Section 405.3.

    404.3 Maintenance. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans shall be reviewed or updated annually or as necessitated by changes in staff assignments, occupancy or the physical arrangement of the building.

    404.4 Availability. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans shall be available in the workplace for reference and review by employees, and copies shall be furnished to the fire code official for review on request.

    404.4.1 Distribution. The fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans shall be distributed to the tenants and building service employees by the owner or owner’s agent. Tenants shall distribute to their employees applicable parts of the fire safety plan and lockdown plan affecting the employees’ actions in the event of a fire or other emergency.

    404.5 College and university pre-fire planning. The Chancellor, President, or his designated representative, shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, propose procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency in accordance with the provisions of Section 403.9.2.1.1.

    404.6 Office buildings. All office buildings two or more stories in height, except high-rise buildings as defined by Health and Safety Code Section 13210, shall comply with this section.

  • CFC § 3-15 High relevance — show source text

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-15 319 Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing). . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-16 320 Battery Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-17 321 Artificial Combustible Vegetation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19 322 Powered Micromobility Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-19

    323 Road Tunnels, Bridges and Other Limited Access Highways [SFM]. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3-20

    CHAPTER 4 EMERGENCY PLANNING AND

    PREPAREDNESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4-3

    401 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

    402 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

    403 Emergency Preparedness Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 404 Fire Safety, Evacuation and Lockdown Plans . . . . . . 4-10 405 Emergency Evacuation Drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 406 Employee Training and Response Procedures. . . . . 4-15

    407 Hazard Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

    CHAPTER 5 FIRE SERVICE FEATURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3

    501 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

    502 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

    503 Fire Apparatus Access Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 504 Access to Building Openings and Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 505 Premises Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

  • CFC § 4-1 High relevance — show source text

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    4 EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

    User notes:

    About this chapter: Chapter 4 addresses the human contribution to life safety in buildings when a fire or other emergency occurs. The requirements for continuous training and scheduled fire, evacuation and lockdown drills can be as important as the required periodic inspections and maintenance of built-in fire protection features. The level of preparation by the occupants also improves the emergency responders’ abilities during an emergency. The California Building Code focuses on built-in fire protection features, such as automatic sprinkler systems, fire-resistance-rated construction and properly designed egress systems, whereas this chapter fully addresses the human element.

    SECTION 401—GENERAL

    401.1 Scope. Reporting of emergencies, coordination with emergency response forces, emergency plans and procedures for managing or responding to emergencies shall comply with the provisions of this section.

    Exception: Firms that have approved on-premises firefighting organizations and that are in compliance with approved procedures for fire reporting.

    401.2 Approval. Where required by this code, fire safety plans, emergency procedures and employee training programs shall be approved by the fire code official.

    401.3 Emergency responder notification. Notification of emergency responders shall be in accordance with Sections 401.3.1 through 401.3.3.

    401.3.1 Fire events. In the event an unwanted fire occurs on a property, the owner or occupant shall immediately report such condition to the fire department.

    401.3.2 Alarm activations. Upon activation of a fire alarm signal, employees or staff shall immediately notify the fire department.

    401.3.3 Delayed notification. A person shall not, by verbal or written directive, require any delay in the reporting of a fire to the fire department.

    401.3.4 Group E fire alarm initiation. Every person and public officer managing, controlling or in charge of any public, private or parochial school shall cause the fire alarm signal to be sounded upon the discovery of fire.

    401.4 Required plan implementation. In the event an unwanted fire is detected in a building or a fire alarm activates, the emergency plan shall be implemented.

    401.5 Making false report. A person shall not give, signal or transmit a false alarm.

    401.6 Emergency evacuation drills. The sounding of a fire alarm signal and the carrying out of an emergency evacuation drill in accordance with the provisions of Section 405 shall be allowed.

    401.7 Unplanned evacuation. Evacuations made necessary by the unplanned activation of a fire alarm system or by any other emergency shall not be substituted for a required evacuation drill.

    401.8 Interference with fire department operations. It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict the mobility of or block the path of travel of a fire department emergency vehicle in any way, or to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or hamper any fire department operation.

  • CFC § 2810.1 High relevance — show source text

    SECTION 2810 —OUTDOOR STORAGE OF PALLETS AT PALLET MANUFACTURING AND RECYCLING FACILITIES

    2810.1 General. The outside storage of wood pallets and wood composite pallets on the same site as a pallet manufacturing or pallet recycling facility shall comply with Sections 2810.2 through 2810.11.

    2810.2 Site plan. Each site shall maintain a current site plan. The site plan shall be submitted to the fire code official for approval and contain all of the following:

    1. Lot lines.

    2. Utilities.

    3. Size, location and type of construction of the buildings on the property.

    4. Presence of the fire protection systems.

    5. Water supply sources for firefighting purposes.

    6. Location of hazardous material storage areas.

    7. Location of pallet storage.

    8. Equipment protected with a dust collection system.

    9. Fire apparatus access roads.

    10. Designated smoking areas.

    11. Location of fire alarm control panels.

    2810.3 Fire prevention plan. The owner or owner’s authorized representative shall submit a fire prevention plan for review and approval by the fire code official that includes all of the following:

    1. Frequency of walk-through inspections to verify compliance with the plan.
    2. Hot work permit program in accordance with Chapter 35.
    3. Preventative maintenance program for equipment associated with pallet activities.
    4. Inspection, testing and maintenance of fire protection systems in accordance with Chapter 9.

    2810.4 Fire safety and evacuation plan. The owner or owner’s authorized representative shall prepare and train employees in an approved fire safety and evacuation plan in accordance with Chapter 4.

    2810.5 Security management plan. The owner or owner’s authorized representative shall prepare a security management plan based on a security risk assessment and shall make the plan and assessment available to the fire code official upon request.

    2810.6 Clearance to property line. Stacks of pallets shall not be stored within 0.75 times the stack height or 8 feet (2438 mm) of the property line, whichever is greater, or shall comply with Section 2810.11.

    2810.7 Clearance to important buildings. Stacks of pallets shall not be stored within 0.75 times the stack height of any important building on site, or shall comply with Section 2810.11.

    2810.8 Height. Pallet stacks shall not exceed 20 feet (6096 mm) in height.

    2810.9 Fire flow. Fire-flow requirements for the site shall be determined by the fire code official.

    2810.10 Portable fire extinguishers. Portable fire extinguishers shall be selected, installed and maintained in accordance with Section 906.

    2810.11 Alternative approach. Where approved by the fire code official, pallet stacks are permitted to be located closer to a property line or structure than as required by Sections 2810.6 and 2810.7 where additional fire protection is provided, including, but not limited to, the following:

    1. The storage yard areas and materials-handling equipment selection, design, and arrangement are based on an approved risk assessment.

    2. Automatic fire detection that transmits an alarm to a supervising station in accordance with NFPA 72.

    3. Fire apparatus access roads around all storage areas.

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    CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE – MATRIX ADOPTION TABLE

    CHAPTER 29 – MANUFACTURE OF ORGANIC COATINGS

  • CFC § 4-3 High relevance — show source text

    402 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-3

    403 Emergency Preparedness Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . 4-3 404 Fire Safety, Evacuation and Lockdown Plans . . . . . . 4-10 405 Emergency Evacuation Drills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-13 406 Employee Training and Response Procedures. . . . . 4-15

    407 Hazard Communication. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-15

    CHAPTER 5 FIRE SERVICE FEATURES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5-3

    501 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

    502 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3

    503 Fire Apparatus Access Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3 504 Access to Building Openings and Roofs . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 505 Premises Identification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5

    506 Key Boxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-5 507 Fire Protection Water Supplies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-6 508 Fire Command Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-7

    509 Fire Protection and Utility Equipment Identification and Access. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

    510 Emergency Responder Communications Enhancement Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8

    CHAPTER 6 BUILDING SERVICES AND SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . .6-3

    601 General. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

    602 Definitions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3

  • CFC § 4-5 High relevance — show source text

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    EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

    1. Procedures for a full-floor or building evacuation, where necessary.
    2. In Group I-2, Condition 2, amendments or revisions upon admission of any care recipients with unusual needs.

    403.7.2.2 Fire safety plan. A copy of the fire safety plan shall be maintained at the facility at all times. The plan shall include all of the following in addition to the requirements of Section 404.2.2:

    1. Location and number of care recipient sleeping rooms and operating rooms.
    2. Location of special locking arrangements.

    403.7.2.3 Staff training. Staff shall be periodically instructed and kept informed of their duties and responsibilities under the plan. Records of instruction shall be maintained. Such instruction shall be reviewed by staff at intervals not exceeding three months. Training of new staff shall be provided promptly upon entrance to duty.

    Staff shall be instructed in the proper use of portable fire extinguishers and other manual fire suppression equipment.

    403.7.2.4 Emergency evacuation drills. Emergency evacuation drills shall comply with Section 405.

    403.7.2.5 Fire loss prevention in operating rooms. Fire protection features and procedures for fire loss prevention in surgical operating rooms shall comply with NFPA 99, Section 16.13.

    403.7.3 Group I-3 occupancies. Group I-3 occupancies shall comply with Sections 403.7.3.1 through 403.7.3.6.

    403.7.3.1 Fire safety and evacuation plans. The fire safety and evacuation plans required by Section 404 shall include a description of special staff actions. Plans shall include all of the following in addition to the requirements of Section 404:

    1. Procedures for evacuation of detainees with needs for containment or restraint and post-evacuation containment, where present.
    2. Procedures for a defend-in-place strategy.
    3. Procedures for a full-floor or building evacuation, where necessary.

    403.7.3.2 Fire safety plan. A copy of the fire safety plan shall be maintained at the facility at all times. The plan shall include both of the following in addition to the requirements of Section 404.2.2:

    1. Location and number of cells.

    2. Location of special locking arrangements.

    403.7.3.3 Staff training. Staff shall be periodically instructed and kept informed of their duties and responsibilities under the plan. Records of instruction shall be maintained. Such instruction shall be reviewed by staff at intervals not exceeding 3 months. Training of new staff shall be provided promptly upon entrance to duty.

    Staff shall be instructed in the proper use of portable fire extinguishers and other manual fire suppression equipment.

    403.7.3.4 Staffing. Group I-3 occupancies shall be provided with 24-hour staffing. A staff person shall be within three floors or 300 feet (91 440 mm) horizontal distance of the access door of each resident housing area. In Group I-3 Conditions 3, 4 and 5, as defined in Chapter 2, the arrangement shall be such that the staff involved can start release of locks necessary for emergency evacuation or rescue and initiate other necessary emergency actions within 2 minutes of an alarm.

  • CFC § 403.12.1 High relevance — show source text

    403.12.1 Staff training and evacuation plan. Every organized camp shall institute fire training programs for all employees in the use of all fire extinguishing equipment and methods of evacuation, and shall establish procedures which shall, as far as possible, be followed in the event of fire or any other emergency. If located in a forest area a plan shall be prepared for the evacuation of the camp in case of an approaching forest fire or other emergency.

    403.12.2 Resident training. Within 24 hours after arrival, every group of persons attending an organized camp shall be made famil- iar with the method by which the fire alarm may be activated and with the procedures to be followed upon notification of fire.

    403.12.3 Fire drills. At least 1 fire drill shall be held within 24 hours of the commencement of each camping session. Additional drills shall be conducted at least once each week thereafter. When sessions exceed a 7-day period, at least 1 drill shall be held during night- time sleeping hours.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(c)(1)] Fire Drills. (Organized Camps)

    (c) Organized Camps. (1) Every organized camp shall institute fire training programs for all employees in the use of all fire extinguishing equip- ment and methods of evacuation, and shall establish procedures which shall, as far as possible, be followed in the event of fire or any other emergency. If located in a forest area a plan shall be prepared for the evacuation of the camp in case of an approaching forest fire or other emergency.

    SECTION 404—FIRE SAFETY, EVACUATION AND LOCKDOWN PLANS

    404.1 General. Where required by Section 403 or other sections of this code, fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans shall comply with Sections 404.2 through 404.4.1.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.10] Evacuation of Buildings.

    Upon notification of fire, conduct of any fire drill, upon activation of the fire alarm, or upon orders of the fire authority having jurisdic- tion, buildings or structures within the scope of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1 regulations shall be immediately evacuated or occupants shall be relocated in accordance with established plans.

    404.2 Contents. Fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plan contents shall be in accordance with Sections 404.2.1 through 404.2.3.2.

    404.2.1 Fire evacuation plans. Fire evacuation plans shall include the following:

    1. Emergency egress or escape routes and whether evacuation of the building is to be complete by selected floors or areas only or with a defend-in-place response.
    2. Procedures for employees who must remain to operate critical equipment before evacuating.
    3. Procedures for the use of elevators to evacuate the building where occupant evacuation elevators complying with Section 3008 of the California Building Code are provided.
    4. Procedures for assisted rescue for persons unable to use the general means of egress unassisted.
    5. Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation has been completed.
    6. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for rescue or emergency medical aid.
    7. The preferred and any alternative means of notifying occupants of a fire or emergency.
    8. The preferred and any alternative means of reporting fires and other emergencies to the fire department or designated emergency response organization.
  • CFC § 701 High relevance — show source text

    PART I—ADMINISTRATIVE

    Chapter 1 Scope and Administration.

    Chapter 1 establishes the limits of applicability of the code and describes how the code is to be applied and enforced. The provisions of Chapter 1 establish the authority and duties of the code official appointed by the authority having jurisdiction and also establish the rights and privileges of the design professional, contractor and property owner.

    Chapter 2 Definitions.

    Chapter 2 is the repository of the definitions of terms used in the body of the code. The user of the code should be familiar with and consult this chapter because the definitions are essential to the correct interpretation of the code and because the user may not be aware that a term is defined.

    PART II—GENERAL SAFETY PROVISIONS

    Chapter 3 General Requirements

    General regulations contained in Chapter 3, are intended to improve premises safety for everyone, including construction workers, tenants, operations and maintenance personnel, and emergency response personnel.

    Chapter 4 Emergency Planning and Preparedness

    Chapter 4 addresses the human contribution to life safety during emergencies. Continuous training and scheduled fire, evacuation and lockdown drills can be as important as the required periodic inspections and maintenance of built-in fire protection features. The level of preparation by the occupants also improves the emergency responders’ abilities during an emergency.

    PART III—BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT DESIGN FEATURES

    Chapter 5 Fire Service Features

    The requirements of Chapter 5 apply to all buildings and occupancies and pertain to access roads, access to building openings and roofs, premises identification, key boxes, fire protection water supplies, fire command centers, fire department access to equipment, and in-building emergency responder communication system coverage.

    Chapter 6 Building Services and Systems

    Chapter 6 provides a more systematic view of building systems and services as they relate to potential safety hazards and when and how they should be installed.

    Chapter 7 Fire and Smoke Protection Features

    The maintenance of assemblies required to be fire-resistance rated is a key component in a passive fire protection philosophy. Chapter 7 sets forth requirements to maintain required fire-resistance ratings of building elements and limit fire spread. Section 701 addresses the basics of what construction elements such as fire barriers and smoke barriers need to be maintained as well as defining the owner’s responsibility. Sections 703 through 708, deals with various fire and smoke protection features that must also be maintained.

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    Chapter 8 Interior Finish, Decorative Materials and Furnishings

    The overall purpose of Chapter 8 is to regulate interior finishes, decorative materials and furnishings in new and existing buildings so that they do not significantly add to or create fire hazards within buildings. This chapter is consistent with Chapter 8 of the CBC, which regulates the interior finishes of new buildings.

    Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems

    Chapter 9 prescribes the minimum requirements for active systems of fire protection equipment to perform the following functions: detect a fire, alert the occupants or fire department of a fire emergency, and control smoke and control or extinguish the fire. Generally, the requirements are based on the occupancy, the height and the area of the building because these are the factors that most affect firefighting capabilities and the relative hazard of a specific building or portion thereof. This chapter parallels and is substantially duplicated in Chapter 9 of the CBC; however, this chapter also contains periodic testing criteria that are not contained in the CBC. In addition, the special fire protection system requirements based on use and occupancy found in CBC

  • CFC § 4.6. Medium relevance — show source text

    4.6. Manual fire alarm boxes.

    4.7. Portable fire extinguishers. 4.8. Occupant-use hose stations.

    4.9. Fire alarm annunciators and controls.

    1. A list of major fire hazards associated with the normal use and occupancy of the premises, including maintenance and housekeeping procedures.

    2. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance of systems and equipment installed to prevent or control fires.

    3. Identification and assignment of personnel responsible for maintenance, housekeeping and controlling fuel hazard

    sources.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(a)(2)] Fire Drills. (Group E Occupancies)

    (a) Group E Occupancies.

    (2) Emergency Pre-Fire Planning. Each school principal, district superintendent or day nursery manager shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, prepare procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency. They should include the following:

    (A) Posting of the telephone number of the fire department in the office and/or at the main switchboard.

    (B) Assignment of a responsible person to call the fire department upon notification of any fire or activation of the alarm system for any reason other than fire drills.

    (C) Posting in a conspicuous place in each classroom or assembly area a plan showing paths of travel to evacuate the room in case of emergency and including an alternate route.

    (D) Posting in each classroom instructions to be followed by the teacher. These should include: 1. Maintaining of order during evacuation. 2. Removal of roll call book and calling of roll when designated evacuation area is reached.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(b)] Fire Drills. (College and University)

    (b) College and University Pre-Fire Planning. The Chancellor, President, or his designated representative, shall, in cooperation with the enforcing agency, propose procedures to be followed in case of fire or other emergency in accordance with the provi- sions of California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, Section 3.13 (a)(2).

    404.2.3 Lockdown plans. Lockdown plans shall only be permitted where such plans are approved by the fire code official and are in compliance with Sections 404.2.3.1 and 404.2.3.2.

    404.2.3.1 Lockdown plan contents. Lockdown plans shall include the following:

    1. Identification of individuals authorized to issue a lockdown order.

    2. Security measures used during normal operations, when the building is occupied, that could adversely affect egress or fire department operations.

    3. A description of identified emergency and security threats addressed by the plan, including specific lockdown procedures to be implemented for each threat condition.

    4. Means and methods of initiating a lockdown plan for each threat, including: 4.1. The means of notifying occupants of a lockdown event, which shall be distinct from the fire alarm signal. 4.2. Identification of each door or other access point that will be secured. 4.3. A description of the means or methods used to secure doors and other access points. 4.4. A description of how locking means and methods are in compliance with the requirements of this code for egress and accessibility.

    5. Procedures for reporting to the fire department any lockdown condition affecting egress or fire department operations.

    6. Procedures for determining and reporting the presence or absence of occupants to emergency response agencies during a lockdown.

    7. Means for providing two-way communication between a central location and each area subject to being secured during a lockdown.

  • CFC § 405.10 Medium relevance — show source text

    405.10 Recall and reentry. An electrically or mechanically operated signal used to recall occupants after an evacuation shall be separate and distinct from the signal used to initiate the evacuation. The recall signal initiation means shall be manually operated and under the control of the person in charge of the premises or the official in charge of the incident. Persons shall not reenter the premises until authorized to do so by the official in charge.

    [California Code of Regulations, Title 19, Division 1, §3.13(c)(2) and (3)] Fire Drills. (Organized Camps)

    (c) Organized Camps.

    (2) Within 24 hours after arrival, every group of persons attending an organized camp shall be made familiar with the method by which the fire alarm may be activated and with the procedures to be followed upon notification of fire.

    (3) At least 1 fire drill shall be held within 24 hours of the commencement of each camping session. Additional drills shall be conducted at least once each week thereafter. When sessions exceed a 7 day period, at least 1 drill shall be held during night-time sleeping hours.

    SECTION 406—EMPLOYEE TRAINING AND RESPONSE PROCEDURES

    406.1 General. Where fire safety and evacuation plans are required by Section 403, employees shall be trained in fire emergency procedures based on plans prepared in accordance with Section 404.

    406.2 Frequency. Employees shall receive training in the contents of fire safety and evacuation plans and their duties as part of new employee orientation and not less than annually thereafter. Records of training shall be maintained.

    406.3 Employee training program. Employees shall be trained in fire prevention, evacuation and fire safety in accordance with Sections 406.3.1 through 406.3.4.

    406.3.1 Fire prevention training. Employees shall be apprised of the fire hazards of the materials and processes to which they are exposed. Each employee shall be instructed in the proper procedures for preventing fires in the conduct of their assigned duties.

    406.3.2 Evacuation training. Employees shall be familiarized with the fire alarm and evacuation signals, their assigned duties in the event of an alarm or emergency, evacuation routes, areas of refuge, exterior assembly areas and procedures for evacuation.

    406.3.3 Fire safety training. Employees assigned firefighting duties shall be trained to know the locations and proper use of portable fire extinguishers or other manual firefighting equipment and the protective clothing or equipment required for its safe and proper use.

    406.3.4 Emergency lockdown training. Where a facility has a lockdown plan, employees shall be trained on their assigned duties and procedures in the event of an emergency lockdown.

    SECTION 407—HAZARD COMMUNICATION

    407.1 General. Where operating or closing a hazardous materials storage, use or handling facility subject to permits under Section 5001.5, or where required by the fire code official, the provisions of Sections 407.2 through 407.7 shall be applicable.

    407.2 Safety Data Sheets. Safety Data Sheets (SDS) for all hazardous materials shall be either readily available on the premises as a paper copy, or where approved, shall be permitted to be readily retrievable by electronic access.

    407.3 Identification. Individual containers of hazardous materials, cartons or packages shall be marked or labeled in accordance with applicable federal regulations. Buildings, rooms and spaces containing hazardous materials shall be identified by hazard warning signs in accordance with Section 5003.5.

  • CFC § 401.9 Medium relevance — show source text

    401.9 Evacuation of buildings. Upon notification of fire, conduct of any fire drill, upon activation of the fire alarm, or upon orders of the fire authority having jurisdiction, buildings or structures within the scope of these regulations shall be immediately evacuated or occu- pants shall be relocated in accordance with established plans.

    SECTION 402—DEFINITIONS

    402.1 Definitions. The following terms are defined in Chapter 2:

    EMERGENCY EVACUATION DRILL .

    LOCKDOWN .

    SECTION 403 —EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS REQUIREMENTS

    403.1 General. In addition to the requirements of Section 401, occupancies, uses and outdoor locations shall comply with the emergency preparedness requirements set forth in Sections 403.2 through 403.10.6 . Where a fire safety and evacuation plan is required by Sections 403.2 through 403.10.6, evacuation drills shall be in accordance with Section 405 and employee training shall be in accordance with Section 406.

    403.2 Group A occupancies. An approved fire safety and evacuation plan in accordance with Section 404 shall be prepared and maintained for Group A occupancies, other than those occupancies used exclusively for purposes of religious worship with an occupant load less than 2,000, and for buildings containing both a Group A occupancy and an atrium. Group A occupancies shall comply with Sections 403.2.1 through 403.2.4.

    2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE 4-3

    on Jul 18, 2025 11:14 AM (CDT) THEREUNDER.

    EMERGENCY PLANNING AND PREPAREDNESS

    403.2.1 Seating plan. In addition to the requirements of Section 404.2, the fire safety and evacuation plans for assembly occupancies shall include a detailed seating plan, occupant load and occupant load limit. Deviations from the approved plans shall be allowed provided that the occupant load limit for the occupancy is not exceeded and the aisles and exit accessways remain unobstructed.

    403.2.2 Announcements. In theaters, motion picture theaters, auditoriums and similar assembly occupancies in Group A used for noncontinuous programs, an audible announcement shall be made not more than 10 minutes prior to the start of each program to notify the occupants of the location of the exits to be used in the event of a fire or other emergency.

    Exception: In motion picture theaters, the announcement is allowed to be projected on the screen in a manner approved by the fire code official.

    403.2.3 Fire watch personnel. Fire watch personnel shall be provided where required by Section 403.11.1.

    403.2.4 Crowd managers. Crowd managers shall be provided where required by Section 403.11.3.

    403.3 Group B occupancies. An approved fire safety and evacuation plan in accordance with Section 404 shall be prepared and maintained for buildings containing a Group B occupancy where the Group B occupancy has an occupant load of 500 or more persons or more than 100 persons above or below the lowest level of exit discharge and for buildings having an ambulatory care facility.

    403.3.1 Ambulatory care facilities. Ambulatory care facilities shall comply with the requirements of Sections 401, 403.3.1.1 through 403.3.1.2 and 404 through 406.

Frequently asked questions

When are lockdown plans permitted under the CFC?

Lockdown plans are permitted only when approved by the fire code official and they must meet the content and drill requirements of §404.2.3 (including distinct notification signals, door/securing methods consistent with egress/access rules, two‑way communication, authorized issuers/terminators and training) .

How often must fire safety, evacuation and lockdown plans be updated and where must they be kept?

Plans must be reviewed or updated at least annually or whenever staff assignments, occupancy or the building’s physical arrangement changes (§404.3). They must be available at the workplace for employee reference and copies furnished to the fire code official on request; owners must distribute applicable plan parts to tenants and building service employees (§404.4, §404.4.1) .

Do all occupancies need a fire safety and evacuation plan?

Not every building requires the same level of planning — the need for an approved fire safety and evacuation plan is driven by occupancy type and specific Section §403 triggers (for example many Group A, B, E, I and R occupancies are required to have approved plans and additional occupancy‑specific content) .

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