Fire Protection Requirements (fire protection plans, systems, safety element provisions)

Grounded in the retrieved California Wildland-Urban Interface Code — click a citation to read the verbatim passage:

• CWUIC § 601.1 High relevance — show source text

  SECTION 601—GENERAL

  601.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter establish general requirements for new and existing buildings, structures and premises located within wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas .

  601.2 Objective. The objective of this chapter is to establish minimum requirements to mitigate conditions that might cause a fire originating in a structure to ignite vegetation in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, and conversely, a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels to transmit fire to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities or result in large property losses.

  601.3 Chapter 6 definitions. Where used in this chapter, the term listed below shall be defined as follows:

  DEFENSIBLE SPACE. The buffer that landowners are required to create on their property between a “Building or Structure” and the plants, brush and trees or other items surrounding the “Building or Structure” that could ignite in the event of a fire. [CCR Title 14 §1299.02(a)]

  SECTION 602— FIRE PROTECTION PLANS

  602.1 General. The code official is authorized to require the owner or owner’s authorized agent to provide a fire protection plan. The fire protection plan shall be prepared to determine the acceptability of fire protection and life safety measures designed to mitigate wildfire hazards presented for the property under consideration.

  The fire protection plan shall be prepared by a registered design professional, qualified landscape architect, qualified fire safety specialist or similar specialist acceptable to the code official and shall analyze the wildfire risk of the building, project, premises or region to recommend necessary changes.

  The code official is authorized to require a preliminary fire protection plan prior to the submission of a final fire protection plan.

  602.2 Contents. The fire protection plan shall be based on a project-specific wildfire hazard assessment that includes considerations of location, topography, aspect and climatic and fire history.

  The plan shall identify conformance with all applicable state wildfire protection regulations, statutes and applicable local ordi- nances, whichever are more restrictive.

  The plan shall address fire department access, egress, road and address signage and water supply in addition to fuel reduction in accordance with Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290; the defensible space requirements in accordance with PRC 4291 or Government Code 51182; and the applicable building codes and standards for wildfire safety. The plan shall identify mitigation measures to address the project’s specific wildfire risk and shall include the information required in Sections 602.3 through 602.3.2.

  602.3 Project information. The final fire protection plan shall be reviewed and approved prior to start of construction.

  602.3.1 Preliminary fire protection plan. When a preliminary fire protection plan is submitted, it shall include, at a minimum, the following: 1. Total size of the project. 2. Information on the adjoining properties on all sides, including current land uses, and if known, existing structures and densi- ties, planned construction, natural vegetation, environmental restoration plans, roads and parks. 3. A map with all project boundary lines, property lines, slope contour lines, proposed structure foundation footprints, and proposed roads and driveways. The map shall identify project fuel modification zones and method of identifying the fuel modification zone boundaries.

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• CWUIC § 6-1 High relevance — show source text

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  6 FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENTS

  User notes:

  About this chapter: In addition to the building construction requirements in the California Building Code and California Residential Code, this chapter contains requirements for development and construction in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and areas designated by the State Fire Marshal as State Responsibility Areas (SRA). While many of these provisions are found in Title 14 and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, they are replicated here for the code user. The local jurisdiction has the authority to apply the same regulations to LRA when the regulations are adopted by local ordinance.

  The requirements in this chapter reference the process for adoption of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the LRA; criteria for evaluating existing subdivisions that are at significant fire risk and are without an adequate secondary egress; and criteria for fire safety provisions required in the Safety Element of a city or county General Plan.

  The chapter includes mitigation strategies to reduce the hazards of fire originating within a structure spreading to wildland and fire originating in wildland spreading to structures. These strategies are included in the following requirements:

  1. Development of fire protection plans.

  2. Development of landscape plans and long-term vegetation management.

  3. Creation and maintenance of defensible space to protect structures and subdivisions.

  SECTION 601—GENERAL

  601.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter establish general requirements for new and existing buildings, structures and premises located within wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas .

  601.2 Objective. The objective of this chapter is to establish minimum requirements to mitigate conditions that might cause a fire originating in a structure to ignite vegetation in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, and conversely, a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels to transmit fire to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities or result in large property losses.

  601.3 Chapter 6 definitions. Where used in this chapter, the term listed below shall be defined as follows:

  DEFENSIBLE SPACE. The buffer that landowners are required to create on their property between a “Building or Structure” and the plants, brush and trees or other items surrounding the “Building or Structure” that could ignite in the event of a fire. [CCR Title 14 §1299.02(a)]

  SECTION 602— FIRE PROTECTION PLANS

  602.1 General. The code official is authorized to require the owner or owner’s authorized agent to provide a fire protection plan. The fire protection plan shall be prepared to determine the acceptability of fire protection and life safety measures designed to mitigate wildfire hazards presented for the property under consideration.

  The fire protection plan shall be prepared by a registered design professional, qualified landscape architect, qualified fire safety specialist or similar specialist acceptable to the code official and shall analyze the wildfire risk of the building, project, premises or region to recommend necessary changes.

  The code official is authorized to require a preliminary fire protection plan prior to the submission of a final fire protection plan.

• CWUIC § 1-2 High relevance — show source text

  CHAPTER TOPICS	Col2
  CHAPTER	SUBJECT
  1-2	Administration and Definitions
  3-4	Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designation and Requirements
  5	Building Construction Regulations
  6	Fire Protection Requirements
  7	Referenced Standards
  Appendices A-I	Adoptable and Informational Appendices

  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.

  Chapter 3 Wildland-Urban Interface Areas.

  Chapter 3 provides for the fundamental aspect of applying the code—the legal declaration and establishment of wildland-urban interface areas within the adopting jurisdiction, mapping of the area, periodic review and updates.

  Chapter 4 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Requirements.

  The requirements of Chapter 4 apply to all occupancies in the wildland-urban interface and pertain to all of the following:

  1. Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.

  2. Premises identification.

  3. Key boxes to provide ready access to properties secured by gated roadways or other impediments to rapid fire service access.

  4. Fire protection water supplies, including adequate water sources, pumper apparatus drafting sites, fire hydrant systems and system reliability.

  5. Fire department access to equipment such as fire suppression equipment and fire hydrants.

  Chapter 5 Special Building Construction Regulations.

  The regulations in Chapter 5 establish minimum standards for the location, design and construction of buildings and structures based on construction within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Area.

  The construction provisions of Chapter 5 are intended to supplement the requirements of the California Building Code and Califor- nia Residential Code and address mitigation of the unique hazards posed to buildings by wildfire and to reduce the hazards of building fires spreading to wildland fuels. This is accomplished by requiring ignition-resistant construction materials.

  Chapter 6 Fire Protection Requirements.

  Chapter 6 contains additional requirements for development and construction in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and areas designated by the State Fire Marshal as State Responsibility Areas (SRA). While many of these provisions are found in Title 14 and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, they are replicated here for the code user. The local jurisdiction has the authority to apply the same regulations to LRA when the regulations are adopted by local ordinance.

  The requirements in this chapter reference the process for adoption of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the LRA; criteria for evaluating existing subdivisions that are at significant fire risk and are without an adequate secondary egress; and criteria for fire safety provisions required in the Safety Element of a city or county General Plan.

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

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  4 WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS

  User notes:

  About this chapter: Chapter 4 provides requirements that apply to all occupancies in the wildland-urban interface and pertain to all of the following:

  1. Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.

  2. Premises identification.

  3. Key boxes to provide ready access to properties secured by gated roadways or other impediments to rapid fire service access.

  4. Fire protection water supplies, including adequate water sources, pumper apparatus drafting sites, fire hydrant systems and system reliability.

  5. Fire department access to equipment such as fire suppression equipment and fire hydrants.

  SECTION 401—GENERAL

  401.1 Scope. Wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with emergency vehicle access and water supply in accordance with this chapter.

  401.2 Objective. The objective of this chapter is to establish the minimum requirements for emergency vehicle access and water supply for buildings and structures located in the wildland-urban interface areas.

  401.3 General safety precautions. General safety precautions shall be in accordance with this chapter. See also Appendix A.

  SECTION 402—APPLICABILITY

  402.1 Subdivisions. Subdivisions shall comply with Sections 402.1.1 and 402.1.2.

  402.1.1 Access. New subdivisions, as determined by this jurisdiction, shall be provided with fire apparatus access roads in accordance with the California Fire Code; the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 2; and access requirements in accordance with Section 403.

  402.1.2 Water supply. New subdivisions as determined by this jurisdiction shall be provided with water supply in accordance with Section 507 of the California Fire Code; California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 4; and Section 404.

  402.1.2.1 Parcel map approval. Water supply requirements shall apply in the tentative and parcel map process when new parcels are approved by the local jurisdiction.

  402.2 Individual structures. Individual structures shall comply with Sections 402.2.1 and 402.2.2.

  402.2.1 Access. Individual structures hereafter constructed or relocated into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with fire apparatus access in accordance with the California Fire Code; the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Subsection 1273; and Section 403 .

  402.2.2 Water supply. Individual structures hereafter constructed or relocated into or within wildland-urban interface areas shall be provided with a conforming water supply in accordance with the California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Division 1.5, Chapter 7, Subchapter 2, Article 4; California Fire Code Section 507; and Section 404.

• CWUIC § 914.3.1.2.1 High relevance — show source text

  914.3.1.2.1 Fire pumps. Redundant fire pump systems shall be required for high-rise buildings having an occupied floor more than 200 feet above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access. Each fire pump system shall be capable of automatically supplying the required demand for the automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems.

  914.3.2 Secondary water supply. An automatic secondary on-site water supply having a usable capacity not less than the hydraulically calculated sprinkler demand, including the hose stream requirement, shall be provided for high-rise buildings and Group I-2 occupancies having occupied floors located more than 75 ft above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access assigned to Seismic Design Category C, D, E or F as determined by the California Building Code . An additional fire pump shall not be required for the secondary water supply unless needed to provide the minimum design intake pressure at the suction side of the fire pump supplying the automatic sprinkler system. The secondary water supply shall have a useable capacity of not less than the hydraulically calculated sprinkler demand plus 100 GPM for the inside hose stream, allowance for a duration of not less than 30 minutes as determined by the occupancy hazard classification in accordance with NFPA 13 , whichever is greater. The Class I stand- pipe system demand shall not be required to be included in the secondary on-site water supply calculations. In no case shall the secondary on-site water supply be less than 15,000 gallons.

  914.3.3 Fire alarm system. A fire alarm system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.13.

  914.3.4 Automatic smoke detection. Smoke detection shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.2.13.1.

  914.3.5 Emergency voice/alarm communication system. An emergency voice/alarm communication system shall be provided in accordance with Section 907.5.2.2.

  914.3.6 Emergency responder communication coverage. In-building, two-way emergency responder communication coverage shall be provided in accordance with Section 510.

  914.3.7 Fire command. A fire command center complying with Section 508 shall be provided in a location approved by the fire department.

  914.3.8 Smoke control.

  914.3.8.1 Smoke control system. All portions of high-rise buildings shall be provided with a smoke control system in accordance with California Building Code, Section 909.

  914.3.8.2 Smokeproof exit enclosures. Every exit enclosure in high-rise buildings shall comply with California Building Code, Sections 909.20 and 1023.12. Every required stairway in Group I-2 occupancies serving floors more than 75 feet (22 860 mm) above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access shall comply with Sections 909.20 and 1023.12 of the California Building Code.

  Exception: In high-rise buildings, exit enclosures serving three or less adjacent floors where one of the adjacent floors is the level of exit discharge.

  914.4 Atriums. Atriums shall comply with Sections 914.4.1 and 914.4.2.

  914.4.1 Automatic sprinkler system. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the entire building.

• CWUIC § 3302.1.1 High relevance — show source text

  3302.1.1 Components of site safety plans. Site safety plans shall include the following, as applicable:

  1. Name and contact information of site safety director.

  2. Documentation of the training of the site safety director and fire watch personnel.

  3. Procedures for reporting emergencies.

  4. Fire department vehicle access routes.

  5. Location of fire protection equipment, including portable fire extinguishers, standpipes, fire department connections and fire hydrants.

  6. Smoking and cooking policies, designated areas to be used where approved, and signage locations in accordance with the California Fire Code.

  7. Location and safety considerations for temporary heating equipment.

  8. Hot-work permit plan.

  9. Plans for control of combustible waste material.

  10. Locations and methods for storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids and other hazardous materials.

  11. Provisions for site security and, where required, for a fire watch.

  12. Changes that affect this plan.

  13. Other site-specific information required by the California Fire Code .

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  SAFEGUARDS DURING CONSTRUCTION

  3302.2 Site safety director. The owner shall designate a person to be the site safety director. The site safety director shall be responsible for ensuring compliance with the site safety plan. The site safety director shall have the authority to enforce the provisions of this chapter and other provisions as necessary to secure the intent of this chapter. Where guard service is provided in accordance with the California Fire Code, the site safety director shall be responsible for the guard service.

  3302.3 Daily fire safety inspection. The site safety director shall be responsible for the completion of a daily fire safety inspection at the project site. Each day, all building and outdoor areas shall be inspected to ensure compliance with the inspection list in this section. The results of each inspection shall be documented and maintained on-site until a certificate of occupancy has been issued. Documentation shall be immediately available for on-site inspection and review.

  1. Any contractors entering the site to perform hot work each day have been instructed in the hot work safety requirements in the California Fire Code, and hot work is performed only in areas approved by the site safety director.

  2. Temporary heating equipment is maintained away from combustible materials in accordance with the equipment manufacturer’s instructions.

  3. Combustible debris, rubbish and waste material is removed from the building in areas where work is not being performed.

  4. Temporary wiring does not have exposed conductors.

  5. Flammable liquids and other hazardous materials are stored in locations that have been approved by the site safety director when not involved in work that is being performed.

  6. Fire apparatus access roads required by the California Fire Code are maintained clear of obstructions that reduce the width of the usable roadway to less than 20 feet (6096 mm).

  7. Fire hydrants are clearly visible from access roads and are not obstructed.

  8. The location of fire department connections to standpipe and in-service sprinkler systems are clearly identifiable from the access road and such connections are not obstructed.

  9. Standpipe systems are in service and continuous to the highest work floor, as specified in Section 3311.

  10. Portable fire extinguishers are available in locations required by Section 3309 and for roofing operations in accordance with the California Fire Code .

  11. Where a fire watch is required, fire watch records complying with the California Fire Code are up-to-date.

• CWUIC § 901.2.1 High relevance — show source text

  901.2.1 Statement of compliance. Before requesting final approval of the installation, where required by the fire code official, the installing contractor shall furnish a written statement to the fire code official that the subject fire protection or life safety system has been installed in accordance with approved plans and has been tested in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications and the appropriate installation standard. Any deviations from the design standards shall be noted and copies of the approvals for such deviations shall be attached to the written statement.

  901.3 Permits. Permits shall be required as set forth in Sections 105.5 and 105.6.

  901.4 Fire protection and life safety systems. Fire protection and life safety systems shall be installed, repaired, operated and maintained in accordance with this code and the California Building Code .

  901.4.1 Required fire protection and life safety systems. Fire protection and life safety systems required by this code or the California Building Code shall be installed, repaired, operated, tested and maintained in accordance with this code. A fire protection or life safety system for which a design option, exception or reduction to the provisions of this code or the California Building Code has been granted shall be considered to be a required system.

  901.4.2 Nonrequired fire protection and life safety systems. Fire protection and life safety systems or portion thereof not required by this code or the California Building Code shall be allowed to be furnished for partial or complete protection provided that such installed systems meet the applicable requirements of this code and the California Building Code .

  901.4.3 Alterations in buildings and structures. For any alteration within a building or structure, the fire protection and life safety systems shall be extended, altered or augmented to maintain and continue protection within the building or structure. Persons shall not remove or modify any fire protection or life safety system installed or maintained under the provisions of this code or the California Building Code without approval from the fire code official.

  901.4.4 Fire areas. Where buildings, or portions thereof, are divided into fire areas so as not to exceed the limits established for requiring a fire protection system in accordance with this chapter, such fire areas shall be separated by fire barriers constructed in accordance with Section 707 of the California Building Code or horizontal assemblies constructed in accordance with Section 711 of the California Building Code, or both, having a fire-resistance rating of not less than that determined in accordance with Section 707.3.10 of the California Building Code .

  901.4.5 Additional fire protection systems. In occupancies of a hazardous nature, where special hazards exist in addition to the normal hazards of the occupancy, or where the fire code official determines that access for fire apparatus is unduly difficult, the fire code official shall have the authority to require additional safeguards and fire protection systems. Fire protection and life safety systems required under this section shall be installed in accordance with this code and the applicable referenced standards.

  901.4.6 Appearance of equipment. Any device that has the physical appearance of life safety or fire protection equipment but that does not perform that life safety or fire protection function shall be prohibited.

• CWUIC § 102.4 High relevance — show source text

  Chapter 5 Special Building Construction Regulations.

  The regulations in Chapter 5 establish minimum standards for the location, design and construction of buildings and structures based on construction within a Fire Hazard Severity Zone or a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Area.

  The construction provisions of Chapter 5 are intended to supplement the requirements of the California Building Code and Califor- nia Residential Code and address mitigation of the unique hazards posed to buildings by wildfire and to reduce the hazards of building fires spreading to wildland fuels. This is accomplished by requiring ignition-resistant construction materials.

  Chapter 6 Fire Protection Requirements.

  Chapter 6 contains additional requirements for development and construction in Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) designated as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones and areas designated by the State Fire Marshal as State Responsibility Areas (SRA). While many of these provisions are found in Title 14 and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations, they are replicated here for the code user. The local jurisdiction has the authority to apply the same regulations to LRA when the regulations are adopted by local ordinance.

  The requirements in this chapter reference the process for adoption of Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the LRA; criteria for evaluating existing subdivisions that are at significant fire risk and are without an adequate secondary egress; and criteria for fire safety provisions required in the Safety Element of a city or county General Plan.

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  The chapter includes mitigation strategies to reduce the hazards of fire originating within a structure spreading to wildland and fire originating in wildland spreading to structures.

  Chapter 7 Referenced Standards.

  Chapter 7 lists all of the product and installation standards and codes that are referenced throughout Chapters 1 through 6 and includes identification of the promulgators and the section numbers in which the standards and codes are referenced. As stated in Section 102.4, these standards and codes become an enforceable part of the code (to the prescribed extent of the reference) as if printed in the body of the code.

  Appendix A General Requirements.

  Appendix A, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide fire-protection measures supplemental to those found in Chapter 6 to reduce the threat of wildfire in a wildland-urban interface area and improve the capability for controlling such fires. This appendix includes detailed requirements for vegetation control; the code official’s authority to close wildland-interface areas in times of high fire danger; control of fires, fireworks usage and other sources of ignition; storage of hazardous materials and combustibles; bans on the dumping of waste materials and ashes and coals in wildlandurban interface areas; protection of pumps and water supplies; and limits on temporary uses within the wildland-urban interface area.

  Appendix B Vegetation Management Plan.

  Appendix B, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide criteria for submitting vegetation management plans, specifying their content and establishing a criterion for considering vegetation management as being a fuel modification.

  Appendix C Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework.

• CWUIC § 101.1 High relevance — show source text

  PART 1—GENERAL PROVISIONS

  SECTION 101—SCOPE AND GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

  [A] 101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code of [ NAME OF JURISDICTION ], hereinafter referred to as “this code.”

  [A] 101.2 Scope. This code applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new buildings located within a wildland-urban interface (WUI) area and contains minimum requirements to mitigate conditions that might cause a fire originating in a structure to ignite vegetation in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) area, and conversely, a wildfire burning in vegetative fuels to transmit fire to buildings and threaten to destroy life, overwhelm fire suppression capabilities or result in large property losses.

  [A] 101.2.1 Appendices. Provisions in the appendices shall not apply unless specifically adopted.

  [A] 101.3 Purpose. The purpose of this code is to establish minimum regulations for the safeguarding of life and for property protection. Regulations in this code are intended to mitigate the risk to life and structures from intrusion of fire from wildland fire exposures and fire exposures from adjacent structures and to mitigate structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels. The extent of this regulation is intended to be tiered commensurate with the relative level of hazard present.

  The unrestricted use of property in wildland-urban interface areas is a potential threat to life and property from fire and resulting erosion. Safeguards to prevent the occurrence of fires and to provide adequate fire protection facilities to control the spread of fire in wildland-urban interface areas shall be in accordance with this code.

  This code shall supplement the jurisdiction’s building and fire codes, if such codes have been adopted, to provide for special regulations to mitigate the fire- and life-safety hazards of the wildland-urban interface areas.

  101.3.1 Application. New buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency constructed after the application date shall comply with the provisions of this code. This shall include all new buildings with residential, commercial, educational, institutional or similar occupancy type use, which shall be referred to in this code as “applicable buildings,” as well as new buildings and structures accessory to those applicable buildings.

  Exceptions: 1. Group U occupancy accessory buildings of any size located at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) from an applicable building on the same lot.

  2. Group U occupancy agricultural buildings, as defined in Section 202 of the California Building Code of any size located at least 50 feet (15 240 mm) from an applicable building. 3. Group C occupancy special buildings conforming to the limitations specified in Section 450.4.1 of the California Building Code. 4. New accessory buildings and miscellaneous structures specified in Section 504.11 shall comply only with the requirements of that section.

  5. Additions to and remodels of buildings originally constructed prior to July 1, 2008.

  101.3.1.1 Application date and where required. New buildings for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after July 1, 2008, located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone or Wildland-Urban Interface Area shall comply with this code, including all of the following areas:

• CWUIC § 102.4 High relevance — show source text

  The chapter includes mitigation strategies to reduce the hazards of fire originating within a structure spreading to wildland and fire originating in wildland spreading to structures.

  Chapter 7 Referenced Standards.

  Chapter 7 lists all of the product and installation standards and codes that are referenced throughout Chapters 1 through 6 and includes identification of the promulgators and the section numbers in which the standards and codes are referenced. As stated in Section 102.4, these standards and codes become an enforceable part of the code (to the prescribed extent of the reference) as if printed in the body of the code.

  Appendix A General Requirements.

  Appendix A, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide fire-protection measures supplemental to those found in Chapter 6 to reduce the threat of wildfire in a wildland-urban interface area and improve the capability for controlling such fires. This appendix includes detailed requirements for vegetation control; the code official’s authority to close wildland-interface areas in times of high fire danger; control of fires, fireworks usage and other sources of ignition; storage of hazardous materials and combustibles; bans on the dumping of waste materials and ashes and coals in wildlandurban interface areas; protection of pumps and water supplies; and limits on temporary uses within the wildland-urban interface area.

  Appendix B Vegetation Management Plan.

  Appendix B, while not part of the code, can become part of the code when specifically included in the adopting ordinance. Its purpose is to provide criteria for submitting vegetation management plans, specifying their content and establishing a criterion for considering vegetation management as being a fuel modification.

  Appendix C Community Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework.

  Appendix C contains a preliminary Community WUI Fire Hazard Evaluation Framework as a suggested methodology to begin to support communities at risk in the identification of their unique hazards and to provide common metrics for comparisons between communities. This preliminary framework includes information on community size, population and fuels; on notification and evacuation; and on the community infrastructure and firefighting response potential. Aspects of this framework may already be included in various community- level documents, such as Community Wildfire Protection Plans or evacuation plans. Development of a standard framework will (1) consolidate relevant WUI fire hazard and planning information in one place, and (2) allow for cross-community comparisons.

  The evaluation required to implement this framework will support prefire hazard assessment and during-fire response operations. An increased understanding of fire evacuation, fire structural response and fire defensive action relationships is needed to assess the over- all community WUI fire hazard. The quantification of these relationships will enable communities to optimize the community-level response to WUI fire hazards in a more integrated approach and result in increased life safety and reduced losses.

  Appendix D Model Ordinance for Fire Hazard Severity Zone Adoption.

  Appendix D is an informational appendix that is a sample ordinance designed as guidance for a city, county, city and county, or fire district to establish and designate fire hazard severity zones within their jurisdiction.

  Appendix E Reserved.

  Appendix F Characteristics of Fire-Smart Vegetation.

  Appendix F is an informational appendix provided for the convenience of the code user. It is simply a compilation of the eight characteristics of fire-smart vegetation that can be used effectively within wildland-urban interface areas to reduce the likelihood of fire spread through vegetation.

  **App

• CWUIC § 1.11. High relevance — show source text

  • 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. The state agency does not adopt sections identified by the following symbol: The Office of the State Fire Marshal’s adoption of this chapter or individual sections is applicable to structures regulated by other state agencies pursuant to Section 1.11.

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  33 FIRE SAFETY DURING CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION

  User notes:

  About this chapter: Chapter 33 outlines general fire safety precautions for all structures and all occupancies during construction and demolition operations. In general, these requirements seek to maintain required levels of fire protection, limit fire spread, establish the appropriate operation of equipment and promote prompt response to fire emergencies. There is an emphasis on owner responsibility and the need to create and implement a site safety plan. Features regulated include fire protection systems, firefighter access to the site and building, water supply, means of egress, hazardous materials storage and use, and temporary heating equipment and other ignition sources. Fire watches are an important component of this chapter. This chapter correlates with Chapter 33 of the California Building Code .

  SECTION 3301—GENERAL

  3301.1 Scope. This chapter shall apply to structures in the course of construction, alteration or demolition, including those in underground locations. Compliance with NFPA 241 is required for items not specifically addressed herein.

  3301.2 Purpose. This chapter prescribes minimum safeguards for construction, alteration and demolition operations to provide reasonable safety to life and property from fire during such operations.

  SECTION 3302—DEFINITIONS

  3302.1 Terms defined in Chapter 2. Words and terms used in this chapter and defined in Chapter 2 shall have the meanings ascribed to them as defined therein.

  SECTION 3303—ADMINISTRATIVE SAFETY CONTROLS

  3303.1 Program development and maintenance. The owner or owner’s authorized agent shall be responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of an approved, written site safety plan establishing a fire prevention program at the project site applicable throughout all phases of the construction, repair, alteration or demolition work. The plan addresses the requirements of this chapter and other applicable portions of this code, the duties of staff and staff training requirements. The plan shall be submitted and approved before a building permit is issued. Any changes to the plan shall be submitted for approval.

  3303.1.1 Components of site safety plans. Site safety plans shall include the following as applicable:

  1. Name and contact information of site safety director.

  2. Documentation of the training of the site safety director and fire watch personnel.

  3. Procedures for reporting emergencies.

  4. Fire department vehicle access routes.

  5. Location of fire protection equipment, including portable fire extinguishers, standpipes, fire department connections and fire hydrants.

  6. Smoking and cooking policies, designated areas to be used where approved, and signage locations in accordance with Section 3305.7.

  7. Location and safety considerations for temporary heating equipment.

  8. Hot work permit plan.

• CWUIC § 1-2 High relevance — show source text

  Population growth and the expanding urban development into traditionally nonurban areas have increasingly brought humans into contact with wildfires. According to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), every year, wildfires burn across the United States and a growing number of people are living where wildfires are a real risk. In 2018 more than 58,000 fires burned nearly 9 million acres across the US. More than 25,000 structures were destroyed, including 18,137 residences and 229 commercial structures. California accounted for the highest number of structures lost in one state due to the number of significant fires, including the Mendocino Complex, Carr, Camp and Woolsey fires.

  The IWUIC is a model code that is intended to be adopted and used supplemental to the adopted building and fire codes of a jurisdiction. The unrestricted use of property in wildland-urban interface areas is a potential threat to life and property from fire and resulting erosion. The IWUIC has as its objective the establishment of minimum special regulations for the safeguarding of life and

  x 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE

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

  property from the intrusion of fire from wildland fire exposures and fire exposures from adjacent structures and to prevent structure fires from spreading to wildland fuels, even in the absence of fire department intervention.

  Safeguards to prevent the occurrence of fires and to provide adequate fire protection facilities to control the spread of fire in wildland-urban interface areas are provided in a tiered manner commensurate with the relative level of hazard present.

  ARRANGEMENT AND FORMAT OF THE 2025 CWUIC

  The format of the CWUIC allows each chapter to be devoted to a particular subject. The following table shows how the CWUIC is divided. The chapter synopses detail the scope and intent of the provisions of the CWUIC.

  CHAPTER TOPICS	Col2
  CHAPTER	SUBJECT
  1-2	Administration and Definitions
  3-4	Wildland-Urban Interface Area Designation and Requirements
  5	Building Construction Regulations
  6	Fire Protection Requirements
  7	Referenced Standards
  Appendices A-I	Adoptable and Informational Appendices

  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.

  Chapter 3 Wildland-Urban Interface Areas.

  Chapter 3 provides for the fundamental aspect of applying the code—the legal declaration and establishment of wildland-urban interface areas within the adopting jurisdiction, mapping of the area, periodic review and updates.

  Chapter 4 Wildland-Urban Interface Area Requirements.

  The requirements of Chapter 4 apply to all occupancies in the wildland-urban interface and pertain to all of the following:

  1. Fire service access to the property that is to be protected, including fire apparatus access roads and off-road driveways.

  2. Premises identification.