Fire Service Access & Water Supply (fire apparatus roads, driveways, hydrants, draft sites, standby power)

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

• 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 § 1274.02 High relevance — show source text

  [CCR, Title 14 §1274.02]

  403.2.4 Addresses for Buildings. (a) All Buildings shall be issued an address by the Local Jurisdiction which conforms to that jurisdiction's overall address system. Utility and miscellaneous Group U Buildings are not required to have a separate address; however, each Residential Unit within a Building shall be separately identified. (b) The size of letters, numbers and symbols for addresses shall conform to the standards in the California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9. (c) Addresses for residential Buildings shall be reflectorized.

  [CCR, Title 14 §1274.03]

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  WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS

  403.2.5 Address installation, location and visibility. (a) All buildings shall have a permanently posted address which shall be plainly legible and visible from the Road fronting the property. (b) Where access is by means of a private Road and the address identification cannot be viewed from the public way, an unob- structed sign or other means shall be used so that the address is visible from the public way. (c) Address signs along one-way Roads shall be visible from both directions. (d) Where multiple addresses are required at a single driveway, they shall be mounted on a single sign or post. (e) Where a Road provides access solely to a single commercial or industrial business, the address sign shall be placed at the near- est Road intersection providing access to that site, or otherwise posted to provide for unobstructed visibility from that intersection.

  (f) In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.

  [CCR, Title 14 §1274.04]

  SECTION 404—WATER SUPPLY

  404.1 General. An approved water source shall have an adequate water supply for the use of the fire protection service to protect buildings and structures from exterior fire sources or to suppress structure fires within the wildland-urban interface area of the jurisdiction in accordance with this section.

  404.2 Required water supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for structural fire protection and wildland fire exposure shall be provided to the premises on which facilities, buildings or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction in accordance with Section 507 of the California Fire Code.

  404.3 Draft sites. Approved draft sites shall be provided at natural water sources intended for use as fire protection for compliance with this code. The design, construction, location, access and access maintenance of draft sites shall be approved by the code official.

  404.3.1 Access. The draft site shall have emergency vehicle access from an access road in accordance with Section 403.

  404.3.2 Pumper access points. The pumper access point shall be either an emergency vehicle access area alongside a conforming access road or an approved driveway not longer than 150 feet (45 720 mm). Pumper access points and access driveways shall be designed and constructed in accordance with all codes and ordinances enforced by this jurisdiction. Pumper access points shall not require the pumper apparatus to obstruct a road or driveway.

• CWUIC § 402.1.1 High relevance — show source text

  
  Title 19, Division 1]|||||||||||||||||||||||| |Chapter / Section|||||||||||||||||||||||| |402|||†||||||||||||||||||||| |402.1.1|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |402.1.2|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |402.1.2.1|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |402.2.1|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |402.2.2|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |402.3|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.1|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.2|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.4|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.5|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.6_Reserved_|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.7|||X||||||||||||||||||||| |404.8|||X|||||||||||||||||||||

  • The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 19, Division 1 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface 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.

  The California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 14, Division 1.5 provisions that are found in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are not listed in the Matrix Adoption Tables as they are not within the State Fire Marshal’s authority to adopt. These provisions are a reprint from the current CCR, Title 14, Division 1.5 text for the code user’s convenience only and are identified in the body of the code by square brackets containing references to applicable Title 14 sections.

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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.

• 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 § 402.1.1 High relevance — show source text

  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.

  402.3 Existing conditions. Existing buildings shall be provided with address markers in accordance with Sections 403.2.4 and 403.2.5 . Existing roads and fire protection equipment shall be provided with markings in accordance with Sections 403.4 and 404.8, respectively.

  SECTION 403—ACCESS

  USER NOTE: The standards in Section 403 applicable to roads shall not apply to roads used solely for agriculture; mining; or the management of timberland or harvesting of forest products. [CCR, Title 14 §1270.03(d)]

  403.1 General. Roads and driveways, whether public or private, unless exempted under 14 CCR § 1270.03(d), shall provide for safe access for emergency wildfire equipment and civilian evacuation concurrently, and shall provide unobstructed traffic circulation during a wildfire emergency consistent 403.1.1 to 403.1.9. [CCR, Title 14 §1273.00]

  403.1.1 Section 403 definitions. When used in Section 403, the term listed below shall be defined as follows:

  DEFENSIBLE SPACE. The area within the perimeter of a parcel, development, neighborhood or community where basic wildland fire protection practices and measures are implemented to defend against encroaching wildfire or to escape structure fires. The perimeter as used in this regulation [CCR Title 14] is the area encompassing the parcel or parcels proposed for construction and/or development, excluding the physical structure itself. The area is characterized by the establishment and maintenance of emer- gency vehicle access, emergency water reserves, road names and identification, and fuel modification measures. [CCR Title 14 §1270.01(f)]

• CWUIC § 1274.04 High relevance — show source text

  or otherwise posted to provide for unobstructed visibility from that_ intersection.

  (f) In all cases, the address shall be posted at the beginning of construction and shall be maintained thereafter.

  [CCR, Title 14 §1274.04]

  SECTION 404—WATER SUPPLY

  404.1 General. An approved water source shall have an adequate water supply for the use of the fire protection service to protect buildings and structures from exterior fire sources or to suppress structure fires within the wildland-urban interface area of the jurisdiction in accordance with this section.

  404.2 Required water supply. An approved water supply capable of supplying the required fire flow for structural fire protection and wildland fire exposure shall be provided to the premises on which facilities, buildings or portions of buildings are hereafter constructed or moved into or within the jurisdiction in accordance with Section 507 of the California Fire Code.

  404.3 Draft sites. Approved draft sites shall be provided at natural water sources intended for use as fire protection for compliance with this code. The design, construction, location, access and access maintenance of draft sites shall be approved by the code official.

  404.3.1 Access. The draft site shall have emergency vehicle access from an access road in accordance with Section 403.

  404.3.2 Pumper access points. The pumper access point shall be either an emergency vehicle access area alongside a conforming access road or an approved driveway not longer than 150 feet (45 720 mm). Pumper access points and access driveways shall be designed and constructed in accordance with all codes and ordinances enforced by this jurisdiction. Pumper access points shall not require the pumper apparatus to obstruct a road or driveway.

  404.4 Hydrants. Hydrants shall be designed and constructed in accordance with nationally recognized standards. The location and access shall be approved by the code official. The number and spacing of fire hydrants shall be in accordance with Appendix C or CC of the California Fire Code, as applicable.

  404.5 Adequate water supply. Fire-flow requirements shall be determined in accordance with Appendix B or BB of the California Fire Code, as applicable.

  404.6 Reserved.

  404.7 Obstructions. Access to water sources required by this code shall be unobstructed at all times. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to water source equipment, fire protection equipment or hydrants.

  404.8 Identification. Water sources, draft sites, hydrants and fire protection equipment and hydrants shall be clearly identified in a manner approved by the code official to identify location and to prevent obstruction by parking and other obstructions. Each fire hydrant and access to a water supply shall be identified in accordance with one of the following: 1. Where located along a driveway, a reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire-retardant post. 2. Where located along an access road: 2.2. A reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be mounted on a fire-retardant post. The signpost shall be within 3 feet (914 mm) of said fire hydrant with the sign not less than 3 feet (914 mm) nor greater than 5 feet (1524 mm) above ground, in a horizontal position and visible from the driveway. _2.3.

• CWUIC § 65850.6 High relevance — show source text

  _ (2) Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to alter the extent to which utility infrastructure, including but not limited to wire- less telecommunications facilities, as defined in Government Code Section 65850.6, subdivision (d)(2), or Storage Group S or Utility and Miscellaneous Group U Structures, may be constructed on Undeveloped Ridgelines. (3) Local Jurisdictions may approve Buildings on Strategic Ridgelines where Development activities such as mass grading will significantly alter the topography that results in the elimination of Ridgeline fire risks. (d) The Local Jurisdiction may implement further specific requirements to preserve Undeveloped Ridgelines.

  [CCR T14 §1276.02]

  609.2 Fuel breaks. When applications meet any of the following criteria, the local jurisdiction shall determine the need and location for fuel breaks in consultation with the fire authority: (1) The permitting or approval of three or more new parcels, excluding lot line adjustments as specified in Government Code Section 66412(d); or (2) An application for a change of zoning increasing zoning intensity or density; or (3) An application for a change in use permit increasing use intensity or density.

  [CCR T14 §1276.03(a)]

  609.2.1 Exposures. Fuel breaks required by the local jurisdiction, in consultation with the fire authority, shall be located, designed and maintained in a condition that reduces the potential of damaging radiant and convective heat or ember exposure to access routes, buildings or infrastructure within the development. [CCR T14 §1276.03(b)]

  609.2.2 Fire department access. Fuel breaks shall have, at a minimum, one point of entry for firefighters and any fire apparatus. The specific number of entry points and entry requirements shall be determined by the local jurisdiction, in consultation with the fire authority. [CCR T14 §1276.03(c)]

  609.2.3 Location of fuel breaks. Fuel breaks may be required at locations such as, but not limited to: (1) Directly adjacent to defensible space as defined by Title 14 CCR Section 1299.02 to reduce radiant and convective heat expo- sure and ember impacts, or support firefighting tactics. (2) Directly adjacent to roads to manage radiant and convective heat exposure and ember impacts, increase evacuation safety, or support firefighting tactics. (3) Directly adjacent to a hazardous land use to limit the spread of fire from such uses, reduce radiant and convective heat exposure, or support firefighting tactics. (4) Strategically located along ridgelines, in greenbelts, or in other locations to reduce radiant and convective heat exposure and ember impacts, or support community level firefighting tactics.

  [CCR T14 §1276.03(d)]

  609.2.4 Timing. Fuel breaks shall be completed prior to the commencement of any permitted construction. [CCR T14 §1276.03(e)]

  609.2.5 Construction. Fuel breaks shall be constructed using the most ecologically and site appropriate treatment option, such as, but not limited to, prescribed burning, manual treatment, mechanical treatment, prescribed herbivory, and targeted ground applica- tion of herbicides. [CCR T14 §1276.03(f)]

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• CWUIC § 404.5 High relevance — show source text

  404.5 Adequate water supply. Fire-flow requirements shall be determined in accordance with Appendix B or BB of the California Fire Code, as applicable.

  404.6 Reserved.

  404.7 Obstructions. Access to water sources required by this code shall be unobstructed at all times. The fire department shall not be deterred or hindered from gaining immediate access to water source equipment, fire protection equipment or hydrants.

  404.8 Identification. Water sources, draft sites, hydrants and fire protection equipment and hydrants shall be clearly identified in a manner approved by the code official to identify location and to prevent obstruction by parking and other obstructions. Each fire hydrant and access to a water supply shall be identified in accordance with one of the following: 1. Where located along a driveway, a reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be located on the driveway address sign and mounted on a fire-retardant post. 2. Where located along an access road: 2.2. A reflectorized blue marker with a minimum dimension of 3 inches (73 mm) shall be mounted on a fire-retardant post. The signpost shall be within 3 feet (914 mm) of said fire hydrant with the sign not less than 3 feet (914 mm) nor greater than 5 feet (1524 mm) above ground, in a horizontal position and visible from the driveway. 2.3. As specified in the State Fire Marshal’s Guidelines for Fire Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways, May 1988.

  404.9 Testing and maintenance. Water sources, draft sites, hydrants and other fire protection equipment required by this code shall be subject to periodic tests as required by the code official. Such equipment installed under the provisions of this code shall be maintained in an operative condition at all times and shall be repaired or replaced where defective. Additions, repairs, alterations and servicing of such fire protection equipment and resources shall be in accordance with approved standards.

  404.10 Reliability. Water supply reliability shall comply with Sections 404.10.1 through 404.10.3.

  404.10.1 Objective. The objective of this section is to increase the reliability of water supplies by reducing the exposure of vegetative fuels to electrically powered systems.

  404.10.2 Clearance of fuel. Defensible space shall be provided around water tank structures, water supply pumps and pump houses in accordance with Section 603.

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  WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE AREA REQUIREMENTS

  404.10.3 Standby power. Standby power shall be provided to pumps, controllers and related electrical equipment so that stationary water supply facilities within the wildland-urban interface area that are dependent on electrical power can provide the required water supply. The standby power system shall be in accordance with Section 2702 of the California Building Code and Section 1203 of the California Fire Code . The standby power source shall be capable of providing power for not less than 2 hours.

• CWUIC § 3306.6 Medium relevance — show source text

  3306.6 Portable fire extinguishers. Structures under construction, alteration or demolition shall be provided with not less than one approved portable fire extinguisher in accordance with Section 906 and sized for not less than ordinary hazard as follows:

  1. At each stairway on all floor levels where combustible materials have accumulated.
  2. In every storage and construction shed.
  3. Additional portable fire extinguishers shall be provided where special hazards exist including, but not limited to, the storage and use of flammable and combustible liquids.

  SECTION 3307—FIRE DEPARTMENT SITE ACCESS AND WATER SUPPLY

  3307.1 Required access. Approved vehicle access for firefighting shall be provided to all construction or demolition sites. Vehicle access shall be provided to within 100 feet (30 480 mm) of temporary or permanent fire department connections. Vehicle access shall be provided by either temporary or permanent roads, capable of supporting vehicle loading under all weather conditions. Vehicle access shall be maintained until permanent fire apparatus access roads are available.

  3307.1.1 Key boxes. Key boxes shall be provided as required by Chapter 5.

  [BE] 3307.1.2 Stairways required. Where building construction exceeds 40 feet (12 192 mm) in height above the lowest level of fire department vehicle access, a temporary or permanent stairway shall be provided. As construction progresses, such stairway shall be extended to within one floor of the highest point of construction having secured decking or flooring.

  3307.1.3 Maintenance. Required means of egress and required accessible means of egress shall be maintained during construction and demolition, remodeling or alterations and additions to any building.

  Exception: Approved temporary means of egress and accessible means of egress systems and facilities.

  3307.2 Water supply for fire protection. An approved water supply for fire protection, either temporary or permanent, shall be made available as soon as combustible building materials arrive on the site, on commencement of vertical combustible construction and on installation of a standpipe system in buildings under construction, in accordance with Sections 3307.2.1 through 3307.4.

  Exception: The fire code official is authorized to reduce the fire-flow requirements for isolated buildings or a group of buildings in rural areas or small communities where the development of full fire-flow requirements is impractical.

  3307.2.1 Combustible building materials. When combustible building materials of the building under construction are delivered to a site, a minimum fire flow of 500 gallons per minute (1893 L/m) shall be provided. The fire hydrant used to provide this fire-flow supply shall be within 500 feet (152 m) of the combustible building materials, as measured along an approved fire apparatus access lane. Where the site configuration is such that one fire hydrant cannot be located within 500 feet (152 m) of all combustible building materials, additional fire hydrants shall be required to provide coverage in accordance with this section.

  3307.2.2 Vertical construction of Types III, IV and V construction. Prior to commencement of vertical construction of Type III, IV or V buildings that utilize any combustible building materials, the fire flow required by Sections 3307.2.2.1 through 3307.2.2.3 shall be provided, accompanied by fire hydrants in sufficient quantity to deliver the required fire flow and proper coverage.

• CWUIC § 1-2 Medium 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

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  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.

• CWUIC § 914.3.1.2.1 Medium 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 § 15-3 Medium relevance — show source text

  2025 CALIFORNIA EXISTING BUILDING CODE 15-3

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

  CONSTRUCTION SAFEGUARDS

  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 on-site for 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 1509.

  10. Portable fire extinguishers are available in locations required by Section 1507 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.

  [F] 1502.3.1 Violations. Failure to properly conduct, document and maintain documentation required by this section shall constitute an unlawful act in accordance with Section 113.1 and shall result in the issuance of a notice of violation to the site safety director in accordance with Section 113.2. Upon the third offense, the code official is authorized to issue a stop work order in accordance with Section 114, and work shall not resume until satisfactory assurances of future compliance have been presented to and approved by the code official.

  SECTION 1503—SANITARY

  [BG] 1503.1 Facilities required. Sanitary facilities shall be provided during construction or demolition activities in accordance with the California Plumbing Code .

  SECTION 1504—PROTECTION OF PEDESTRIANS

  [BS] 1504.1 Protection of pedestrians. Pedestrians shall be protected during construction and demolition activities as required by Sections 1504.1.1 through 1504.1.7 and Table 1504.1. Signs shall be provided to direct pedestrian traffic.