| CHAPTER 7A (SFM) MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE
PURPOSE AND APPLICATION
701A.1 Scope. This chapter applies to building materials, systems and/or assemblies used in the exterior design and construction of new buildings located within a Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area as defined in Section 702A.
701A.2 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to establish minimum standards for the protection of life and property byincreasing the ability of a building located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area to resist the intrusion of flames or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire and contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses.
701A.3 Application. New buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone within State Responsibility Areas or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after December 1, 2005, shall comply with the following sections:
1. 704A.1 - Roofing
2. 704A.2 - Attic Ventilation
701A.3.1 Alternates for materials, design, tests, and methods of construction. The enforcing agency is permitted to modify the provisions of this chapter for site-specific conditions in accordance with Appendix Chapter 1, Section 104.10. When required by the enforcing agency for the purposes of granting modifications, a fire protection plan shall be submitted in accordance with the California Fire Code, Chapter 47.
701A.3.2 New buildings located in any fire hazard severity zone. New buildings located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone, or any Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area designated by the enforcing agency for which an application for a building permit is submitted on or after January 1, 2008, shall comply with all sections of this chapter.
701A.3.2.1 Inspection and certification. Building permit applications and final completion approvals for buildings within the scope and application of this chapter shall comply with the following:
701A.3.2.2 The local building official shall, prior to construction, provide the owner or applicant a certification that the building as proposed to be built complies with all applicable state and local building standards, including those for materials and construction methods for wildfire exposure as described in this chapter.
701A.3.2.3 The local building official shall, upon completion of construction, provide the owner or applicant with a copy of the final inspection report that demonstrates the building was constructed in compliance with all applicable state and local building standards, including those for materials and construction methods for wildlife exposure as described in this chapter.
701A.3.2.4 Prior to building permit final approval the property shall be in compliance with the vegetation clearance requirements prescribed in California Public Resources Code 4291 California Government Code Section 51182.
SECTION 702A DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this chapter, certain terms are defined below:
CDF DIRECTOR means the Director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
FIRE PROTECTION PLAN is a document prepared for a specific project or development proposed for a Wildland Urban Interface Fire Area. It describes ways to minimize and mitigate potential for loss from wildfire exposure.
The Fire Protection Plan shall be in accordance with this chapter and the California Fire Code, Chapter 47. When required by the enforcing agency for the purposes of granting modifications, a fire protection plan shall be submitted. Only locally adopted ordinances that have been filed with the California Building Standards Commission or the Department of Housing and Community Development in accordance with Section 101.8 shall apply.
FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES are geographical areas designated pursuant to California Public Resources Codes Sections 4201 through 4204 and classified as Very High, High, or Moderate in State Responsibility Areas or as Local Agency Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones designated pursuant to California Government Code, Sections 51175 through 51189. See California Fire Code Article 86.
The California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 1280, entitles the maps of these geographical areas as “Maps of the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the State Responsibility Area of California.”
IGNITION-RESISTANT MATERIAL is any product which, when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84 for a period of 30 minutes, shall have a flame spread of not over 25 and show no evidence of progressive combustion. In addition, the flame front shall not progress more than 10 feet (3200 mm) beyond the centerline of the burner at any time during the test. Materials shall pass the accelerated weathering test and be identified as exterior type, in accordance with ASTM D 2898 and ASTM D 3201. All materials shall bear identification showing the fire performance rating thereof. That identification identified as exterior type, in accordance with ASTM D 2898 and ASTM D 3201. All materials shall bear identification showing the fire performance rating thereof. That identification shall be issued by ICC-ES or a testing facility recognized
2007 CALIFORNIA BUILDING CODE
MATERIALS AND CONSTRUCTION METHODS FOR EXTERIOR WILDFIRE EXPOSURE by the State Fire Marshal having a service for inspection of materials at the factory.
Fire-Retardant-Treated Wood or noncombustible materials as defined in Section 202 shall satisfy the intent of this section.
The enforcing agency may use other definitions of ignition-resistant material that reflect wildfire exposure to building materials and/or their materials, performance in resisting ignition.
LOCAL AGENCY VERY HIGH FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE means an area designated by a local agency upon the recommendation of the CDF Director pursuant to Government Code Sections 51177(c), 51178 and 5118 that is not a state responsibility area and where a local agency, city, county, city and county, or district is responsible for fire protection.
STATE RESPONSIBILITY AREA means lands that are classified by the Board of Forestry pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 4125 where the financial responsibility of preventing and suppressing forest fires is primarily the responsibility of the state.
WILDFIRE is any uncontrolled fire spreading through vegetative fuels that threatens to destroy life, property, or resources as defined in Public Resources Code Sections 4103 and 4104.
WILDFIRE EXPOSURE is one or a combination of radiant heat, convective heat, direct flame contact and burning embers being projected by vegetation fire to a structure and its immediate environment.
WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE FIRE AREA is a geographical area identified by the state as a “Fire Hazard Severity Zone” in accordance with the Public Resources Code Sections 4201 through 4204 and Government Code Sections 51175 through 51189, or other areas designated by the enforcing agency to be at a significant risk from wildfires. See Section 706A for the applicable referenced sections of the Government Code and the Public Resources Code.
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