WHICH STATE CODES REGULATE BUILDINGS?
Several of California’s 29 codes regulate the design, construction, use and maintenance of buildings, including the Government Code and Public Resources Code.
The Health and Safety Code aggregates its building provisions from Divisions 12 and 13 into the Code of Regulations, which includes the following:
The Health and Safety Code aggregates its building provisions from Divisions 12 and 13 into the Code of Regulations, which includes the following:
- Title 8 regulates elevators, escalators, dumbwaiters, stairway chairlifts and other forms of conveyances and is enforced by the Department of Industrial Relations.
- Title 19 regulates fire and panic safety, fire alarms, extinguishers, tents, awnings and more and is enforced by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.
- Title 21 regulates handicapped access to public buildings, excess flow gas shut off valves, construction of public schools and hospitals, and more and is enforced by the Division of the State Architect.
- Title 25 codifies the State Housing Law, Employee Housing Act, Mobile Home Parts Act, Manufactured Housing Act, and more and is enforced by the Department of Housing and Community Development.
- Title 24 has twelve Parts that apply to all building occupancies, and related features and equipment, contains requirements for structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, energy conservation, green design, construction and maintenance, fire and life safety, and handicapped accessibility. The Parts are based on triennial editions of national model codes. The Building Standards Commission’s legislative process amends these codes and publishes the following California editions every three years:
- Part 1 – Building Stnds Administrative Code (International Code Council)
- Part 2 – Building Code (International Code Council)
- Part 2.5 – Residential Building Code (International Code Council)
- Part 3 – Electrical Code (National Fire Protection Association)
- Part 4 – Mechanical Code (Int’l Assoc of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials)
- Part 5 – Plumbing Code (Int’l Assoc of Plumbing & Mechanical Officials)
- Part 6 – Energy Code (International Code Council)
- Part 7 – see Title 8, CCR
- Part 8 – Historical Building Code (International Code Council)
- Part 9 – Fire Code (International Code Council)
- Part 10 – Existing Building Code (International Code Council)
- Part 11 – Green Building Standards Code (International Code Council)
- Part 12 – Reference Standards Code (International Code Council)
In addition to the Building Standards Commission, state agencies also amend the Building Standards Code, which are enforced both by them and Building Departments
HOW ARE BUILDING STANDARDS ENFORCED ?
The process which jurisdictions use for enforcing the Building Standards Code is Plan Check and Inspections.
Plan Check reviews construction documents, including the design drawings, before a permit is issued to assure that the building and its environment systems and equipment (plumbing, electrical, mechanical) will comply with regulations for structural safety, energy conservation, green technology, and handicapped accessibility.
Jobsite inspections are periodically performed by jurisdictions to monitor phases of construction.
The Health and Safety Code allows jurisdictions to adopt local technical amendments that are no less restrictive than regulations in the Building Standards Code. These amendments are based on local climatic, geological and topographical conditions and are filed with the Building Standards Commission in Sacramento.
The Health and Safety Code also has administrative requirements for Building Departments, including the following:
Plan Check reviews construction documents, including the design drawings, before a permit is issued to assure that the building and its environment systems and equipment (plumbing, electrical, mechanical) will comply with regulations for structural safety, energy conservation, green technology, and handicapped accessibility.
Jobsite inspections are periodically performed by jurisdictions to monitor phases of construction.
The Health and Safety Code allows jurisdictions to adopt local technical amendments that are no less restrictive than regulations in the Building Standards Code. These amendments are based on local climatic, geological and topographical conditions and are filed with the Building Standards Commission in Sacramento.
The Health and Safety Code also has administrative requirements for Building Departments, including the following:
- must employ certified personnel;
- must have continuing education;
- must have a neutral appeals process;must not have excessive plan review backlogs.
The California Civil Code requires that Building Departments have an inspector who is a Certified Access Specialist.
Links
BUILDING in CALIFORNIA
- Library
Building Standards Commission
State Contractors License Board
