California Code Making Process

[charlie b]

Can anyone tell me how to tell what stage of development a California Code is in, based on the words that appear at the top of a document? I am specifically interested in a Fire Code, but I?ll bet the language of the code development process is the same for their Electrical Code.

I am looking at a document that has the following phrases at the top:

Final Express Terms for Proposed Building Standards of the Office of the State Fire Marshall (SFM) Regarding the 2007 California Fire Code.

Does this description, with such phrases as ?Final Express Terms,? mean anything to anybody?

The reason I?m asking is that there appears to be a pending change, and I would like to take advantage of that change, but I can?t unless the code language will be finalized in time to satisfy my project schedule.

 

[cowboyjwc]

You could check on the California Building Standards Commission web site. You might have to look under the state of California to find the Commissions page.

I'll poke around and see what I can find out for you.

 

[kkwong]

Charlie-

You can also check the California State Fire Marshal's website to see if it actually has been adopted. The SFM releases many "Interpretations" (usually based on adopted code) but I have seen a couple of new ones.

 

[physis]

I would like to take advantage of that change, but I can?t unless the code language will be finalized in time to satisfy my project schedule.

Has California even adopted (forget about writing) the 2003 NEC yet? I imagine they have but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for those people to get anything done that might benefit you.

 

[cowboyjwc]

There you go Charlie, Ken's up there where all of this takes place.

Aren't you a fire inspector Ken?

 

[rbalex]

This links to the home page of the California Building Standards Commission. Near the bottom you will find a link to Title 24, the California Building Standards Code (It’s not just the Energy Code) On this page are further links to the various “Triennial Editions,” 2007 being the latest. That page indicates the 2005 NEC is the base document for the California Electrical Code. The California code making process itself is described here and in the following link.

“Final Express Terms” are the revisions required by one of four State Agencies empowered to amend the Code within their scope of authority: The Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development (OSHPD), The Division of the State Architect / Structural Safety (DSA/SS) and the State Fire Marshall (SFM).


Back on the Home Page is a link to the 2009 Triennial cycle. Note the introductory says it applies to all occupancies that applied for a building permit on or after January 1, 2008, and remains in effect until the effective date of the 2010 triennial edition. The process was messed up during the 2004 cycle, because California adopted and then dropped the NFPA Building Code series.