2022 Building & Fire Code Adoption
Protecting Life and
Property
CA Building Codes
Published in its entirety every three years by order of the California legislature.
Every three years the City is required by the State to adopt and/or amend.
A city, county or city county may establish more restrictive building standards reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological or topographical conditions.
Significant Changes in the 2022 Building Codes
More restrictive energy codes as adopted by the California Energy Commission Minor changes to all other codes
CA Energy Code Update
Heat pumps standard
Energy budgets based on efficient heat pumps for space and water heating Impact:
Encourages builders to install heat pumps over gas-fueled HVAC units CA Energy Code Update
Electric Ready Homes - Requires homes to be electric ready, eventually replacing installed gas appliances with electric Impact:
Requires homes to built with dedicated 240-volt outlets and space for electric appliance replacements (space heating, cooking, and clothes dryer) – even if gas is initially installed CA Energy Code Update
Increased minimum ventilation requirements for gas cooktops Impact:
Where gas appliances are used, ventilation requirements are more stringent CA Energy Code Update
Commercial Solar & Battery Standards
Establishes combined solar PV and battery standards for certain businesses High-rise multifamily apartments
Hotel-motel
Tenant Space
Office, medical office and clinics
Retail and grocery stores
Schools
Civic (theaters, auditoriums, & convention centers)
Maximizes onsite use of solar energy to avoid electricity demand during times when the grid must use gas-powered plants CA Energy Code Update
Significant changes to the 2022 California Fire Code
2022 California Fire Code
Sections not adopted by the State Fire Marshal or other State entity must be specifically adopted by the Local Authority Having Jurisdiction to be enforced.
Appendix Chapters 4 (Special Detailed requirements Based on Use and Occupancy), Appendix B (Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings),
Appendix C (Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution),
Appendix D (Fire Apparatus Access Roads as amended by section L),
Significant changes to the 2022 California Fire Code
2022 California Fire Code (Cont.)
Appendix H (Hazardous Materials Management Plan (HMMP) and Hazardous Materials Inventory Statement (HMIS) Instructions), Appendix I (Fire Protection Systems- Noncompliant Conditions), Appendix N (Indoor Trade Shows and Exhibitions) Appendix O (Temporary Haunted Houses, Ghost Walks and Similar Amusement Uses)
New Visalia Specific Amendments to Fire Code
Subsection 903.3.8.4.1 shall be added to read as follows:
903.3.8.4.1 Tamper Protection. All exterior risers, drain/test valves and backflow devices shall be protected from unauthorized tampering by approved means. Protection method shall be indicated on building plans.
Justification: Intended to lower number of false alarms due to tampering of backflow devices which causes costly damage to equipment and water wasting.
Section D106 where required, “apparatus access roads” shall be available to public travel at all times.
Justification: Currently some large apartment complexes are being constructed with one public access point, this presents issues when an incident occurs near that access point and the public cannot enter or exit the subdivision. Additionally, VPD has expressed concerns with secluded neighborhoods creating a bottle neck in an active shooter situation. Requiring multiple points of publicly available access/egress assists with traffic flow, lowering congestion around incidents.
New Visalia Specific Amendments to Fire Code
Subsection D107.1 Shall read as follows:
One- or two-family dwelling residential developments. Developments of one- two family dwellings where the number of dwelling units exceeds thirty (30) shall be provided with two separate and approved access roads available to public travel at all times.
Justification: Currently some large subdivisions are being constructed with one public access point, this presents issues when an incident occurs near that access point and the public cannot enter or exit the subdivision. Additionally, VPD has expressed concerns with secluded neighborhoods creating a bottle neck in an active shooter situation. Requiring multiple points of publicly available ingress/egress assists with traffic flow, lowering congestion around incidents.
2022 Building & Fire Code Adoption Protecting Life and Property Questions?