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Code Interpretations

The State Fire Marshal's Office established the Code Interpretations Committee (CIC) in November 2001, to research requests for code interpretations. The CIC meets once a month to review and discuss each code interpretation request, then pass their recommendations on to the Division Chiefs for final endorsement and approval. Once approved, the request is posted on the SFM website. Code interpretations rendered for Title 24 are valid for the code year edition identified in the code interpretation. Code interpretations rendered for Title 19 are not code edition specific.

Did you know?...Section 2.05, Title 19, California Code of Regulations provides that any person may request a code interpretation from the State Fire Marshal. How to Request a Code Interpretation from SFM??

The State Fire Marshal will start posting all code interpretations for a 10-day comment period prior to these being permanently posted on this web site. The draft code interpretations will be posted on this web site on the 20th of each month. If none are posted, there were none to post. The purpose of the 10-day comment period is to allow for input from all interested parties on any one of the draft code interpretations. All comments will be considered, and the interpretations will be revised accordingly if the comments for a specific interpretation merit revision. Due to the limited time period, you will not receive a response to your comments. Please e-mail all comments to:  Ernie.Paez@fire.ca.gov

Year of 2009

Interpretation# Topic Date Issued
09-064 Attic Ventilation. Draft
09-059 Smoke Fire Dampers. Draft
09-056 Strobes in Medical Exam Rooms/B Occupancies. November 04, 2009
09-051 Locking Fire Extinguisher Cabinets. November 04, 2009
09-045 Occupancy Classification of a High School Laboratory. November 04, 2009
09-042 Definition of Accessible Concealed Space. August 14, 2009
09-033 2007 California Building Code Section 716.5.4. August 14, 2009
09-032 Fire Extinguisher Access. November 04, 2009
09-028 Corridor vs. Room. August 14, 2009
09-027 Definition of Noncombustible. August 14, 2009
09-024 Decking and Under-floor Wildfire Protection. August 14, 2009
09-021 Class I Standpipes for Smokeproof Enclosures. August 14, 2009
09-017 Mixed Occupancies. August 14, 2009
09-015 Group E’s serving less than 100 for 2 ½ years or less in age. September 8, 2009
09-011 Visual illumination in elevator cars. August 14, 2009
09-005 Visual Notification Devices for R-1 Occupancy. May 11, 2009
09-003 Residential Care Facility for the Elderly (I-1). August 14, 2009
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