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State Mandated Roofing Requirements
CALIFORNIA HEALTH & SAFETY CODE

Roofing requirements in California exceed the requirement of the Uniform Building Code (UBC) and the International Building Code (IBC). During the last several years new state legislation (AB-3819, AB-747,and AB-423) on roofing requirements has been codified in Section 13127.7 of the California Health and Safety Code. These changes will be included in the California Building Code (CBC). Many local jurisdictions have adopted roofing and/or reroofing requirements that are more restrictive than state requirements.

The following is a summary of state requirements:

  1. CLASS C REQUIREMENTS. A minimum Class C roofing is required in all areas of the state for new and reroofing as of July 1, 1995 [H&S Section 13132.7(b)].
  1. CLASS B REQUIREMENTS. Those areas designated as "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones" (VHFHSZ) require a minimum Class B for new and reroofing as of July 1, 1995 [H&S Section 13132.7(a) & (c)]. However, the Class B requirement does not take effect until 120 days after the local agency have received maps form the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF&FP), which define the "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones" of the community. Most jurisdictions did receive the maps by July 1, 1995, there fore the requirement took effect in most areas of the state on November 1, 1995.

Although the Class B requirement is mandated in State Responsibility Areas within the counties, those cities in which "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones" have been identified, do have the authority to adopt, exceed or reject the VHFHSZ designation within their respective jurisdictions.

  1. CLASS A REQUIREMENTS. In those areas designated as "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones" Class A roofing or the adoption of the State Fire Marshal’s Model Ordinance for the Defensibility of Space and Structures took effect on January 1, 1997 [H&S Section 13132.7(d)].
  1. CERTIFICATE OF CLASSIFICATION. Contractors shall provide the homeowner with a certification of the fire retardant classification of roofing [H&S Section 13132(I)].
  1. WOOD ROOFING. Fire retardant treated wood roofing must have passed a ten-year weathering test or be in the process of such approval as defined in Section 13132(j) of the California Health and Safety Code.

Fire Retardant roof covering Requirements;
Inclusion in California Building Standards Code;
Adoption of More Restrictive Requirements;
Historical Buildings; Installer; Tests

Section 13132.7 - California Health and Safety Code

Chapter 380. An act to amend Section 13132.7 of the Health and Safety Code, relation to fire safety. Approved by the Governor on September 15, 1999.
Filed with the Secretary on September 15, 1999. 

  1. Within a very high fire hazard severity zone designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code and within a very high hazard severity zone designated by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Tile 5 of the Government Code, the entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair, or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire retardant roof covering that is at least class B as defined in the Uniform Building Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Standards Commission.
  1. In all other areas, the entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair, or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire retardant roof covering that is at least class C as defined in the Uniform Building Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Standards Commission.

(c) Notwithstanding Subdivision (b), within state responsibility areas classified by the State Board of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 3 ( commencing with Section 4125) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code, except for those state responsibility areas designated as moderate fire hazard responsibility zones, the entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair, or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be fire retardant roof covering that is at least class B as defined in the Uniform Building Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Standards Commission.

(d)(1) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), (b), or (c), within very high fire hazard severity zones designated by the Director of Forestry and Fire Protection pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 4201) of Chapter 1 of Part 2 of Division 4 of the Public Resources Code or by a local agency pursuant to Chapter 6.8 (commencing with Section 51175) of Part 1 of Division 1 of Title 5 of the Government Code, the entire roof covering of every existing structure where more than 50 percent of the total roof area is replaced within any one-year period, every new structure, and any roof covering applied in the alteration, repair, or replacement of the roof of every existing structure, shall be a fire retardant roof covering that is at least class A as defined in the Uniform Building Code, as adopted and amended by the State Building Standards Commission.

  1. Paragraph (1) does not apply to any jurisdiction containing a very high fire hazard severity zone if the jurisdiction fulfills both of the following requirements:
  1. Adopts the model ordinance approved by the State Fire Marshal pursuant to Section 51189 of the Government Code or an Ordinance that substantially conforms to the model ordinance of the State Fire Marshal.
  1. Transmits, upon adoption, a copy of the ordinance to the State Fire Marshal.
  1. The State Building Standards Commission shall incorporate the requirements set forth in subdivisions (a), (b), and (c) by publishing them as an amendment to the California Building Standards Code in accordance with Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 18935) of Part 2.5 of Division 13.
  1. Nothing in this section shall limit the authority of a city, county, city and county, or fire protection district in establishing more restrictive requirements, in accordance with current law, than those specified in this section.
  1. This section shall not affect the validity of an ordinance, adopted prior to the effective date for the relevant roofing standard specified in subdivisions (a) and (b), by a city, county, city and county, or fire protection district, unless the ordinance mandates a standard that is less stringent than the standards set forth in subdivision (a). in which case the ordinance shall not be valid on or after the effective date for the relevant roofing standard specified in subdivisions (a) and (b).
  1. Any qualified historical building or structure as defined in Section 18955 may, on a case-by-case basis, utilize alternative roof constructions as provided by the State Historical Building Code.
  1. The installer of the roof covering shall provide certification of the roof covering classification, as provided by the manufacturer or supplier, to the building owner and, when requested, to the agency responsible for enforcement of this part. The installer shall also install the roof covering in accordance with the manufacturer’s listing.

(j)(1) No wood roofing materials shall be sold in this state unless:

  1. On and after January 1, 1997, the materials have passed at least one year of the 10-year natural weathering test.
  1. On and after January 1, 1998, the materials have passed at least two years of the 10-year natural weathering test.

(C) On and after January 1, 1999, the materials have passed at least three years of the 10-year natural weathering test.

  1. On and after January 1, 2000, the materials have passed at least four years of the 10-year natural weathering test.
  1. On and after January 1, 2001, the materials have passed at least five years of the 10-year natural weathering test.
  1. The 10-year natural weathering test required by this subdivision shall be conducted in accordance with standard 15-2 of the 1994 edition of the Uniform Building Code at a testing facility recognized by the State Fire Marshal.
  1. The Insurance Commissioner shall accept the use of fire retardant wood roofing material that meets the requirements of this section used in the partial repair or replacement of nonfire retardant wood roofing material, as meeting the requirement in Section 2695.9 of Title 10 of the California Code of Regulations relative to matching replacement items in quality, color, and size.

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