Smoke/CO Detectors (required in dwelling units) R314
- All sleeping rooms
- Hallways leading to sleeping rooms
- Basements and habitable attics
- 20’ from a cooking appliance
- 36” from a bathroom door (with shower)
- 36″ from heat registers
- 36″ from ceiling fans
- At least 1 on each floor
- Smoke detector required (factory installed) in supply duct for > 2,000 cfm
- New that are solely battery power must have a 10-year non-removable battery. Existing operable units are NOT required to be replaced. Fire Marshal
- New construction/remodeling requires all smoke/CO to be interconnected
General
- House numbers: 4″ x 0.5″ R319
- Site: grading, drainage R300
- Egress: see egress, windows, and R311
- Garage firewall: envelope complete closer, latch, 20-minute or solid core, gasketed R302.5.1
- No garage door to sleeping room R302.5.1
- Safety glazing: (see windows) and R308.4.2
- Removal of debris (underfloor on grade) R408.5
Mechanical
- Design, construction, and workmanship shall comply with accepted engineering practices and shall be of such character as to secure the results sought to be obtained by this code. CMC 309
- FAU: CMC 905
- AC: CMC 903
- Water heater: CPC 501
- Hood and termination: CMC 502.2.1
- Bath fan: humidistat CGBC 4.506.1.2.A and termination CMC 502.2.1
- HVAC ducts in garage: 26ga R302.5.2
- Refrigeration machinery room required with > 100 HP CMC 1106
- Air balance report: CMC 314
Plumbing
- Gas test after S/R (gas line drawing) CPC 1213.3
- Sediment traps: see photo and CPC 1212.9
- EQ valve with gas line change CPC 1211.7
- Bond all metal pipe systems and water heater(s) CPC 1211
- Anti-siphon devices: on hose bibs, handheld showers CPC 603.5.7
- Separate gas and water shut-off for each building/dwelling
Electrical
- Illumination level under emergency power: CBC 1008.3.5
- Emergency lighting facilities shall be arranged to provide initial illumination that is not < an average of 1 foot-candle and a minimum at any point of 0.1 measured along the path of egress at floor level. Levels shall be permitted to decline to 0.6 average and a minimum at any point of 0.06 at the end of the emergency lighting time duration. A maximum to minimum illumination uniformity ratio of 40 to 1 shall not be exceeded. In Group I-2 occupancies, failure of any single lighting unit shall not reduce the illumination level to < 0.2
Administrative
- Engineer/special inspection letters
- Department clearances: Planning, Public Works, Code Enforcement
- Air balance report
- Welders cert
- Hood welders cert
- HERS
- Health Department
- Title 24
- C of O
- PSL (≥ $100,000) EBMUD
- Green Halo (≥ $100,000) A.C.I
- Fire final sign-off
Typical Health and Life Safety Violations
Building
- Lack of adequate means of exit/egress.
- Lack of required smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Lack of waterproofing and weather protection of roof and exterior walls, including windows and doors.
- Lack of required landings at stairs/steps.
- Stairways with rise heights that vary more than 3/8-inch.
- Excessive stairway rise height or substandard stairway run length (Apartments: Rise > 7”, Run < 11”) (Single Family Dwelling: Rise > 7-3/4”, Run < 10”).
- Lack of rescue windows in sleeping rooms and basement (openable area > 5.7 square feet, opening height > 24”, opening width > 20”).
- Lack of handrail and/or guardrail at stairs – handrail must be continuous and return to the wall/newel post.
- Lack of guardrail at porch, deck, or landing more than 30” above grade
- Clean and sanitary buildings, grounds, and appurtenances (for example, a garden or a detached garage), free from debris, filth, rubbish garbage, rodents, and vermin.
- Adequate trash receptacles in good repair.
- Natural lighting in every room through windows or skylights. Windows in each room must be able to open at least halfway for ventilation, unless a fan provides mechanical ventilation.
- Safe fire or emergency exits leading to a street or hallway. Stairs, hallways, and exits must be kept litter-free. Storage areas, garages, and basements must be kept free of combustible materials.
- Operable deadbolt locks on the main entry doors of rental units, and operable locking or security devices on windows.
- Operable window security or locking devices for windows that are designed to be opened.
Plumbing
- Plumbing facilities in good working order, including hot and cold running water furnished to appropriate fixtures, connected to a sewage disposal system.
- • A working toilet, wash basin, and bathtub or shower. The toilet and bathtub or shower must be in a room, which is ventilated and allows privacy.
- A kitchen with a sink that cannot be made of an absorbent material such as wood.
- Gas facilities in good working order.
- Gas appliance with pilot light in sleeping room (water heater, furnace, etc.).
- Lack of address numbers visible from the street.
- Lack of 1-hour occupancy separation between attached garage and living space.
- Lack of 1-hour occupancy separation between any common storage area or laundry room and any living space in an apartment building.
- Lack of door between toilet room and food preparation area.
- Exit door without thumb latch (key required to exit).
- Lack of natural light and ventilation in occupied room (windows > 10 % of floor area, openings > 5% of floor area).
- Unsafe/inoperable fireplace with open firebox.
- Lack of hot and cold water supply.
- Lack of adequate air gap at tub or sink (faucet discharge <1-½” above flood rim).
- Lack of earthquake bracing at the water heater.
- Lack of combustion air in the water heater or furnace room.
- Lack of adequate heating in occupied rooms (70 degrees at a point 3 feet above the floor).
- Lack of or inadequate venting of the sewer system.
- Lack of adequate flue from water heater or gas heater.
- Lack of adequate gas shutoff valve at all gas fixtures.
- Lack of adequate temperature & pressure relief valve (T&P Valve) at the water heater.
- Open sewer pipe; sewer clean out without proper cap or plug.
- Lack of approved dryer exhaust vent.
- Lack of P-trap at the sink drain.
Mechanical
- Heating facilities must be maintained in good working order.
Electrical
- An electric system, including lighting, wiring, and equipment, is in good working order.
- Lack of ground fault protected (GFI) receptacles in wet areas (within 6 feet of kitchen or bathroom sink and bathtub or shower).
- Exposed and/or damaged wiring.
- Reverse polarity at receptacles.
- Unsafe electrical equipment.
- Damaged or missing cover plates.
- Open conductors.
- Wire splice/connection outside of approved junction box.
- Lack of proper cover at the electrical panel.
- Lack of 7’ head height clearance from finish floor to finish ceiling.