August 8, 2003—The state of California has adopted model building and fire codes of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) to protect public safety in the nation’s most populous state. The California Building Standards Commission voted recently to adopt NFPA 5000, Building Construction and Safety Code and NFPA 1, Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1, UFC). As a result of the Commission’s action, the NFPA codes will provide the basis for the 2004 California Building Code and the 2004 California Fire Code.
The California state fire marshal recommended the adoption of NFPA 5000 and NFPA 1, UFC after determining that NFPA codes would provide California with “higher levels of safety” than would building and fire codes developed by the International Code Council (ICC). The state fire marshal’s office had conducted a detailed review of the building and fire codes developed by NFPA and ICC. That review pointed to specific code provisions and NFPA’s consensus-based code development process as key reasons that California should use NFPA’s model codes.
NFPA 5000 and NFPA 1, UFC are elements of the Comprehensive Consensus Codes (C3) set—the first set of construction-related codes developed through processes accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The C3 set also includes the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Mechanical Code, developed by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials. NFPA facilitates the development of more than 300 building, fire, electrical and life safety codes and standards. More than 6500 volunteers serve on NFPA technical committees, writing NFPA model codes, standards, and recommended practices.
