Fire & Life Safety

DSA's Fire and Life Safety (FLS) program serves DSA stakeholders by its role in the plan review of school construction projects and provides regulation recommendations to the State Fire Marshal for incorporation into the California building and fire codes. The FLS program also develops DSA Interpretation of Regulations (IR), bulletins, policies and procedures pertaining to FLS issues. DSA FLS is dedicated to the safety of occupants in buildings under DSA's jurisdiction, as related to fire resistive building materials, fire alarms, fire suppression equipment, safe occupant egress, and firefighting equipment access.

The following resources are provided to help and guide you through the FLS aspects of a construction project under the jurisdiction of DSA:

• Fire Hazard Severity Zones
• SB 575
• Fire & Life Safety Publications
• FLS Jobs
• FLS DSA Academy Courses
• FLS Links
• FLS Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 105 KB)
• Contact

Fire Hazard Severity Zones

The Cal-Atlas Geospatial Clearinghouse website now has the ability to determine the Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) by entering a street address. The Cal-Atlas Natural Hazards map will identify which areas will need to meet the requirements found in the 2010 CBC Chapter 7A. The State Responsibility Area (SRA) and federal land are currently shown on the map.

SB 575

• PL 11-01: Green Oaks Fire Protection Act (SB 575) - Implementation Policy (PDF - 68 KB) Revised 03/02/11

Fire & Life Safety Publications

Note: See the DSA Forms page, Publications page or the Interpretation of Regulations (IR) page for current versions of cited DSA documents.

• DSA FLS PLAN SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS, GUIDELINES, and CHECKLISTS
  • GL-1: AFSS Project Submittal Guidelines (PDF - 107 KB) Revised 07/01/11
  • GL-2: Project Submittal Guidelines - Fire Alarm & Detection Systems (PDF - 86 KB) Revised 02/10/11
  • Modernization Plan Submittal Checklist: Access and Fire/Life Safety (Excel - 691 KB) || Worksheet Prepared by OPSC
• FLS RELATED DSA INTERPRETATIONS of REGULATIONS (IR)
  • IR A-21: Temporary Approval for School Use of HCD Commercial Coaches
  • IR A-25: Design, Installation and Maintenance of Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems (AFSS)
  • IR A-26: K-12 Occupancy Classification and Load Factors
  • IR A-26.cc: Occupancy Classifications and Occupant Load Factors for Community Colleges
  • IR A-27: Cargo Containers Used as Storage
  • IR A-28: Fire Alarm Changes in Existing Buildings
  • IR 3-1: Storage Room Occupancy Separation
  • IR 9-1: Automatic Fire Suppression System Coverage in Concealed Interstitial Space
  • IR 10-1: Illumination Required for Means of Egress
  • IR 11B-1: Visual Alarms in Classrooms
  • IR 30-1: Title 24 Elevators: Building Materials and Systems
  • IR E-1: Grounding of Buildings Fabricated Off Site
  • IR E-2: Ground Fault Circuit - Interrupter
  • IR E-3: Reliable Power Supply to Electrical Fire Pumps
  • IR M-1: Lab Fume Hood Duct Manifold Requirements
• FLS RELATED DSA BULLETINS
  • BU 11-08: Occupant Load Determination and Posting in Assembly Occupancies in California Public Schools and Community Colleges
  • BU 11-06: Current Fire and Life Safety Information Regarding Relocatable School Buildings
  • BU 11-05: Impact of AB 211 - Concerning Door Hardware; Effective July 1, 2011, Revised 09/30/11
  • BU 11-03: Gas Piping Installation Requirements and Recommendations for Seismic Damage Reduction
  • BU 07-04: DSA Stop Work order for AFSS
• FLS RELATED DSA POLICIES
  • PL 11-01: Green Oaks Fire Protection Act (SB 575) - Implementation Policy
  • PL 10-01: Plan Submittal Requirements: Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems (AFSS)
  • PL 09-05: Elevator Cab Sizes
  • PL 09-01: Fire Flow for Buildings
  • PL 07-03: Fire Department Access with School Drop Off Areas
• FLS RELATED DSA PROCEDURES
  • Procedure 07-02: Modernization Grant for Accessibility & Fire/Life Safety Requirements
  • Procedure 09-01: Code Appeal Process (CAP)
• DSA FLS TEMPLATES
  • DSA-810: Local Fire Authority Review Template (PDF - 27 KB) Revised 06/20/11 || Instructions (PDF - 26 KB)
• DSA FLS INFORMATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
  • School Violence Involving Fire (PDF - 303 KB)
  • Security vs. Exiting: Door Locking Hardware in Schools (PDF - 433 KB)

FLS Jobs

• Fire and Life Safety Officer I (PDF - 40 KB)
• Fire and Life Safety Officer II (PDF - 43 KB)

FLS DSA Academy Courses

• Plan Review - Fire & Life Safety Process and Procedures
• Project Inspector - In-depth Fire & Life Safety

FLS Links

• State Fire Marshal
  • State Fire Marshal's Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) Products Handbook (PDF).
    Publication is maintained by the State Fire Marshal.
  • State Fire Marshal Code Interpretation - Designated Autism Classrooms: Fire Alarm Strobe/Speakers (PDF).
    Publication is maintained by the State Fire Marshal.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
  • NFPA Form 72-31: Fire Alarm System Record of Completion (2010 edition) (Word).
    Form is maintained by the NFPA.
  • NFPA Form 72-101: Inspection and Testing Form (2010 edition) (Word).
    Form is maintained by the NFPA.
• California Automatic Fire Alarm Association (CAFAA)
• California American Fire Sprinkler Association (CAFSA)
• California Building Standards Commission (CBSC)
• International Code Council (ICC)

Contact

If there is something on the subject of Fire and Life Safety that you'd like to see included here, or you have questions about content currently on the DSA FLS web page, please contact Masha Lutsuk, masha.lutsuk@dgs.ca.gov, or Diana Licon, Lead for Fire & Life Safety, at diana.licon@dgs.ca.gov.