DSA Publications

Many of DSA's publications are available for download. To view and print a PDF document, you must have PDF reader software (such as Adobe Reader) installed.

• DSA's California Access Compliance Manual
• Interpretation of Regulations Manual
• Project Inspector Exam Info & Application Package
• Standard Planning & Field Review Documents
  • Bulletins
  • Policies
  • Procedures
  • Project Submittal Guidelines
• More DSA Publications by Program
  • Access
  • Fire & Life Safety
  • Gas Shut-off Valves Certification
  • Inspector Program
  • Plan Review
  • Rehabilitation/Adaptive Reuse
  • Rulemaking/Proposing Code Changes
  • Seismic Mitigation Program (Proposition 1D)
  • Seismic Safety
  • Sustainability

Most Requested

• DSA's California Access Compliance Manual (PDF - 12.4 MB) || More Info/Download Access Manual Sections
• DSA Interpretation of Regulations Manual (PDF - 11.6 MB) || More Info/Download Individual IRs
• DSA 2013 Project Inspector Exam Info & Application Package (PDF - 383 KB)

Looking for DSA Forms?

DSA's Standard Planning & Field Review Documents

Definitions of DSA's various standard documents can be found at Uniform Standards & Procedures Terminology.

DSA Bulletins

• BU 13-02: DSA Project Definition Limited to Construction on a Single Site (PDF – 160 KB) Issued 05/15/13, Effective 07/01/13
• BU 13-01: Access Compliance Fee Schedule Changes (PDF – 93 KB) Issued 05/03/13, Effective 06/01/13
• BU 12-04: SB 1186 - Chapter 383, Statues of 2012, Steinberg (PDF – 145 KB) Revised 12/20/12
• BU 12-03: Implementation of Title 24 Changes to Processing of Construction Changes (PDF – 68 KB) Issued 10/22/12
• BU 12-02: The Local Fire Authority Review Process for School Projects Under DSA Jurisdiction (PDF – 226 KB) Issued 08/01/12
• BU 12-01: Implementation of New Process for Project Cost Reporting – Use of form DSA-168: Statement of Final Actual Project Cost (PDF – 106 KB) Revised 07/26/12
• BU 11-08: Occupant Load Determination and Posting in Assembly Occupancies in California Public Schools and Community Colleges (PDF – 53 KB) Issued 01/12/12
• BU 11-07: Applicability and Effective Dates of ADA and CBC Accessibility Regulations (PDF - 57 KB) Revised 08/16/11
• BU 11-06: Current Fire and Life Safety Information Regarding Relocatable School Buildings (PDF - 46 KB) Issued 07/14/11
• BU 11-05: Impact of AB 211 - Concerning Door Hardware; Effective July 1, 2011 (PDF - 99 KB) Revised 03/12/13
• BU 11-04: Revised High Performance Incentive (HPI) Grant Plan Verification Fees (PDF - 54 KB) Revised 09/30/11 - Effective 07/01/11
• BU 11-03: Gas Piping Installation Requirements and Recommendations for Seismic Damage Reduction (PDF - 50 KB) Issued 03/14/11
• BU 11-02: Revisions to the High Performance Incentive (HPI) Grant Program (PDF - 60 KB) Revised 09/30/11
• BU 11-01: Extension for Use of 2007 Pre-Check (PC) Plans and Specifications; Procedure for Updating PC Approvals to 2010 California Building Standards Code (CBSC) (PDF - 230 KB) Revised 09/30/11
• BU 10-03: Approval of Delay in Start of Construction in 2010-2011 (PDF - 35 KB) Issued 09/27/10 - Effective 01/01/10 through 12/31/11
• BU 10-02: DSA Submittals; Forms DSA-1 and DSA-3 (PDF - 36 KB) Revised 06/06/11 - Effective 03/01/10
• BU 10-01: Access Compliance Fee Schedule Increase (PDF - 51 KB) Issued 01/29/10 - Effective 02/16/10
• BU 09-10: Installation of "Lead Free" Plumbing Fixtures, Fittings and Pipes (PDF - 43 KB) Issued 12/31/09
• BU 09-09: Impact of the 2008 California Energy Code (PDF - 37 KB) Deleted 10/04/12
• BU 09-07: Collaborative Process for Community College Projects (PDF - 139 KB) Revised 11/04/09
• BU 09-06: Minimum Reinforcement of Concrete Piers and Caissons Embedded with Steel Poles (PDF - 100 KB) Revised 05/26/10
• BU 09-05: Whitco Company, LP, Stadium Light Pole Failures (PDF - 50 KB) Issued 04/30/09; Revised 08/30/10
• BU 09-04: DSA Project Priority (PDF - 42 KB) Revised 02/10/11
• BU 09-02: Extension of Approval for Projects Suspended Due to the State Funds Freeze (PDF - 38 KB) Revised 04/08/10
• BU 09-01: Use of Next Generation Attenuation (NGA) Relations (PDF - 48 KB) Issued 01/26/09
• BU 08-08: New Testing & Special Inspection Requirements (PDF - 36 KB) Updated 11/03/08
• BU 08-07: Use of Engineered Wood Fiber (EWF) at Play Areas (PDF - 32 KB) Issued 08/27/08
• BU 08-06: Ramps at Relocatable Buildings (PDF - 49 KB) Issued 06/16/08
• BU 08-05: Calculation of Out-of-Plane Deflection for Alternative Design of Concrete Slender Walls (PDF - 64 KB) Issued 06/09/08
• BU 07-04: DSA Stop Work Order for AFSS (PDF - 39 KB) Issued 12/10/07; Effective 01/02/08
• BU 07-03: Defective Product Alert: Structural Tube Steel (PDF - 99 KB) Revised 09/23/10
  
  Pictures of some defective welds discovered in DSA's investigation so far are available.

DSA Policies

• PL 11-01: Green Oaks Fire Protection Act (SB 575) - Implementation Policy (PDF - 188 KB) Revised 10/05/12
• PL 10-01: Plan Submittal Requirements: Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems (AFSS) (PDF - 184 KB) Revised 08/01/12
• PL 09-05: Elevator Cab Sizes (PDF - 133 KB) Revised 08/01/12
• PL 09-04: 90-Day Letter and Reopening of Files for Project Certification (PDF - 40 KB) Issued 08/19/09
• PL 09-02: Electronic Submittal/Plan Review (PDF - 51 KB) Revised 03/03/10
• PL 09-01: Fire Flow for Buildings (PDF - 148 KB) Revised 08/01/12
• PL 07-03: Fire Department Access with School Drop Off Areas (PDF - 130 KB) Revised 07/17/12
• PL 07-02: Over-The-Counter Review of Pre-Check Approved Designs (PDF - 255 KB) Revised 05/15/13
• PL 06-01: Record Sets Policy (PDF - 31 KB) Revised 09/01/06

DSA Procedures

• Procedure 11-01: Flood Design and Project Submittal Requirements (PDF - 409 KB) Revised 02/07/12
• Procedure 09-10: Pre-Check (PC) Approval Process for Solar Design (PDF - 147 KB) Revised 05/01/13
• Procedure 09-05: Plan Review Submittals for DSA Projects - Electronic Submission and Review (PDF - 122 KB) Revised 10/08/09
• Procedure 09-01: Code Appeal Process (CAP) (PDF - 52 KB) Revised 12/08/09
• Procedure 08-03: School Facilities Program/Seismic Mitigation Program (June 22, 2011 Adoption): DSA Review (PDF - 638 KB) Updated 03/12/13 || Eligibility Evaluation Report Template (DOC - 372 KB)
• Procedure 08-01: Identification of Electronic Construction Documents by the Division of the State Architect for Projects Submitted Through the DSA Electronic Plan Review Program (PDF - 598 KB) Revised 10/08/09
• Procedure 07-02: Modernization Grant for Accessibility & Fire/Life Safety Requirements (PDF - 43 KB) Issued 04/18/07
• Procedure 07-01: Pre-Check (PC) Approval Process (PDF - 749 KB) Revised 05/01/13

DSA Project Submittal Guidelines

• GL-1: Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems (PDF - 177 KB) Revised 09/04/12
• GL-2: Fire Alarm and Detection Systems (PDF - 314 KB) Revised 06/28/12
• GL-3: Structural Plan Review (PDF - 317 KB) Revised 08/01/12
• GL-4: CALGreen Mandatory and Voluntary Measures (PDF - 560 KB) Revised 07/01/12

More DSA Publications By Program

Access

• DSA Academy Training Manual - Access Compliance (PDF - 1.2 MB) Revised 11/24/09
• DSA Bulletin: Detectable Warning & Directional Surfaces Product Approval (PDF - 18 KB) Revised 04/09/08
• Modernization Plan Submittal Checklist: Access & Fire/Life Safety (Excel - 691 KB) || Worksheet Prepared by OPSC

Fire & Life Safety

• Fire and Life Safety Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 283 KB) Revised 08/01/12
• FLS Project Submittal Guidelines:
  
  • GL-1: Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems (PDF - 177 KB) Revised 09/04/12
  • GL-2: Fire Alarm & Detection Systems (PDF - 314 KB) Revised 06/28/12
• PL 11-01: Green Oaks Fire Protection Act (SB 575) - Implementation Policy (PDF - 188 KB) Revised 10/05/12
• School Violence Involving Fire (PDF - 303 KB) Revised11/11/11
• Security vs. Exiting: Door Locking Hardware in Schools (PDF - 433 KB) Revised11/11/11

Gas Shut-off Valves Certification

• Earthquake Sensitive Automatic Gas Shut-off Valve Certifications (PDF - 16 KB) Revised 01/16/13
• Excess Flow Automatic Gas Shut-off Valve Certifications (PDF - 113 KB) Revised 10/17/12
• Gas Shut-off Devices Comparison Table (PDF - 32 KB)
• Verified Laboratories Qualified for Testing Earthquake-Sensitive and Excess Flow Gas Shut-off Devices (PDF - 36 KB) Revised 04/15/12

Inspector Program

• 2012 Project Inspector Exam Info & Application Package (PDF - 383 KB) Revised 01/11/13
• Guidelines for Completion of Project Inspector's Semi-Monthly Report for School Construction Projects (PDF - 187 KB) Revised 12/01/12
• Masonry Special Inspector Examination Application (PDF - 65 KB)
• Project Inspector Recertification Information & Registration (PDF - 216 KB)

Plan Review

• Structural Plan Review Reminder List (PDF - 515 KB)
• Example Statement of General Conformance and Signature Block per IR A-18 (PDF - 36 KB)
• Project Certification Guide - Revised Edition (PDF - 3 MB) Updated 03/15/13
• See also Project Submittal Guidelines

Rehabilitation/Adaptive Reuse

• Adaptive Re-Use: An Option For California's Schools (PDF - 300 KB)
• Rehabilitation of Nonconforming Buildings for Public School & California Community College Use (PDF - 464 KB) Revised 01/06/12
• SEAOC 2012 Convention Proceedings: Navigating the Building Code Requirements for the Seismic Rehabilitation of Schools in California (PDF - 192 KB)

Rulemaking/Proposing Code Changes

• Proposing Regulations: Rulemaking Processes (PDF - 842 KB) || How DSA Proposes Code Changes...
• Proposing Regulations: Petition Processes (PDF - 453 KB) || How the Public Can Propose Code Changes...

Seismic Mitigation Program (Proposition 1D)

• Procedure 08-03: School Facilities Program/Seismic Mitigation Program (June 22, 2011 Adoption): DSA Review (PDF - 638 KB) Updated 03/12/13
• Eligibility Evaluation Report Template (DOC - 372 KB)
• Form DSA-4: Application for Review of Eligibility Evaluation Report for the Seismic Mitigation Program (PDF - 117 KB) Revised 09/15/11 || Instructions (PDF - 55 KB)
• Form DSA-1.REH: Pre-Application for Approval of Evaluation and Design Criteria Report for Rehabilitation of Existing Non-Conforming Buildings for Use as a Public School (PDF - 89 KB) Revised 10/11/11; Not Fillable
• Seismic Mitigation Program: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)(PDF - 31 KB) 03/19/12
• Seismic Mitigation Program Outreach Event - September 29, 2011 [Click on "Presentations" tab and scroll down; documents maintained by the Office of Public School Construction]

Seismic Safety

• Seismic Safety Inventory of California Public Schools (PDF - 3.56 MB) || Prepared by Dept. of General Services
• AB 300 Executive Summary (PDF - 51 KB)
• AB 300 FAQ (PDF - 24 KB)
• AB 300 Updated Survey List (PDF - 8.76 MB) Updated 08/28/12
• Guide & Checklist for Nonstructural Earthquake Hazards in California Schools (PDF - 453 KB)
• Guidelines for Earthquake Bracing of Residential Water Heaters (PDF - 1.87 MB)

Sustainability

• Commissioning Process Guideline for Schools (PDF - 1.54 MB) || More info...
• Excellence in Public Buildings: A Guide for Stakeholders (PDF - 529 KB)
• GRID NEUTRAL: Electrical Independence for California Schools & Community Colleges (PDF - 2.51 MB) || Excerpt - Business Case for Grid Neutral (PDF - 201 KB)
• Cleaner Air Fact Sheet (PDF - 741 KB)
• GL-4: Project Submittal Guideline for CalGreen Mandatory & Voluntary Measures (PDF - 560 KB) Revised 06/28/12