2013 California Building Standards Code Adopted

New energy code, accessibility standards, green building and water use modifications

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The California Building Standards Commission announced today the adoption of the 2013 California Building Standards Code. The adoption of the 2013 code comes after a comprehensive multi-state agency and stakeholder update of the 2010 building codes. The Department of Housing and Community Development, Division of the State Architect, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Department of Public Health, the California Energy Commission, industry stakeholders and members of the public participated in the development of the new code.

“Our objective is to produce a practical building code that ensures public safety first and foremost while implementing the most efficient technology available to conserve the state’s natural resources and energy use”

“Our objective is to produce a practical building code that ensures public safety first and foremost while implementing the most efficient technology available to conserve the state’s natural resources and energy use,” said California Building Standards Commission Executive Director Jim McGowan. “California’s building code is applied to virtually every commercial and residential structure in the state.”

The California Building Standards Commission is responsible for administering the state’s building standards. The thirteen volume code is published on a triennial basis. Updates are issued during an eighteen month intervening cycle. The new code will be published online and available for purchase on July 1, 2013. By law, the public is given 180-days (six months) to review this new code before it goes into effect on January 1, 2014. For more information visit the Commission website, www.bsc.ca.gov.

Californians will find a number of important updates in the 2013 code, such as:

• An extensive update of California’s Energy Code;
• Division of the State Architect’s adoption of the 2010 Americans with Disabilities Act standards with California amendments;
• Updated California Green Building Code—CALGreen—requirements for nonresidential building alterations and additions;
• New plumbing code provisions pertaining to greywater and rainwater catchments.