California changes structural requirements for tents

Compiled by Juli Case

We’ve heard that there’s a change in the requirements for installing tents in California. What can you tell us about that?

One of our IFAI members on the West Coast alerted us to this issue. The state of California recently adopted the International Building Code, but made a key change to the section on structural requirements for tents. Rather than referencing Chapter 16 of the International Building Code (IBC), it uses language that has been tentatively identified as originating in an old version of NFPA 102. This could potentially lead to the problem of tent installers needing two different sets of engineering calculations. The IFAI Code Committee communicated with the California State Fire Marshal (CSFM) and has been advised that they are aware of the discrepancy. It will be addressed in future revisions. In the meantime, tent installers are advised to use Chapter 16 of the IBC and to contact the CSFM should they have issues with local officials.

SOURCE Office of the California State Fire Marshal