Drawings
Fire and Life Safety Drawings
Code-compliant egress plans, fire-rated assembly documentation, and life safety layouts built to IBC Chapter 10 and California Title 19 standards.
Drawings
Occupancy depends on getting this right.
We produce fire and life safety drawings for commercial occupancy permits, tenant improvements, and change-of-occupancy projects. The drawing package documents the means of egress, fire-rated wall and floor assemblies, exit sign locations, emergency lighting layout, occupant load calculations, and any other life safety requirements the building department needs to review before occupancy is granted. Every package is built to the applicable code set for the jurisdiction, occupancy classification, and construction type.
Egress plan reference diagram
What the Code Requires
The building department will not issue an occupancy permit until fire and life safety drawings are approved. An egress plan that miscalculates travel distance, misses a required exit, or fails to document rated assemblies correctly generates plan check corrections that delay occupancy. For a tenant waiting to open, every week of delay is lost revenue. For a developer, delayed occupancy shifts the certificate of occupancy date and can trigger penalty provisions in construction contracts. We produce fire and life safety drawings built to the applicable code set so the package is approvable on first submission.
Applicable standards
- IBC Chapter 10Means of Egress
- CBC Chapter 10California Building Code
- NFPA 101Life Safety Code
- Title 19 CCRCalifornia Fire Regulations
- NFPA 72National Fire Alarm Code
- IFCInternational Fire Code
Drawing Types We Produce
Every drawing the
occupancy permit needs.
Fire and life safety drawings document the means of egress, fire-rated assemblies, and life safety system layouts required by the building department before occupancy is granted.
Egress Plan
Dimensioned floor plan showing all exit access corridors, exit doors, required corridor widths, travel distances from any point in the occupancy to the nearest exit, and common path of egress travel calculations in compliance with IBC Chapter 10.
Occupant Load Calculation
Occupant load calculations for each space and the building overall, using the applicable occupant load factors per IBC Table 1004.5, with documentation of the assumed use, area, and factor for each calculated zone.
Fire-Rated Assembly Schedule
Documentation of all required fire-rated assemblies, including rated walls, floor-ceiling assemblies, shaft enclosures, and horizontal exits, referencing UL or GA assembly numbers and indicating required ratings per the building's construction type and occupancy separation requirements.
Exit Sign and Emergency Lighting Plan
Layout of all required exit signs and emergency lighting fixtures, showing coverage, spacing, and compliance with NFPA 101 and CBC requirements for continuous illumination of the means of egress.
Life Safety Compliance Narrative
Written narrative summarizing the building's occupancy classification, construction type, sprinkler status, applicable code edition, and how each life safety requirement is met by the design, formatted for building department plan check review.
Deliverables
What you receive.
Every fire and life safety package is produced to the applicable codes and jurisdiction-specific requirements, formatted for direct building department submission.
Egress Plan
Fully dimensioned egress plan with exit locations, corridor widths, travel distances, and occupant load per zone, keyed to the occupant load calculation schedule.
Occupant Load Schedule
Tabular occupant load calculations for all spaces, showing area, occupant load factor, and calculated occupant load, with total building occupant load confirmed against egress capacity.
Fire-Rated Assembly Schedule
Assembly schedule identifying all required rated elements by location, referenced to UL or GA assembly listings, with required fire ratings per IBC Table 508 and applicable construction type provisions.
Exit Sign and Emergency Lighting Plan
Plan drawing showing all required exit signage and emergency lighting locations, with fixture schedules and code basis for layout.
Code Compliance Summary
Written summary of the applicable codes, occupancy classification, construction type, sprinkler system status, and how the design satisfies each life safety requirement.
Plan Check Response Support
Written responses to building department plan check comments on the fire and life safety drawings, with revised sheets and direct code citations included in the response package.
Who This Is For
Projects that require fire and life safety drawings.
Commercial Contractors
Completing tenant improvements or occupancy changes that require fire and life safety drawings as part of the building permit application before occupancy is granted.
Architects with TI Scopes
Managing tenant improvement projects where fire and life safety drawing production is needed alongside the architectural and finish drawings.
Building Owners
Seeking an occupancy permit for a new tenant or a change-of-use in an existing space where the building department requires updated life safety documentation.
Mixed-Use Developers
Managing commercial components of mixed-use projects where occupancy separations, egress from commercial floors, and life safety documentation must be coordinated across multiple occupancy types.
Common Questions
Frequently asked.
Do I need fire and life safety drawings for every tenant improvement?
Not always. Simple cosmetic tenant improvements in existing, fully compliant occupancies may not require new fire and life safety drawings. However, any change of occupancy, increase in occupant load, modification of exit locations, or alteration to rated assemblies will require updated documentation. We can review your project scope and confirm what is required.
What code edition applies to my project?
The applicable code edition depends on the jurisdiction and the permit application date. Most California jurisdictions are on the 2022 CBC, which is based on the 2021 IBC. Some local amendments apply. We confirm the applicable code set and local amendments for every project before production begins.
Can you produce fire alarm or sprinkler design drawings?
Fire alarm and sprinkler system design requires a licensed fire protection engineer or NICET-certified technician and is outside our scope. We produce the architectural life safety drawings that are required alongside those systems, including the egress plan, occupant load calculations, and fire-rated assembly documentation.
Continue Exploring
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Complete, permit-ready plan sets for residential and commercial projects.
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Permit Set Preparation
Jurisdiction-specific permit packages built for first-pass approval.
- Review
Code and Compliance Review
Pre-submission review to catch compliance issues before plan check.
The occupancy permit requires complete fire and life safety drawings.
Provide the floor plan, occupancy classification, and jurisdiction. We deliver a complete fire and life safety drawing package built to code.