2005 California Government Code Sections 8894-8894.3 COLUMN OR WALL CONSTRUCTION

8894.  (a) The State Architect, in consultation with the State
Building Standards Commission, the California Council of the American
Institute of Architects, the California Building Officials, the
International Conference of Building Officials, the Structural
Engineers Association of California, the Seismic Safety Commission,
the  Department of Housing and Community Development, the Concrete
Masonary Association of California and Nevada, the Community
Associations Institute, the Consulting Engineers and Land Surveyors
of California, the California Building Owners and Managers
Association, the California Hotel and Motel Association, the
California Housing Council, Inc., the California Apartment
Association, the California Chamber of Commerce, the Business
Properties Association, the California Association of Realtors, the
California Supervisors Association, the Executive Council of
Homeowners, and the League of California Cities shall develop seismic
retrofit guidelines and standards for buildings enclosing more than
20,000 square feet of floor area with concrete or reinforced masonry
column or wall construction by January 1, 1996.
   (b) The State Architect shall publish a commentary explaining the
seismic retrofit guidelines and standards and their use by January 1,
1996.  The seismic retrofit standards shall be submitted to the
State Building Standards Commission, and shall be made available to
other interested parties.
   (c) On or before July 1, 1997, the State Building Standards
Commission shall adopt, approve, codify, and publish by reference in
the California Building Standards Code, the seismic retrofit
standards developed pursuant to this chapter.
   (d) On or before August 1, 1997, the State Building Standards
Commission shall submit the seismic retrofit standards to the
International Conference of Building Officials for consideration and
adoption into model codes, as defined in Section 18916 of the Health
and Safety Code.
8894.1.  This chapter shall not apply to potentially hazardous
(unreinforced masonry) buildings covered under Chapter 12.2
(commencing with Section 8875), any building covered under Chapter
13.4 (commencing with Section 8893), school buildings covered under
Article 3 (commencing with Section 39140) of Chapter 2 of the
Education Code, hospital buildings covered under Chapter 1
(commencing with Section 129675) of Part 7 of Division 107 of the
Health and Safety Code, and historical buildings covered under Part
2.7 (commencing with Section 18950) of Division 13 of the Health and
Safety Code.
8894.2.  "Seismic retrofit" means retrofitting or reconstruction of
an existing building or structure, to  significantly reduce
structural collapse and falling hazards from structural or
nonstructural components of any building or structure including, but
not limited to, parapets, appendages, cornices, hanging objects, and
building cladding that poses serious danger to the occupants or
adjacent areas.  "Seismic retrofit" also means either structural
strengthening or providing the means necessary to modify the seismic
response that would otherwise be expected by an existing building or
structure during an earthquake, so as to significantly reduce hazards
to life and safety while also providing for the substantial safe
ingress and egress of the building occupants immediately after an
earthquake.  Alternatively, "seismic retrofit" means to strengthen an
existing building or structure, so as to improve or allow the
building or structure to remain functional immediately after an
earthquake.
8894.3.  For purposes of this chapter, the term "in consultation
with" means the meaningful and open solicitation of suggestions,
ideas, and comments, and the response to these suggestions, ideas,
and comments, and the opportunity to participate in meetings by the
organizations named in this chapter.  Consultation shall include
consideration of what constitutes seismic deficiencies and the
appropriate measures to correct the deficiencies.