DSA Publications

DSA's Most Frequently Requested Publications

• DSA's California Access Compliance Manual (PDF - 19.1 MB) || More Info/Download Access Manual Sections
• DSA Interpretation of Regulations Manual (PDF - 2.46 MB) || More Info/Download Individual IRs
• DSA 2008 Project Inspector Exam Info and Application Package (PDF - 161 KB)
• Project Certification Guide (PDF - 2.97 MB) ||  Project Certification Guide Presentation Flyer (PDF - 621 KB)

DSA's Standard Planning and Field Review Documents

DSA Acceptance Criteria

• AC 23-1: Prefabricated Wood I-Joist Changed to IR 23-9 (PDF - 38 KB)
• AC 23-2: Wood Structural Panels - Oriented Strand Board (PDF - 98 KB) Revised 4/17/06
• AC M-1: Zero Water Consumption Urinal Fixtures  Changed to IR P-1 (PDF - 25 KB)

DSA Bulletins

• BU 08-08: New Testing and 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 08-04: Digital Signatures for Documents Submitted to DSA for Plan Review and Approval (PDF - 34 KB) Issued 04/04/08
• BU 08-03: Extension of Start of Construction in 2008 (PDF - 27 KB) Issued 03/10/08
• BU 08-02: Flood Design for Projects Submitted Under the 2007 CBC (PDF - 46 KB) Revised 04/03/08
• BU 08-01: Safety Notice for Clow Medallion and F2500 Fire Hydrants with Cast Years of 2002, 2003, and 2004 (PDF - 43 KB) Issued 1/22/08
• 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 - UPDATE # 2 (PDF - 35 KB) Issued 9/26/07; Updated 03/07/08
  Pictures of some defective welds discovered in DSA's investigation so far are available.
• BU 07-02: Expiration of Pre-Check (PC) Plans and Specifications (PDF - 45 KB) Revised 08/01/08
• BU 07-01: DSA Submittals Utilizing the 2007 California Building Standards Code (Title 24, Parts 1 through 12) Prior to the Effective Date (PDF - 45 KB) Effective 5/07/07
• BU 06-03: Plan Review Submittals for DSA Projects - Electronic Files Submitted on CD; Electronic Files Submitted to DSA FTP Site (PDF - 100 KB) Revised 4/04/08
• BU 06-02: Approval of Plans Letter (PDF - 134 KB) Effective 12/04/06
• BU 06-01: Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression Systems (PDF - 41 KB) Updated 12/12/07
• BU 05-03: Filing Extensions for Portable Buildings Retrofits (PDF - 24 KB) Effective 8/01/05
• BU 05-02: Effective dates for the 2004 California Electrical Code and 2005 California Energy Code (PDF - 21 KB) Effective 8/01/05
• BU 05-01: Impact of 2004 California Electrical Code and 2005 California Energy Code on existing approved Pre-Check Designs (PDF - 21 KB) Effective 8/01/05

DSA Circulars

• Circular A-1: Off-Site Construction Testing and Inspection Changed to IR A-15 (PDF - 28 KB)
• Circular 16-1: Composite Base for HVAC Units Changed to IR 16-6 (PDF - 254 KB)
• Circular 17-1: Sampling and Testing of Structural Materials Changed to IR 17-1 (PDF - 29 KB)
• Circular 17-2: Nondestructive Testing (N.D.T.) of Welds Changed to IR 17-2 (PDF - 32 KB)
• Circular 17-3: Structural Welding Inspection Changed to IR 17-3 (PDF - 30 KB)
• Circular 21-1: Concrete Masonry Unit Standards Changed to IR 21-4 (PDF - 33 KB)
• Circular 22-1: Anchor Bolts Connecting Steel to Concrete Changed to IR-22-2 (PDF - 41 KB)
• Circular 23-1: Bolts Used in Wood Construction Changed to IR 23-5 (PDF - 26 KB)
• Circular 23-2: Wood Structural Panels - Plywood Panel Marking Changed to IR 23-6 (PDF - 33 KB)
• Circular 23-3: Minimum Fastener Penetration in Framing - Wood Diaphragms Changed to IR 23-7 (PDF - 22 KB)
• Circular 25-1: Self-Furring Lath Changed to IR 25-4 (PDF - 22 KB)

DSA Policies

• PL 07-03: Fire Department Access with School Drop Off Areas (PDF - 22 KB) Issued 8/08/07
• PL 07-02: Over-The-Counter Review of Pre-Check Approved Designs (PDF - 52 KB) Issued 5/22/07
• PL 06-01: Record Sets Policy (PDF - 31 KB) Revised 9/01/06 || See Announcement RE Policy #06-01 (PDF - 349 KB) Updated 5/14/07

DSA Procedures

• Procedure 08-03: Seismic Evaluation Report Review-Facility Hardship (PDF - 68 KB) Issued 10/28/08
• Procedure 08-02 - Internal only
• Procedure 08-01: Use of Encrypted Digital Signatures by Design Professionals and the Division of the State Architect for Projects Submitted Through the DSA Electronic Plan Review Program (PDF - 81 KB) Issued 4/04/08; Effective 5/01/08
• Procedure 07-02: Modernization Grant for Accessibility & Fire/Life Safety Requirements (PDF - 43 KB) Issued 4/18/07
• Procedure 07-01: Pre-Check(PC) Approval (PDF - 79 KB) Revised 05/13/08
• Procedure 05-01: Rapid Interpretation Process (RIP) (PDF - 34 KB) Issued 11/23/05

More DSA Publications: By Program

Access Publications and Documents

• DSA Bulletin: Detectable Warning and Directional Surfaces Product Approval (PDF - 18 KB) Revised 4/09/08
• Modernization Plan Submittal Checklist: Access and Fire/Life Safety (Excel - 691 KB) || Worksheet Prepared by OPSC

Fire and Life Safety Publications

• AFSS Plan Review Guidelines (PDF - 68 KB)
• SB 575: Green Oaks Family Academy Elementary School Fire Protection Act Implementation Policy (PDF - 119 KB)
• Implementing SB 575: Frequently Asked Questions (PDF - 62 KB)
• Plan Submittal Requirements: Fire Alarm and Detection Systems (PDF - 106 KB)

Gas Shut-off Valves Certification Publications

• Earthquake Sensitive Automatic Gas Shut-off Valve Certifications (PDF - 67 KB) Revised 4/30/08
• Excess Flow Automatic Gas Shut-off Valve Certifications (PDF - 21 KB) Revised 1/02/07
• Gas Shut-off Devices Comparison Table (PDF - 32 KB)
• Verified Laboratories Qualified for Testing Earthquake-Sensitive & Excess Flow Gas Shut-off Devices (PDF - 75 KB) Revised 7/06/01

Inspector Program Publications

• 2008 Project Inspector Exam Info and Application Package (PDF - 161 KB)
• Guidelines for Format of Project Inspector's Semi-Monthly Report for School Construction Projects (PDF - 8 KB)
• Masonry Special Inspector Certification and Approval Procedures (PDF - 33 KB)
• Masonry Special Inspector Examination Application (PDF - 35 KB)
• Project Inspector Recertification Information and Registration (PDF - 45 KB)
• Sample Letter of Recommendation (PDF - 58 KB)
• Relocatable Building In-Plant Examination Application (PDF - 32KB)

Plan Review Publications

• Structural Plan Review Guidelines (PDF - 118 KB)
• Structural Plan Review Reminder List (PDF - 515 KB)
• Plan Submittal Requirements: Fire Alarm and Detection Systems (PDF - 106 KB)
• Plan Review Time Estimate Chart (PDF - 16 KB)
• Sample Statement of Acceptance (PDF - 11 KB)
• Project Certification Guide (PDF - 2.97 MB) ||  Project Certification Guide Presentation Flyer (PDF - 621 KB)

SB 1469 Certification Publications

• SB 1469 Relocatable Buildings Guidelines for Common Repairs (PDF - 349 KB)

Structural Publications

• Seismic Safety Inventory of California Public Schools (PDF - 3.56 MB) || Prepared by Dept. of General Services

Other DSA Publications

• Adaptive Re-Use: An Option For California's Schools (PDF - 300 KB)
• Breaking Ground Newsletter: Summer 2005 Issue (PDF - 435 KB) || DSA/OPSC newsletter; archives at OPSC Publications
• Cleaner Air Fact Sheet (PDF - 741 KB)
• Commissioning Process Guideline for Schools (PDF - 1.54 MB) || More info...
• Excellence in Public Buildings: A Guide for Stakeholders (PDF - 529 KB)
• Guide and Checklist for Nonstructural Earthquake Hazards in California Schools (PDF - 453 KB)
• Guidelines for Earthquake Bracing of Residential Water Heaters (PDF - 400 KB)
• 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...
• Rehabilitation of Nonconforming Buildings for Public School and California Community College Use (PDF - 393 KB)
• San Simeon Earthquake Report (PDF - 4.37 MB)