Los Angeles Dept of Building & Safety (LADBS)
Los Angeles, CA
Avg Review
28d
Rejection Rate
65%
Skill Files
9
Status
High Risk
Type I Hood Ventilation
CMC 507Type I hoods required over all cooking appliances producing grease-laden vapors. Minimum exhaust rate: 400 CFM per linear foot of hood (heavy duty). Makeup air required: 80-100% of exhaust volume.
Examiner Note: This office consistently rejects plans missing fire damper detail callouts on duct sections crossing fire-rated walls. Always show detail on sheet M-1.
Common rejection: Missing fire damper details at rated wall penetrations
Correction: Add fire damper detail callout on sheet M-1 at each duct penetration through fire-rated assembly per CMC 507.2.1
Fire Suppression (NFPA 96 + UL 300)
NFPA 96 / UL 300Ansul or equivalent UL 300 listed system required for all Type I hoods. Automatic fuel shutoff upon suppression activation. Manual pull station within 10-20 feet of egress path.
Examiner Note: Ansul nozzle locations must be shown on BOTH the mechanical plan AND the fire protection plan. Discrepancies between sheets = automatic correction.
Common rejection: Ansul nozzle coverage area not documented
Correction: Show Ansul nozzle locations on both M-1 and FP-1 sheets. Document nozzle coverage area per UL 300 listing for each hood section.
Plumbing — Commercial Kitchen
CPC / UPC Table 10-4Floor drains: one per 400 SF of kitchen area minimum. Grease interceptor required: sized per UPC Table 10-4. 3-compartment sink required in each bay. Handwash sink within 25 feet of any food prep surface.
Examiner Note: Grease duct construction detail (16-gauge welded steel per NFPA 96) must be called out on mechanical drawings, not just referenced in specs.
Common rejection: Grease interceptor sizing calculation not shown on plumbing plan
Correction: Add grease interceptor sizing calculation per UPC Table 10-4 on sheet P-1. Show fixture count, flow rate, and interceptor capacity.
Electrical — Kitchen Circuits
NEC 422.33 / CECDedicated circuits for each major appliance. GFCI protection within 6 feet of any water source. Emergency disconnect for all kitchen equipment (NEC 422.33). Minimum 200A service per bay.
Common rejection: GFCI protection not called out on kitchen circuits
Correction: Add GFCI symbol and note on all outlets within 6 feet of water sources per NEC 210.8(B). Show emergency disconnect location on E-1.
Makeup Air Unit
CMC 507.2Makeup air unit required when exhaust exceeds 400 CFM. Must be shown on roof plan. Makeup air cannot exceed 10°F below room temperature.
Common rejection: Makeup air unit not shown on roof plan
Correction: Add makeup air unit to roof plan (sheet A-2/M-2). Show duct routing, unit specifications, and CFM capacity matching exhaust system.
Health — Food Facility Plan Check
LACDPH Retail Food Code §114271 / CalCode §114130All food contact surfaces must be smooth, easily cleanable, and nonabsorbent. Handwash sink required within 25 feet of any food prep area. Separate mop sink required. Walls behind cooking equipment must be FRP or stainless steel to 6 feet AFF minimum. Floor must be sealed concrete or quarry tile with coved base.
Examiner Note: LADBS will defer to LA County Health for food facility plan check but requires health dept approval letter before building permit issuance.
Common rejection: Wall finish material not specified behind cooking line; missing FRP or stainless steel notation
Correction: Add wall finish schedule on A-series sheets specifying FRP or stainless steel to 6'-0" AFF behind all cooking equipment. Show coved base detail at floor-wall intersection.
Structural — Floor Loading for Kitchen Equipment
CBC 1607.1 / ASCE 7 Table 4.3-1Commercial kitchen floor live load minimum 150 PSF per ASCE 7 (assembly with fixed seating). Walk-in cooler/freezer pad: verify slab capacity for 250 PSF concentrated load. Roof must support HVAC equipment per CBC 1607.13.2. Seismic anchorage required for all equipment over 400 lbs per CBC 1613.
Examiner Note: LADBS requires stamped structural calculations for any equipment exceeding 500 lbs. Equipment anchorage details must be on S-series sheets.
Common rejection: No structural calculation for walk-in cooler slab loading or rooftop HVAC units
Correction: Provide stamped structural calculations for concentrated equipment loads. Add equipment anchorage details on sheet S-1. Show walk-in cooler slab reinforcement per CBC 1607.1.
ADA — Accessible Route & Restroom
CBC 11B-206 / ADA 2010 Standards §403Accessible route required from public way to facility entrance and through common areas. 36-inch minimum clear width. Accessible restroom required if restrooms are provided: 60-inch turning radius, grab bars at 33-36 inches AFF, lavatory knee clearance 27 inches AFF. Door hardware must be operable with one hand without tight grasping.
Examiner Note: LADBS plan examiners verify accessible path of travel on floor plans. Common issue is threshold height at entry doors exceeding 1/2 inch.
Common rejection: Accessible restroom dimensions not meeting CBC 11B-604 turning radius; threshold detail missing
Correction: Show accessible route on A-1 floor plan with dimensions. Detail restroom layout per CBC 11B-604 with 60-inch turning circle. Add threshold detail at entries per CBC 11B-404.2.5 (1/2 inch max).
Egress — Exit Access & Travel Distance
CBC 1017 / CBC 1006Maximum travel distance to exit: 250 feet (unsprinklered) or 300 feet (sprinklered) per CBC 1017.1. Two exits required when occupant load exceeds 49. Exit signs illuminated per CBC 1013. Exit width: 0.2 inches per occupant for stairways, 0.15 inches per occupant for other egress. Dead-end corridors limited to 20 feet (50 feet if sprinklered).
Examiner Note: LADBS requires occupant load calculation on A-1 sheet. Travel distance must be drawn with dashed lines on egress plan.
Common rejection: Occupant load calculation missing from plans; exit width not dimensioned
Correction: Add occupant load calculation table to sheet A-1 per CBC 1004.5. Show travel distance paths with dimensions on egress plan. Dimension all exit door widths.