DSA IR 11B-10: SCOPING AND PATH OF TRAVEL UPGRADE REQUIREMENTS FOR FACILITY ALTERATION, ADDITION AND STRUCTURAL REPAIR PROJECTS (with revisions issued through April 2017)

The California Building Code defines "Alteration" as:

• "A change, addition or modification in construction, change in occupancy or use, or structural repair to an existing building or facility. Alterations include but are not limited to, remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration, resurfacing of circulation paths or vehicular ways, changes or rearrangement of the structural parts or elements, and changes or rearrangement in the plan configuration of walls and full-height partitions. Normal maintenance, reroofing, painting or wallpapering, or changes to mechanical and electrical systems are not alterations unless they affect the usability of the building or facility."

"Facility" is defined in the CBC as:

• "All or any portion of buildings, structures, site improvements, elements, and pedestrian routes or vehicular ways located on a site."

"Alteration or Alter" is defined as:

• ". . . any change, addition or modification in construction or occupancy or structural repair or change in primary function to an existing structure made by, on behalf of or for the use of a public accommodation or commercial facility. Alterations include, but are not limited to, remodeling, renovation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, historic restoration, changes or rearrangement of the structural parts of elements, and changes or rearrangement in the plan configuration of walls and full-height partitions."

The term "structure" within the definition of alteration is broadly defined as:

• "That which is built or constructed."

The underlying premise is clear—alterations are not limited to projects within buildings and can occur anywhere on a facility or site.