CIVILCODESECTION896

896. Inanyactionseekingrecoveryofdamagesarisingoutof,orrelatedto deficienciesin,theresidentialconstruction,design,specifications,surveying,planning, supervision,testing,orobservationofconstruction,abuilder,andtotheextentsetforth inChapter4(commencingwithSection910),ageneralcontractor,subcontractor, materialsupplier,individualproductmanufacturer,ordesignprofessional,shall, exceptasspecificallysetforthinthistitle,beliablefor,andtheclaimant'sclaimsor causesofactionshallbelimitedtoviolationof,thefollowingstandards,exceptas specificallysetforthinthistitle.Thistitleappliestooriginalconstructionintendedto besoldasanindividualdwellingunit.Astocondominiumconversions,thistitledoes notapplytoordoesnotsupersedeanyotherstatutoryorcommonlaw. (a) Withrespecttowaterissues:

(1) Adoorshallnotallowunintendedwatertopassbeyond,around,or throughthedoororitsdesignedoractualmoisturebarriers,ifany. (2) Windows,patiodoors,deckdoors,andtheirsystemsshallnotallow watertopassbeyond,around,orthroughthewindow,patiodoor,ordeckdoororits designedoractualmoisturebarriers,including,withoutlimitation,internalbarriers withinthesystemsthemselves.Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"systems"include, withoutlimitation,windows,windowassemblies,framing,substrate,flashings,and trim,ifany. (3) Windows,patiodoors,deckdoors,andtheirsystemsshallnotallow excessivecondensationtoenterthestructureandcausedamagetoanothercomponent. Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"systems"include,withoutlimitation,windows, windowassemblies,framing,substrate,flashings,andtrim,ifany. (4) Roofs,roofingsystems,chimneycaps,andventilationcomponentsshall notallowwatertoenterthestructureortopassbeyond,around,orthroughthe designedoractualmoisturebarriers,including,withoutlimitation,internalbarriers locatedwithinthesystemsthemselves.Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"systems" include,withoutlimitation,framing,substrate,andsheathing,ifany. (5) Decks,decksystems,balconies,balconysystems,exteriorstairs,andstair systemsshallnotallowwatertopassintotheadjacentstructure.Forpurposesofthis paragraph,"systems"include,withoutlimitation,framing,substrate,flashing,and sheathing,ifany.

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(6) Decks,decksystems,balconies,balconysystems,exteriorstairs,andstair systemsshallnotallowunintendedwatertopasswithinthesystemsthemselvesand causedamagetothesystems.Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"systems"include, withoutlimitation,framing,substrate,flashing,andsheathing,ifany. (7) Foundationsystemsandslabsshallnotallowwaterorvaportoenterinto thestructuresoastocausedamagetoanotherbuildingcomponent. (8) Foundationsystemsandslabsshallnotallowwaterorvaportoenterinto thestructuresoastolimittheinstallationofthetypeofflooringmaterialstypically usedfortheparticularapplication. (9) Hardscape,includingpathsandpatios,irrigationsystems,landscaping systems,anddrainagesystems,thatareinstalledaspartoftheoriginalconstruction, shallnotbeinstalledinsuchawayastocausewaterorsoilerosiontoenterintoor comeincontactwiththestructuresoastocausedamagetoanotherbuilding component. (10) Stucco,exteriorsiding,exteriorwalls,including,withoutlimitation, exteriorframing,andotherexteriorwallfinishesandfixturesandthesystemsofthose componentsandfixtures,including,butnotlimitedto,potshelves,horizontalsurfaces, columns,andplantons,shallbeinstalledinsuchawaysoasnottoallowunintended watertopassintothestructureortopassbeyond,around,orthroughthedesignedor actualmoisturebarriersofthesystem,includinganyinternalbarrierslocatedwithinthe systemitself.Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"systems"include,withoutlimitation, framing,substrate,flashings,trim,wallassemblies,andinternalwallcavities,ifany. (11) Stucco,exteriorsiding,andexteriorwallsshallnotallowexcessive condensationtoenterthestructureandcausedamagetoanothercomponent.For purposesofthisparagraph,"systems"include,withoutlimitation,framing,substrate, flashings,trim,wallassemblies,andinternalwallcavities,ifany. (12) Retainingandsitewallsandtheirassociateddrainagesystemsshallnot allowunintendedwatertopassbeyond,around,orthroughitsdesignedoractual moisturebarriersincluding,withoutlimitation,anyinternalbarriers,soastocause damage.Thisstandarddoesnotapplytothoseportionsofanywallordrainagesystem thataredesignedtohavewaterflowbeyond,around,orthroughthem. (13) Retainingwallsandsitewalls,andtheirassociateddrainagesystems, shallonlyallowwatertoflowbeyond,around,orthroughtheareasdesignatedby design. (14) Thelinesandcomponentsoftheplumbingsystem,sewersystem,and utilitysystemsshallnotleak.
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(15) Plumbinglines,sewerlines,andutilitylinesshallnotcorrodesoasto impedetheusefullifeofthesystems. (16) Sewersystemsshallbeinstalledinsuchawayastoallowthedesignated amountofsewagetoflowthroughthesystem. (17) Showerandbathenclosuresshallnotleakwaterintotheinteriorofwalls, flooringsystems,ortheinteriorofothercomponents. (18) Ceramictileandtilecountertopsshallnotallowwaterintotheinteriorof walls,flooringsystems,orothercomponentssoastocausedamage. (b) Withrespecttostructuralissues:

(1) Foundations,loadbearingcomponents,andslabs,shallnotcontain significantcracksorsignificantverticaldisplacement. (2) Foundations,loadbearingcomponents,andslabsshallnotcausethe structure,inwholeorinpart,tobestructurallyunsafe. (3) Foundations,loadbearingcomponents,andslabs,andunderlyingsoils shallbeconstructedsoastomateriallycomplywiththedesigncriteriasetbyapplicable governmentbuildingcodes,regulations,andordinancesforchemicaldeteriorationor corrosionresistanceineffectatthetimeoforiginalconstruction. (4) Astructureshallbeconstructedsoastomateriallycomplywiththe designcriteriaforearthquakeandwindloadresistance,assetforthintheapplicable governmentbuildingcodes,regulations,andordinancesineffectatthetimeoforiginal construction. (c) Withrespecttosoilissues:

(1) Soilsandengineeredretainingwallsshallnotcause,inwholeorinpart, damagetothestructurebuiltuponthesoilorengineeredretainingwall. (2) Soilsandengineeredretainingwallsshallnotcause,inwholeorinpart, thestructuretobestructurallyunsafe. (3) Soilsshallnotcause,inwholeorinpart,thelanduponwhichnostructure isbuilttobecomeunusableforthepurposerepresentedatthetimeoforiginalsaleby thebuilderorforthepurposeforwhichthatlandiscommonlyused.

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(d)

Withrespecttofireprotectionissues:

(1) Astructureshallbeconstructedsoastomateriallycomplywiththedesign criteriaoftheapplicablegovernmentbuildingcodes,regulations,andordinancesfor fireprotectionoftheoccupantsineffectatthetimeoftheoriginalconstruction. (2) Fireplaces,chimneys,chimneystructures,andchimneyterminationcaps shallbeconstructedandinstalledinsuchawaysoasnottocauseanunreasonablerisk offireoutsidethefireplaceenclosureorchimney. (3) Electricalandmechanicalsystemsshallbeconstructedandinstalledin suchawaysoasnottocauseanunreasonableriskoffire. (e) Withrespecttoplumbingandsewerissues:

Plumbingandsewersystemsshallbeinstalledtooperateproperlyand shallnotmateriallyimpairtheuseofthestructurebyitsinhabitants.However,no actionmaybebroughtforaviolationofthissubdivisionmorethanfouryearsafter closeofescrow. (f) Withrespecttoelectricalsystemissues:

Electricalsystemsshalloperateproperlyandshallnotmateriallyimpair theuseofthestructurebyitsinhabitants.However,noactionshallbebrought pursuanttothissubdivisionmorethanfouryearsfromcloseofescrow. (g) Withrespecttoissuesregardingotherareasofconstruction:

(1) Exteriorpathways,driveways,hardscape,sidewalls,sidewalks,and patiosinstalledbytheoriginalbuildershallnotcontaincracksthatdisplaysignificant verticaldisplacementorthatareexcessive.However,noactionshallbebroughtupona violationofthisparagraphmorethanfouryearsfromcloseofescrow. (2) Stucco,exteriorsiding,andotherexteriorwallfinishesandfixtures, including,butnotlimitedto,potshelves,horizontalsurfaces,columns,andplantons, shallnotcontainsignificantcracksorseparations. (3)(A)Totheextentnototherwisecoveredbythesestandards,manufactured products,including,butnotlimitedto,windows,doors,roofs,plumbingproductsand fixtures,fireplaces,electricalfixtures,HVACunits,countertops,cabinets,paint,and appliancesshallbeinstalledsoasnottointerferewiththeproducts'usefullife,ifany. (B) Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"usefullife"meansarepresentationof howlongaproductiswarrantedorrepresented,throughitslimitedwarrantyorany

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writtenrepresentations,tolastbyitsmanufacturer,includingrecommendedor requiredmaintenance.Ifthereisnorepresentationbyamanufacturer,abuildershall installmanufacturedproductssoasnottointerferewiththeproduct'sutility. (C) Forpurposesofthisparagraph,"manufacturedproduct"meansaproduct thatiscompletelymanufacturedoffsite. (D) Ifnousefulliferepresentationismade,oriftherepresentationislessthan oneyear,theperiodshallbenolessthanoneyear.Ifamanufacturedproductis damagedasaresultofaviolationofthesestandards,damagetotheproductisa recoverableelementofdamages.Thissubparagraphdoesnotlimitrecoveryiftherehas beendamagetoanotherbuildingcomponentcausedbyamanufacturedproductduring themanufacturedproduct'susefullife. (E) Thistitledoesnotapplyinanyactionseekingrecoverysolelyforadefect inamanufacturedproductlocatedwithinoradjacenttoastructure. (4) Heating,ifany,shallbeinstalledsoastobecapableofmaintaininga roomtemperatureof70degreesFahrenheitatapointthreefeetabovethefloorinany livingspace. (5) Livingspaceairconditioning,ifany,shallbeprovidedinamanner consistentwiththesizeandefficiencydesigncriteriaspecifiedinTitle24ofthe CaliforniaCodeofRegulationsoritssuccessor. (6) Attachedstructuresshallbeconstructedtocomplywithinterunitnoise transmissionstandardssetbytheapplicablegovernmentbuildingcodes,ordinances,or regulationsineffectatthetimeoftheoriginalconstruction.Ifthereisnoapplicable code,ordinance,orregulation,thisparagraphdoesnotapply.However,noactionshall bebroughtpursuanttothisparagraphmorethanoneyearfromtheoriginaloccupancy oftheadjacentunit. (7) Irrigationsystemsanddrainageshalloperateproperlysoasnotto damagelandscapingorotherexternalimprovements.However,noactionshallbe broughtpursuanttothisparagraphmorethanoneyearfromcloseofescrow. (8) Untreatedwoodpostsshallnotbeinstalledincontactwithsoilsoasto causeunreasonabledecaytothewoodbaseduponthefinishgradeatthetimeof originalconstruction.However,noactionshallbebroughtpursuanttothisparagraph morethantwoyearsfromcloseofescrow.

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(9) Untreatedsteelfencesandadjacentcomponentsshallbeinstalledsoasto preventunreasonablecorrosion.However,noactionshallbebroughtpursuanttothis paragraphmorethanfouryearsfromcloseofescrow. (10) Paintandstainsshallbeappliedinsuchamannersoasnottocause deteriorationofthebuildingsurfacesforthelengthoftimespecifiedbythepaintor stainmanufacturers'representations,ifany.However,noactionshallbebrought pursuanttothisparagraphmorethanfiveyearsfromcloseofescrow. (11) theroof. Roofingmaterialsshallbeinstalledsoastoavoidmaterialsfallingfrom

(12) Thelandscapingsystemsshallbeinstalledinsuchamannersoasto survivefornotlessthanoneyear.However,noactionshallbebroughtpursuanttothis paragraphmorethantwoyearsfromcloseofescrow. (13) Ceramictileandtilebackingshallbeinstalledinsuchamannerthatthe tiledoesnotdetach. (14) Dryerductsshallbeinstalledandterminatedpursuanttomanufacturer installationrequirements.However,noactionshallbebroughtpursuanttothis paragraphmorethantwoyearsfromcloseofescrow. (15) Structuresshallbeconstructedinsuchamannersoasnottoimpairthe occupants'safetybecausetheycontainpublichealthhazardsasdeterminedbyaduly authorizedpublichealthofficial,healthagency,orgovernmentalentityhaving jurisdiction.Thisparagraphdoesnotlimitrecoveryforanydamagescausedbya violationofanyotherparagraphofthissectiononthegroundsthatthedamagesdonot constituteahealthhazard.

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