The American Fire Code System Russell P. Fleming, P.E., FSFPE Managing Director International Fire Sprinkler Association

The American Code System The adoption and enforcement of building and fire codes is a function of the cities or states, not the federal government Most states and cities find it best to adopt a model code to avoid the cost and difficulty of developing independent codes There are two private membership organizations in the U.S. that undertake development efforts

NFPA vs. ICC National Fire Protection Association – an organization founded in 1896 following the successful development of a common standard for the design and installation of fire sprinkler systems International Code Council – an organization formed in 1994 by the merger of three separate member associations of building officials, the oldest of which first published a code in 1927

Decision Making In both code systems, there is reliance upon the judgment of well-informed individuals who are responsible to make decisions to keep the public safe. In the NFPA system, reliance is on the consensus judgment of technical committees selected to represent, on a balanced basis, a wide range of interests. In the ICC system, reliance is on the collective judgment of individuals employed only by government entities.

Codes and Standards Building Codes – Address how buildings are to be initially constructed to provide for occupant safety Fire Codes – Address how buildings are to be used in a safe manner Standards – Provide the details for the design and installation of building products and systems to be used in conjunction with building and fire codes

NFPA ICC Codes and Standards Building Codes Fire Codes Standards NFPA 5000 - Building Construction and Safety Code - Used in some countries outside U.S. International Building Code (IBC) - Adopted or used in all 50 states Fire Codes NFPA 1 - Fire Code - Adopted statewide in 19 states NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code - Used in all 50 states and adopted statewide in 43 states International Fire Code (IFC) - Adopted or used in about 42 states Standards Universally used fire protection standards, including NFPA 13, 14 & 72 Some standards but not related to fire protection equipment

Revision of NFPA Codes and Standards Document revision cycles begin twice each year, and take about two years to complete Every document is on either a 3-year, 4-year, or 5-year revision cycle

Revision of NFPA Codes and Standards Technical Committees or Panels are the groups charged with reaching consensus, and are limited to no more than 30 voting members Committees are balanced such that no single interest group constitutes more than 1/3 of the committee membership

The NFPA Interest Categories Manufacturer User Installer/Maintainer Designer Insurer Labor Enforcer Consumer Special Expert Research/Testing

The NFPA Process – Four Fundamental Steps Public Input Public Comment Technical Meeting (Tech Session at Annual Meeting) Standards Council Action (Appeals and Issuance of Standard)

1. Public Input Stage A public notice for an existing or proposed new document is published on the www.nfpa.org website to invite proposals from anyone and everyone At its “first draft meeting” the committee establishes a position on each Public input First Revisions that pass ballot are published as a First Draft Report

2. Comment Stage Public comments are accepted for 10 weeks following publication of the First Draft Report After the closing of the comment period, a Second Draft Meeting of the committee is held Successfully balloted revisions are published in a “Second Draft Report”

3. NFPA Technical Meeting A Notice of Intent To Make A Motion (NITMAM) is accepted for 5 weeks following posting of a Second Draft Report The entire NFPA Membership is invited to meet in June of each year to act on “Certified Amending Motions” (proper NITMAMS) to the codes and standards Following the Technical Meeting, committees vote on any successful motions

4. Standards Council Action The NFPA Standards Council, a group carefully balanced by interest, oversees the entire standards process A notice of intent to appeal to the Standards Council must be made within 20 days of the Technical Meeting The Council considers the totality of information on a document in making the decision to issue the code or standard or take some other action

The ICC - Two Cycles of Code Development Cycle A IBC (International Building Code) IEBC (International Existing Building Code) International Mechanical and Plumbing Codes Cycle B IBC Chapters 9 (fire protection systems) and 16 (structural design) IFC (International Fire Code) IRC (International Residential Code) Codes published at 3-year intervals

I-CODE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE Code Changes Submitted Code Change Agenda Posted Committee Action Hearings (CAH) CAH Results Posted Public Comments Sought on CAH Results Public Comment Agenda Posted Public Comment Hearings (PCH) PCH Results Posted OGCV I-CODE DEVELOPMENT CYCLE Due: Jan 11 Changes: Mar 8 CAH Vote: May 11 Pub Comm: July 22 CAH Assembly Floor Motion Voting

2016 Code Development Year Public Comment Hearings (PCH) October 19-25, Kansas City, MO Online Governmental Consensus Vote (OGCV) November 8-21

Governmental Member Voting Population Voting Rep’s Dues Per Year 0-50,000 4 $135 & $55 per 50,001-150,000 8 $240 & $55 per Over 150,000 12 $370 & $55 per Governmental Member Must be engaged in administration, formulation, or enforcement of laws. Designated 4-12 voting representatives, based on population Employees or officials Full or part time Voting rights Validated by ICC Government/Municipality (includes agencies, departments & units) engaged in administration, formulation or enforcement of laws, regulations or ordinances relating to public health, safety and welfare. A Governmental Member may designate 4-12 voting representatives (based on population) who are employees or officials of that governmental member and are actively engaged full or part-time in the administration, formulation or enforcement of laws, regulations or ordinances relating to public health, safety and welfare. Number of representatives based on population. See Governmental Member Application for details. Governmental Members have voting rights. Read the ICC By-Laws , Articles II and III to learn more, including the allowed number of Governmental Member Voter Representatives (GMVRs.)

U.S. Typical Code Requirements for Fire Sprinklers in New Construction Since Year 2000 All covered malls All multi-theater complexes All types of buildings with floor level > 55 ft (16.7 m) above vehicle access with occupant load > 30 Assembly – Fire area > 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) or occupant load > 300 above or below level of exit discharge Educational – Fire area > 20,000 ft2 (1858 m2)

U.S. Typical Code Requirements for Fire Sprinklers in New Construction Since Year 2000 Factory – Fire area > 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) or combined fire areas all floors > 24,000 ft2 (2230 m2) or > 3 stories Mercantile – Fire area > 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) or combined fire areas all floors > 24,000 ft2 (2230 m2) or > 3 stories Storage – Fire area > 12,000 ft2 (1115 m2) or combined fire areas all floors > 24,000 ft2 (2230 m2) or > 3 stories

U.S. Typical Code Requirements for Fire Sprinklers in New Construction Since Year 2000 Institutional – All health care and detention facilities Hotels and motels – all except those < 4 stories where each guest room has direct egress to an exterior exit. Apartments – All >2 stories in height or more than 16 dwelling units

New Single-Family Homes Both the NFPA Codes and the ICC’s International Residential Code now call for the installation of residential sprinkler systems in all new dwellings, but home builders have successfully lobbied most state legislatures to remove the requirement during code adoption processes At present, while a growing number of cities and towns have this requirement, only two states require sprinklers in all new homes: California and Maryland

Fire Sprinklers in Existing Buildings Beginning around 1975, there have been numerous city, state and federal requirements for sprinkler retrofit of some types of occupancies: High-rise buildings (New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Nevada, etc.) Nursing homes (Federal mandate) College dormitories (New Jersey, Texas, etc.) Nightclubs (Washington, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, etc.)

Codes Addressing Existing Buildings NFPA 1 – Fire Code and NFPA 101 – Life Safety Code are especially noteworthy in terms of existing building requirements NFPA 101 includes sprinkler requirements for a wide range of existing building types NFPA 1, among its requirements for sprinklers in existing buildings, includes the requirement that all high-rise buildings (having an occupiable floor more than 23 m above the lowest level of fire department access) be retrofit with sprinklers within 12 years of the code adoption

Code Development Recommendations Efforts should be aimed at either a national code or a model that can be universally adopted by individual jurisdictions for the protection of its citizens The code development process should be clear and fair, open to public proposals, with ultimate decision-making in the hands of a group that can either be considered unbiased or with offsetting biases The individuals involved should be competent with access to the best available information and data

Thank you Obrigado