Fire Protection Systems and The Model Code Process

1. Fire Protection Systems and The Model Code Process Chapter 2

2. Learning Objectives • List the two most important conditions determining the installation requirements for fire protection systems • Define code and model code • Name the two most prominent model code organizations • Describe the ICC model code development process

3. Learning Objectives (continued) • Describe the NFPA model code development process • Define referenced standard and code amendment • Describe the advantages to governments and organizations that adopt model codes

4. Introduction • Building and fire codes provide uniform and consistent standards and guidelines • Maintain public safety in buildings • Important to understand the code and standards development process • Early days: standards developed by insurance industry • Later, organizations championed the cause • Today, ICC and NFPA develop codes in use

5. Code-Required Fire Protection Systems • Building codes in effect at time of building design and construction determines fire protection • Hazards within structure and how building exited • Fire barrier between use areas • Protection of an opening in a wall • Size or use of occupancy area within building • Number of occupants, products, commodities • Conditions within building

6. Figure 2-1 ICC and NFPA use and occupancy classifications

7. Figure 2-2 Code-required systems based on occupancy classifications

8. Code-Required Fire Protection Systems (continued) • Codes generally do not force retroactive requirements • Some codes include incentives to install fire protection systems where they aren’t required • Model construction codes balance hazards posed by: • Structure and combustible contents • Floor areas above ground level and construction cost

9. Mission Essential • Makes good business sense to install fire protection system • Cost of loss to structure and contents often staggering • Loss from business interruption often much greater than damage to structure • Water damage cleanup and repair takes less time than fire damage repair

10. A Model Code • Code: system of rules, regulations, or laws • Developed by government • States what a person can or cannot do • Model code: system of rules, guidelines, methods, and regulations • Developed by private or not-for-profit organizations • Interested parties and the general public propose, debate, modify, reject, rules and regulations • Available for governments to adopt • Government provides codes for all to follow

11. Model Code Organizations • Consists of groups or individuals • Design professionals, industry, fire agencies, governments, and manufacturers • Examples: BOCA, ICBO, FNPA, SBCCI • Purpose: develop practices independent of influence of special interest groups • Until late 1990s, all organizations remained independent and viable • Currently two organizations exist: NFPA, ICC

12. International Code Council (ICC) • Evolved in the early 1990s because of two political events • Ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) • Allowed tariff-free trade between Mexico, Canada, US • Formation of European Common Market and European Union • Eliminated trade boundaries • One set of codes permits all parties to work from the same book no matter where they were

13. International Code Council (ICC) (continued) • ICC code development process open to anyone • Structured to avoid domination by proprietary interests • All meetings open to the public and held in public forum • One-third of each committee composed of regulators • Code revisions occur every 18 months • New editions of codebooks published every three years

14. International Code Council (ICC) (continued) • Eight basic steps to ICC code development • Submit code changes • Publish and distribute code changes • Code development hearing • Print and distribute public hearing results • Public comment • Print and distribute public comments • Final action consideration • Print and distribute final action

15. Figure 2-4 ICC code development process

16. Figure 2-5 International Building Code/International Fire Code, 2006 Edition

17. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) • 1896: Published NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems • Most widely used fire sprinkler standard today • Currently maintains over 300 safety codes and standards • Revised and completely updated every three to five years • Administered to by 7,000+ volunteers • 75,000 members in more than 70 nations

18. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (continued) • Standards Council is the primary consensus body that develops and revises standards • Evaluates merits of new project proposals and, if appropriate, requests following information: • Comment on the proposed project • Organizations that may be involved • Available resource material • Indication of willing participants if the project is approved

19. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (continued) • Five steps to the NFPA code development process: • Call for Proposals • Report on Proposals • Report on Comments • Technical Reports Session of the NFPA Annual Meeting • Standards Council Issuance

20. Figure 2-8 NFPA code development process

21. Referenced Standards • Models codes cover a wide variety of building, fire prevention, and life safety topics • Code writers look outside their organizations • Referenced standards: documents published by other nationally recognized organizations • Provide specific information relative to design or installation requirements • Model codes tell you “what to do and where” • Referenced standard tells you “how to do it”

22. Code and Standards Development for Government • Developing code or standard could take years • Many governmental agencies adopt codes written by the ICC and NFPA • Cost effective and practical • Coordinated and compatible documentation • Each code is a companion to another • State and local governments may write amendments to model code

23. Amendments • Model codes are the minimum acceptable level of performance or risk • Code may not be adequate for some circumstances • Generally meets the needs of most jurisdictions • Problem may need special consideration • Model may need to be amended • If amendment establishes higher level of performance, it supersedes model code and possibly referenced standard

24. Summary • Building and fire codes provide uniform and consistent standards and guidelines • Code: system of rules, regulations or laws developed by a government • Tells you what you can and cannot do • Model code: system of rules, guidelines, methods, and regulations • Developed by private, not-for-profit organizations • Available to governments for adoption

25. Summary (continued) • ICC and NFPA develop and publish model codes • Follow a multi-step process to ensure consensus • Code organizations look outside to referenced standards • Model codes establish minimum level of performance and risk • Model codes may need to be amended