California Fire Chiefs

Northern Division

Fire Prevention Officers Section

Joint Meeting: Building Standards, Hazardous Materials

Fire Code Committees

July 23, 2004

Monterey

Members Present:

Scott Alber - Marin County FD

Lorin Neyer- OSHPD

George Barnes - AB Consulting

Tom DeBakker- OSPD

Elliot Gittleman-ESH Consultants

Tim Webb- Contra Costa Co. Fire

Leslie Haberek- SFM

Ray Bizal- NFPA

Gale Bate - Code Resource

Curt Grieve - Kelly Day Group

Ray Simpson- San Jose Fire Dept.

Paul Easter - Modesto Fire Dept.

Mike Payton- Modesto Fire Dept.

Kent Miller - Stockton Fire Dept

Tim Rapella - Santa Rosa FD

Paul Inouye - Milpitas Fire Dept.

Steve April - Contra Costa Consolidated FPD

The following topics were discusses at our monthly meeting:

1. Curt Grieve gave a presentation on High Density Polyethylene (HDPE). Specifically, HDPE is being commonly specified for partitions in school restrooms. This material does not meet code requirements for smoke generation for interior finish materials, which presents a problem given the percentage of school fires that originate in restrooms.
2. Leslie Haberek of the SFM presented her "working documents" developed from the last meeting of the Fire-Life Safety Board (FLSB). The working documents detailed proposed changes to Title 24, Parts 2 & 9, and her presentation discussed specific changes by the FLSB to the working documents. Specific changes to the working documents included the following:

• Section 904.2.7.1: Language on requirements for the installation of AS systems changed from "more than 6 non-ambulatory patients" to "6 or more."
• Section 1007.3.11: Language in the beginning of the section "used for day care purposes" deleted.
• Section 1007.5, Exception 1.1: Language inserted "new and" before "existing facilities."
• Section 1007.5, Exception 1.2: Language deleted and sentence ended after "…to the facility fire alarm system."

She mentioned other changes, including NFPA reference standards. For details regarding the working documents, contact Leslie at the State Fire Marshal’s office.

3. The meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully Submitted, 

Scott D. Alber, P.E.

Co-chair, Fire Code Committee