Uniform Fire Code / Hazardous Materials Committees
Fairfield, CA.
June 27, 2003

Attending:

Scott Alber - Marin County FD

Verne Person - Lodi Fire Department

Jim Monty - Lathrup – Manteca FD

Paul Easter - Modesto FD

Jeff Tarter - Integrated Engineering Services

Mike Payton - Modesto FPD

Kent Miller - Stockton Fire Department

Ron Keefer - Menlo Park Fire District

Larry Monette - Boykin Consulting Services

Karen Foster - Roseville Fire Department

Jeff Ingolia - Sacramento Fire

Ed Tubbs - Dixon Fire

Paul Inouye - Milpitas Fire Department

Kimberly Korff - Vacaville Fire Department

  1. Committees briefly discussed NFPA and ICC code comparison. The next two meetings on July 2 and July 16, 2003, are important decision making meetings. The Nor Cal Membership is highly encouraged to attend one or both meetings or to send letters voicing their opinions on the subject.
  2. Some Committee members believe that litigation will be involved, no matter which code is decided upon. This will most likely extend the life of current codes.
  3. The class on Refrigeration Codes, to be held in Stockton, is filling. Openings are limited. Sign up now! Contact Kent Miller, Stockton Fire Department.
  4. Pat McLaughlin discussed some refrigeration requirements and why updates are needed to current Codes. In the past, requirements from the UFC set the industry standard for the design of large refrigeration systems. Currently however, ASRA, a professional organization of refrigeration engineers, has updated its Standard 15 on Refrigeration system requirements, leaving code documents, such as the UFC behind. As a result, there is conflict between industry practice and local codes. It is the Committee’s intent to correct this problem in the months ahead.
  5. On September 17 and 18, 2003, the NFPA 5000 Sub Committee on Industrial, Storage, and Miscellanies Occupancies will be meeting in San Francisco. The meeting will be to hear changes to the NFPA 5000 for correlation between maximum allowable quantities of hazardous materials with other NFPA Standards. Attendance by the Fire Service community is encouraged.
  6. FYI: The ICC will be holding its annual meeting September 4 – 14 with Fire Code Meetings on the 6 & 7. The meeting will be in Nashville TN. 

Ronald Keefer, Co-Chair

Hazardous Materials Committee