Fire Code Committee

December 4, 2002

Attendance:

Daniel Bak - RJA

Laura Blaul - Orange County Fire

Jennifer Bower- Orange County Fire

Kevin Scott - Kern County Fire

Lew Willis - San Diego County Fire

Christina Jamison - Ventura County Fire

Jim Barger - Los Angeles County Fire

Building Standards Commission Report

Christina attended the meeting. The FPOs, as well as LA and Ventura Countys. sent letters regarding SB1361 to John Tenant asking him to pull the regs and form a new task force to work on them. Although a letter had been sent back to us indicating the regs were withdraw, the item remained on the agenda. During the meeting, Leslie pulled them and later told a group of locals they were committed to forming a group (coordinating committee) to work on the regulations and would attempt to complete the process in 3 months (beginning in January).

There was discussion on the next adoption cycle and state agencies stated they should be ready to make a recommendation in May. The SFM is resurrecting their advisory committee to work on a comparison and other state agencies have a similar process. Questions as to what kinds of guidance the groups will be given were discussed. If the CBSC takes action in June, 2003, we won’t have new codes published until 2005. Several building officials spoke up in support of the International Codes. Fifteen cities have adopted resolutions regarding the International and CalBO now has a formal position in support of the IBC and IRC. They are ok with the UPC and UMC and hve no position on the fire code as they agreed to defer to Cal Chiefs for that decision.

The Coordinating Council meets today with more discussion on the process for choosing California’s codes.

NFPA

NFPA Meeting – Poorly attended by fire and building officials. Retail sales of fireworks were approved on the floor (several industry members came in for that vote and left shortly after).

ICC

Between processes so no news.  

Code Comparison

We began a process of comparing the International and NFPA codes with provisions currently found in T24. Rather than building another matrix, we will take a "systems approach" and review plans using the building and fire codes from the 3 publishers. The plan review process found in the front of the UBC will be followed.

We started with a restaurant that seats 58 people – see results attached.

Next month we will review an storage occupancy with HPS. 

Next Meeting will be January 7, 2003, rather than Jan 2. HAPPY NEW YEAR!