AGENDA #4k
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption
of International Fire Code with
DATE:
The attached ordinance would amend the Code of Ordinances and adopt the new International Fire Code with North Carolina Amendments into the Town of Chapel Hill Code of Ordinances. The International Fire Code with North Carolina Amendments will replace the current North Carolina Building Code, Volume V, Fire Prevention, 1991 Edition.
Internationally, code officials recognize the need for a modern, up-to-date fire code addressing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire, explosion, hazardous materials storage, handling or use and the use and occupancy of buildings and premises. The International Fire Code in the 2000 edition is designed to meet these needs through model code regulations that safeguard the public health and safety in all communities, large and small. This model code encourages international consistency in the application of provisions.
The production of the International Fire Code began in 1997 with the development of a first draft by a development committee consisting of representatives of Building Officials and Code Administrators International, Inc. (BOCA), International Conference of Building Officials (ICBO), and Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc. (SBCCI). The committee drafted a comprehensive set of fire safety regulations that was consistent with existing model fire codes at the time. Those codes were the then-current editions of the BOCA National Fire Prevention Code, the Uniform Fire Code and the Standard Fire Prevention Code. The 2000 edition of the International Fire Code was developed by utilizing the formal ICC Code Development Process for two successive annual code change cycles. During each cycle, public hearings were held to consider proposed changes in conjunction with hearings on proposed changes to other International Codes and in accordance with the ICC Code Development Procedures.
Advantages of the new code include allowing improved communications between code enforcement officials and the building industry in multiple jurisdictions.
Since code enforcement applies to
the Town’s planning district, the new fire code would be enforceable within
Town limits and in the extra-territorial jurisdiction, as is the existing code.
Because the new State 2000
International Building Code (IBC) references the 2000 International Fire Code (IFC), we recommend that the Council adopt
the IFC to maintain consistency. If the
Town does not adopt the new IFC and tried to stay with the existing Fire
Prevention Code, both the Fire Department and Inspections Department would have
problems making them work together. It could
also create problems for design professionals and contractors.
The State of
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 7, ARTICLE II OF THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ADOPT THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE CODE (2002-01-14 /O-3)
BE IT ORDAINED by the
Council of the Town of
Section 1. Chapter 7, Article II, of the Town Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
“DIVISION 1. GENERALLY
Sec. 7-15. Adoption.
(a) Adoption of the 1991 Edition of the North Carolina Building Code, Volume V, Fire Prevention International Fire Code (2000 Edition). There is
hereby adopted for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions
hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain code known
as the North Carolina Building Code, Volume V, Fire Prevention, 1991
Edition thereof and the whole thereof,
save and except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended,
International Fire Code (2000 Edition) (with the North Carolina Amendments
as established in 2002 of which code not less than three (3) copies have
been and now are filed in the office of the town clerk Town of Chapel Hill Fire Marshal, and the
same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length
herein, and the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of
the town and its Extra-territorial planning jurisdiction.
(b)
Reserved.
(c) Adoption of the 1995 1996 edition of
the National Fire Protection Association’s National Fire Codes, Volumes
1-12. The National Fire Protection Association’s National Fire Codes, Vols.
1-12, 1995 1996 edition are hereby adopted by reference as
technical ordinances.
Secs. 7-16—7-22. Reserved.
Secs. 7-23—7-26.
Reserved.”
Section 2. This ordinance shall become effective upon
adoption.
This the 14th
day of January, 2002.