Brief Description: Forming a technical advisory group on fire sprinkler systems in private residences.

Sponsors: By House Committee on Local Government (originally sponsored by Representatives Simpson, Ormsby and Wood).

House Committee on Local Government
Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections

Background:

The State Building Code Advisory Council.
The State Building Code Advisory Council (Council) was created in 1974 to provide analysis and advice to the Legislature and the Office of the Governor on state building code issues. The Council establishes the minimum building, mechanical, fire, plumbing, and energy code requirements in Washington by reviewing, developing, and adopting the state building code. The State Building Code Act (Act) sets forth requirements through the provision of building codes to promote the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants or users of buildings and structures throughout the state.

The Act consists of regulations adopted by reference from the International Building Code (IBC), the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Mechanical Code, the National Fuel Gas Code, the International Fire Code (IFC), and the Uniform Plumbing Code and Uniform Plumbing Code Standards. In maintaining the Act, the Council must regularly review updated versions of the codes and other pertinent information and adopt appropriate amendments. The Council may also issue opinions relating to the codes at the request of a local enforcement official.

Private Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems.
Fire sprinklers are required in certain sections of the IBC, IRC, IFC, and by the National Fire Protection Agency. Sprinkler requirements of the IBC are typically applied to larger residential occupancies, including hotels, apartments, dormitories or condominiums. Single family dwellings (as defined by the IRC) in Washington are not required to install sprinklers for fire protection unless local municipalities have adopted additional requirements of the IRC into their local building code requirements.

Summary:

The State Building Code Council (Council) must convene a technical advisory group on private residential fire sprinkler systems. The advisory group is charged with researching and reviewing policies and procedures pertaining to private residential fire sprinkler systems that promote or discourage the installation of these systems in private residences.

The advisory group must consist of representatives from:

• a city association;
• a county association;
• a building officials association;
• a special purpose water-sewer district association;
• a public utility district association;
• a mutual water company;
• the Department of Health;
• the Department of Ecology; and
• the insurance industry.

The advisory group must also consist of:

• the State Director of Fire Protection or his or her designee;
• a local fire marshal;
• a licensed residential sprinkler fitter;
• a licensed residential fire sprinkler contractor;
• an architect;
• a residential builder; and
• other representatives deemed necessary by the Council.

The Council must develop recommendations for eradicating barriers that prevent the voluntary installation of sprinkler systems in private residences. The recommendations must consider the work of the advisory group. The Council must also report the advisory group's findings to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and Senate by January 15, 2009.

Votes on Final Passage:

House   93   2
Senate   42   5

Effective: June 12, 2008