EMERGENCY RULES
Effective Date of Rule: Immediately.
Purpose: To correct a portion of the emergency declaration filed under WSR 11-17-019, which was an extension of the emergency declaration of WSR 11-09-004. This filing replaces the amended text of WAC 51-54-0900.
Citation of Existing Rules Affected by this Order: Amending WAC 51-54-0900.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27.074, 19.27.530.
Under RCW 34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: Rules regarding installation of carbon monoxide (CO) alarms in residential settings were scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2011 (statutory requirement), for new construction, and July 1, 2011, for existing units. The implementation date for existing units is not a statutory mandate, and may cause financial hardship on certain industries; additional time was needed to consider ways to mitigate or eliminate the economic impacts, without compromising public safety. Adoption of the emergency rules eliminates the current implementation date requirements contained in the permanent rules for installation of CO alarms, and also modifies which dwellings must have the alarms. These rules will continue to be in effect while new permanent rules are adopted. The filing for the Fire Code under WSR 11-17-019 inadvertently left out new language effective July 1, 2011, in this same section. This replacement filing corrects that error.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's Own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted Using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: August 23, 2011.
Kristyn Clayton
Chair
OTS-4230.1
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 10-24-059, filed 11/29/10,
effective 7/1/11)
WAC 51-54-0900
Chapter 9 -- Fire protection systems.
902.1 Definitions.
ALERT SIGNAL. See Section 402.1.
ALERTING SYSTEM. See Section 402.1.
PORTABLE SCHOOL CLASSROOM. A structure, transportable in one or
more sections, which requires a chassis to be transported, and
is designed to be used as an educational space with or without
a permanent foundation. The structure shall be trailerable
and capable of being demounted and relocated to other
locations as needs arise.
903.2.1.6 Nightclub. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided throughout Group A-2 nightclubs as defined in this
code.
903.2.3 Group E. An automatic sprinkler system shall be
provided for Group E Occupancies.
| EXCEPTIONS: | 1. Portable school classrooms, provided aggregate area of any cluster or portion of a cluster of portable school classrooms does not exceed 5,000 square feet (1465 m2); and clusters of portable school classrooms shall be separated as required by the building code. |
| 2. Group E Occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or less, calculated in accordance with Table 1004.1.1. |
1. A Group M fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2).
2. A Group M fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane.
3. The combined area of all Group M fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet (2230 m2).
4. Where a Group M occupancy that is used for the display and sale of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 5000 square feet (464 m2).
903.2.8 Group R. An automatic sprinkler system installed in
accordance with Section 903.3 shall be provided throughout all
buildings with a Group R fire area.
| EXCEPTION: | Group R-1 if all of the following conditions apply: |
| 1. The Group R fire area is no more than 500 square feet and is used for recreational use only. | |
| 2. The Group R fire area is on only one story. | |
| 3. The Group R fire area does not include a basement. | |
| 4. The Group R fire area is no closer than 30 feet from another structure. | |
| 5. Cooking is not allowed within the Group R fire area. | |
| 6. The Group R fire area has an occupant load of no more than 8. | |
| 7. A hand held (portable) fire extinguisher is in every Group R fire area. |
906.1 Where required. Portable fire extinguishers shall be
installed in the following locations:
1. In new and existing Group A, B, E, F, H, I, M, R-1, R-2, R-4 and S occupancies.
2. Within 30 feet (9144 mm) of commercial cooking equipment.
3. In areas where flammable or combustible liquids are stored, used or dispensed.
4. On each floor of structures under construction, except Group R-3 occupancies, in accordance with Section 1415.1.
5. Where required by the sections indicated in Table 906.l.
6. Special-hazard areas, including, but not limited to, laboratories, computer rooms and generator rooms, where required by the fire code official.
SECTION 907 -- FIRE ALARM AND DETECTION SYSTEMS
(([F])) 907.2.8 Group R-1. Fire alarm systems, smoke alarms
and carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in Group R-1
occupancies as required in this section and Section 907.2.8.4.
(([F])) 907.2.8.4((.)) Carbon monoxide alarms. For new
construction, an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be
installed ((by January 1, 2011,)) outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom in
sleeping units((. In a building where a tenancy exists, the
tenant shall maintain the CO alarm as specified by the
manufacturer including replacement of the batteries)) within
which fuel-fired appliances are installed, and in sleeping
units that have attached garages.
(([F])) 907.2.8.4.1 Existing sleeping units. Existing
sleeping units shall be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms
by ((July 1, 2011)) January 1, 2013.
(([F])) 907.2.8.4.2 Alarm requirements. Single station carbon
monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and
shall be installed in accordance with this code and the
manufacturer's installation instructions.
(([F])) 907.2.9 Group R-2. Fire alarm systems, smoke alarms
and carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed in Group R-2
occupancies as required in Sections 907.2.9.1 through
907.2.9.3.
(([F])) 907.2.9.1.1 Group R-2 boarding homes. A manual fire
alarm system shall be installed in Group R-2 occupancies where
the building contains a boarding home licensed by the state of
Washington.
| EXCEPTION: | In boarding homes licensed by the state of Washington, manual fire alarm boxes in resident sleeping areas shall not be required at exits if located at all constantly attended staff locations, provided such staff locations are visible, continuously accessible, located on each floor, and positioned so no portion of the story exceeds a horizontal travel distance of 200 feet to a manual fire alarm box. |
(([F])) 907.2.9.3.1 Existing dwelling units. Existing
dwelling units within which fuel-fired appliances exist or
that have attached garages shall be equipped with carbon
monoxide alarms by ((July 1, 2011)) January 1, 2013.
907.2.9.3.2 Alarm requirements. Single station carbon
monoxide alarms shall be listed as complying with UL 2034 and
shall be installed in accordance with this code and the
manufacturer's installation instruction.
(([F])) 907.2.10 Group R-3. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be
installed in Group R-3 occupancies as required in Sections
907.2.10.1 through 907.2.10.3.
(([F])) 907.2.l0.1 Carbon monoxide alarms. For new
construction, an approved carbon monoxide alarm shall be
installed ((by January 1, 2011,)) outside of each separate
sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of the bedroom in
dwelling units((. In a building where a tenancy exists, the
tenant shall maintain the CO alarm as specified by the
manufacturer including replacement of the batteries)) within
which fuel-fired appliances are installed, and in sleeping
units that have attached garages.
(([F])) 907.2.10.2 Existing dwelling units. Existing dwelling
units within which fuel-fired appliances exist or that have
attached garages shall be equipped with carbon monoxide alarms
by ((July 1, 2011)) January 1 2013.
| EXCEPTION: | Owner-occupied Group R-3 residences legally occupied prior to July 1, 2010. |
909.6.3 Elevator shaft pressurization. Where elevator shaft
pressurization is required to comply with Exception 6 of IBC
Section 708.14.1, the pressurization system shall comply with
and be maintained in accordance with IBC 708.14.2.
909.6.3.1 Activation. The elevator shaft pressurization
system shall be activated by a fire alarm system which shall
include smoke detectors or other approved detectors located
near the elevator shaft on each floor as approved by the
building official and fire code official. If the building has
a fire alarm panel, detectors shall be connected to, with
power supplied by, the fire alarm panel.
909.6.3.2 Power system. The power source for the fire alarm
system and the elevator shaft pressurization system shall be
in accordance with Section 909.11.
SECTION 915 ALERTING SYSTEMS
915.1 General. An approved alerting system shall be provided
in buildings and structures as required in chapter 4 and this
section, unless other requirements are provided by another
section of this code.
| EXCEPTION: | Approved alerting systems in existing buildings, structures or occupancies. |
| EXCEPTION: | Systems which do not require electrical power to operate. |
915.4 Combination system. Alerting system components and
equipment shall be allowed to be used for other purposes.
915.4.1 System priority. The alerting system use shall take
precedence over any other use.
915.4.2 Fire alarm system. Fire alarm systems sharing
components and equipment with alerting systems must be in
accordance with Section 6.8.4 of NFPA 72.
915.4.2.1 Signal priority. Recorded or live alert signals
generated by an alerting system that shares components with a
fire alarm system shall, when actuated, take priority over
fire alarm messages and signals.
915.4.2.2 Temporary deactivation. Should the fire alarm
system be in the alarm mode when such an alerting system is
actuated, it shall temporarily cause deactivation of all fire
alarm-initiated audible messages or signals during the time
period required to transmit the alert signal.
915.4.2.3 Supervisory signal. Deactivation of fire alarm
audible and visual notification signals shall cause a
supervisory signal for each notification zone affected in the
fire alarm system.
915.5 Audibility. Audible characteristics of the alert signal
shall be in accordance with Section 7.4.1 of NFPA 72
throughout the area served by the alerting system.
| EXCEPTION: | Areas served by approved visual or textual notification, where the visible notification appliances are not also used as a fire alarm signal, are not required to be provided with audibility complying with Section 915.6. |
[Statutory Authority: Chapter 19.27 RCW. 10-24-059, § 51-54-0900, filed 11/29/10, effective 7/1/11. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 10-03-100, § 51-54-0900, filed 1/20/10, effective 7/1/10. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.190, 19.27.020, and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 09-04-027, § 51-54-0900, filed 1/28/09, effective 7/1/10; 08-01-101, § 51-54-0900, filed 12/18/07, effective 4/1/08. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031, 19.27.074, and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 07-01-093, § 51-54-0900, filed 12/19/06, effective 7/1/07. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.020, 19.27.031, 19.27.074 and chapters 19.27 and 34.05 RCW. 05-24-071, § 51-54-0900, filed 12/5/05, effective 7/1/06. Statutory Authority: RCW 19.27.031 and 19.27.074. 04-01-105, § 51-54-0900, filed 12/17/03, effective 7/1/04.]