WSR 19-02-086
PERMANENT RULES
BUILDING CODE COUNCIL
[Filed January 2, 2019, 9:28 a.m., effective July 1, 2019]
Effective Date of Rule: July 1, 2019.
Purpose: To adopt changes to chapter 51-54A WAC, Washington state amendments to the 2015 International Fire Code, as follows:
Mass Timber: The purpose is to comply with ESB 5450.
IBC/IFC 3101/3801: The purpose is to resolve inconsistent and conflicting code requirements between NFPA 130, the IBC and IFC as they pertain to passenger rail systems.
IFC 907.10.2 And 907.10.3: The purpose of this is to add the ESA/NTS as an approved testing and maintenance certification to the code.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: New WAC 51-54A-0701, 51-54A-3308 and 51-54A-3900; and amending WAC 51-54A-0907 and 51-54A-8000.
Statutory Authority for Adoption: RCW 19.27.031, 19.27.074.
Other Authority: Chapter 19.27 RCW.
Adopted under notice filed as WSR 18-21-156 on October 22, 2018.
A final cost-benefit analysis is available by contacting Richard Brown, 1500 Jefferson Street S.E., P.O. Box 41449, Olympia, WA 98504-1449, phone 360-407-9277, email Richard.brown@des.wa.gov.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 3, Amended 2, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.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: December 3, 2018.
Doug Orth
Council Chair
NEW SECTION
WAC 51-54A-0701General.
701.3 Owner's responsibility. The owner shall maintain an inventory of all required fire-resistance-rated construction, construction installed to resist the passage of smoke and the construction included in Sections 703 through 707 and Sections 602.4.1 and 602.4.2 of the International Building Code. Such construction shall be visually inspected by the owner annually and properly repaired, restored or replaced where damaged, altered, breached or penetrated. Records of inspections and repairs shall be maintained. Where concealed, such elements shall not be required to be visually inspected by the owner unless the concealed space is accessible by the removal or movement of a panel, access door, ceiling tile or similar movable entry to the space.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 18-01-104, filed 12/19/17, effective 7/1/18)
WAC 51-54A-0907Fire alarm and detection systems.
907.2.3 Group E. Group E occupancies shall be provided with a manual fire alarm system that initiates the occupant notification signal utilizing one of the following:
1. An emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6; or
2. A system developed as part of a safe school plan adopted in accordance with RCW 28A.320.125 or developed as part of an emergency response system consistent with the provisions of RCW 28A.320.126. The system must achieve all of the following performance standards:
2.1 The ability to broadcast voice messages or customized announcements;
2.2 Includes a feature for multiple sounds, including sounds to initiate a lock down;
2.3 The ability to deliver messages to the interior of a building, areas outside of a building as designated pursuant to the safe school plan, and to personnel;
2.4 The ability for two-way communications;
2.5 The ability for individual room calling;
2.6 The ability for a manual override;
2.7 Installation in accordance with NFPA 72;
2.8 Provide 15 minutes of battery backup for alarm and 24 hours of battery backup for standby; and
2.9 Includes a program for annual inspection and maintenance in accordance with NFPA 72.
((Exceptions:))
EXCEPTIONS:
1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in Group E occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or less.
 
2. Emergency voice/alarm communication systems meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6 shall not be required in Group E occupancies with occupant loads of 100 or less, such as individual portable school classroom buildings; provided that activation of the manual fire alarm system initiates an approved occupant notification signal in accordance with Section 907.5.
 
3. Where an existing approved alarm system is in place, an emergency voice/alarm system is not required in any portion of an existing Group E building undergoing any one of the following repairs, alteration or addition:
 
3.1 Alteration or repair to an existing building including, without limitation, alterations to rooms and systems, and/or corridor configurations, not exceeding 35 percent of the fire area of the building (or the fire area undergoing the alteration or repair if the building is comprised of two or more fire areas); or
 
3.2 An addition to an existing building, not exceeding 35 percent of the fire area of the building (or the fire area to which the addition is made if the building is comprised of two or more fire areas).
 
4. Manual fire alarm boxes are not required in Group E occupancies where all of the following apply:
 
4.1 Interior corridors are protected by smoke detectors.
 
4.2 Auditoriums, cafeterias, gymnasiums and similar areas are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
 
4.3 Shops and laboratories involving dusts or vapors are protected by heat detectors or other approved detection devices.
 
5. Manual fire alarm boxes shall not be required in Group E occupancies where all of the following apply:
 
5.1 The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
 
5.2 The emergency voice/alarm communication system will activate on sprinkler waterflow.
 
5.3 Manual activation is provided from a normally occupied location.
907.2.3.1 Sprinkler systems or detection. When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system.
907.2.6 Group I. A manual fire alarm system that activates the occupant notification system shall be installed in Group I occupancies. An automatic smoke detection system that notifies the occupant notification system shall be provided in accordance with Sections 907.2.6.1, 907.2.6.2, 907.2.6.3.3 and 907.2.6.4.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. Manual fire alarm boxes in resident or patient sleeping areas of Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies shall not be required at exits if located at nurses' control stations or other constantly attended staff locations, provided such stations are visible and continually accessible and that travel distances required in Section 907.4.2 are not exceeded.
 
2. Occupant notification systems are not required to be activated where private mode signaling installed in accordance with NFPA 72 is approved by the fire code official.
907.2.6.1 Group I-1. An automatic smoke detection system shall be installed in corridors, waiting areas open to corridors and habitable spaces other than sleeping units and kitchens. The system shall be activated in accordance with Section 907.4.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. For Group I-1 Condition 1 occupancies, smoke detection in habitable spaces is not required where the facility is equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1.
 
2. Smoke detection is not required for exterior balconies.
907.2.6.4 Group I-4 occupancies. A manual fire alarm system that initiates the occupant notification signal utilizing an emergency voice/alarm communication system meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6 shall be installed in Group I-4 occupancies. When automatic sprinkler systems or smoke detectors are installed, such systems or detectors shall be connected to the building fire alarm system.
EXCEPTIONS:
1. A manual fire alarm system is not required in Group I-4 occupancies with an occupant load of 50 or less.
 
2. Emergency voice alarm communication systems meeting the requirements of Section 907.5.2.2 and installed in accordance with Section 907.6 shall not be required in Group I-4 occupancies with occupant loads of 100 or less, provided that activation of the manual fire alarm system initiates an approved occupant notification signal in accordance with Section 907.5.
907.5.2.1.2 Maximum sound pressure. The maximum sound pressure level for audible alarm notification appliances shall be 110 dBA at the minimum hearing distance from the audible appliance. For systems operating in public mode, the maximum sound pressure level shall not exceed 30 dBA over the average ambient sound level. Where the average ambient noise is greater than 95 dBA, visible alarm notification appliances shall be provided in accordance with NFPA 72 and audible alarm notification appliances shall not be required.
907.10 NICET: National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies and ESA/NTS: Electronic Security Association/National Training School.
907.10.1 Scope. This section shall apply to new and existing fire alarm systems.
907.10.2 Design review: All construction documents shall be reviewed by a NICET III, an ESA/NTS Certified Fire Alarm Designer (CFAD) Level III Fire in fire alarms, or a licensed professional engineer (PE) in Washington prior to being submitted for permitting. The reviewing professional shall submit a stamped, signed, and dated letter; or a verification method approved by the local authority having jurisdiction indicating the system has been reviewed and meets or exceeds the design requirements of the state of Washington and the local jurisdiction (effective July 1, 2018).
907.10.3 Testing/maintenance: All inspection, testing, maintenance and programing not defined as "electrical construction trade" by chapter 19.28 RCW shall be completed by a NICET II or ESA/NTS Certified Fire Alarm Technician (CFAT) Level II Fire in fire alarms (effective July 1, 2018).
NEW SECTION
WAC 51-54A-3308Owner's responsibility for fire protection.
3308.8 Fire safety requirements for buildings of Types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C construction. Buildings of Types IV-A, IV-B, and IV-C construction designed to be greater than six stories above grade plane shall meet the following requirements during construction unless otherwise approved by the fire code official.
1. Standpipes shall be provided in accordance with Section 3313.
2. A water supply for fire department operations, as approved by the fire code official and the fire chief.
3. Where building construction exceeds six stories above grade plane, at least one layer of noncombustible protection where required by Section 602.4 of the International Building Code shall be installed on all building elements more than four floor levels, including mezzanines, below active mass timber construction before erecting additional floor levels.
EXCEPTION:
Shafts and vertical exit enclosures shall not be considered a part of the active mass timber construction.
4. Where building construction exceeds six stories above grade plane required exterior wall coverings shall be installed on all floor levels more than four floor levels, including mezzanines, below active mass timber construction before erecting additional floor level.
EXCEPTION:
Shafts and vertical exit enclosures shall not be considered a part of the active mass timber construction.
NEW SECTION
WAC 51-54A-3900Fixed guideway transit and passenger rail systems.
3901.1 Scope. Fixed guideway transit and passenger rail systems shall be in accordance with NFPA 130.
AMENDATORY SECTION(Amending WSR 16-03-055, filed 1/16/16, effective 7/1/16)
WAC 51-54A-8000Referenced standards.
NFPA 96-07 Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations . . . .609.3
NFPA 720-15 Standard for the Installation of Carbon Monoxide (CO) Warning Equipment in Dwelling Units . . . .1103.9
NFPA 130-17 Standard for Fixed Guideway Transit and Passenger Rail Systems . . . .3901.1