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© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Fire PreventionThrough the Codes
Process
Chapter 4
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Objectives
Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to:
•Describe the origin of the model code system in the United States
•List the major model code organizations and describe the evolution of model code organizations in the United States
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Objectives (cont’d.)
• Describe the code change process used by the model code organizations
• Describe the methods of code adoption by states and local governments
• Discuss the impact of the agendas of groups participating in the model code process
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Model Codes
• Codes: systematically arranged bodies of laws or rules
• Codes tell us what to do or what not to do
• Examples: United States Code, Code of Virginia, Code of the County of Fairfax
• Model codes: technical rules made available for governments to accept– Adoption of the code
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
The Development of Model Codes
• Fire insurance industry failed to self-regulate insurance rates/commissions– Started prevention through codes/standards
• The NEC® may be the most universal model code
• The NBFU published the National Building Code and National Fire Prevention Code through 1976
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Model Code Organizations of theTwentieth Century
• Many jurisdictions adopted NBFU codes
• The NBFU was absorbed as part of Insurance Services Organization (ISO)
• The NFPA grew into a 75,000-member international organization
• Largest model code organizations consolidated into the International Code Council (ICC)
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
The Regional Model Code Organizations
• System of regional codes, began in 1920s– Building code by the Pacific Building Officials
Conference
• Three regional code groups, 1950
• Three major regional codes evolved in the 20th century
• National map of adopted codes resembled a puzzle: late 80s
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Building Officials and Code Administrators, International
• Established in 1915
• First Basic Building Code by BOCA, 1950
• BOCA maintained building, mechanical, fire prevention, plumbing, and property maintenance codes through 1999
• BOCA served the northeast, mid-Atlantic, and midwestern states before ICC
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Southern Building Code Congress International
• Established in 1940
• Published first edition of the Standard Building Code in 1945
• Published several codes through 1999
• Standard Fire Code: developed with the Southeastern/Southwestern Fire Chief’s Associations
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
International Conference of Building Officials
• ICBO was established in 1921 as the Pacific Building Officials Conference
• Uniform Building Code, first edition published in 1927– Incorporated into the Department of Defense
Military Handbook 1008– Replaced by Unified Facilities Criteria, 2002
• Incorporated the International Building Code
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
International Code Council (ICC)
• Established in 1994 to develop a single set of model codes for the U.S.
• Consolidation of BOCA, ICBO, and SBCCI
• Publishes 14 model codes
• International Fire Code Council (IFCC)– Established to represent common interests of
the fire service and the ICC
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
The National Fire Protection Association
• Few comprehensive building regulations in effect in the 1800s
• Fire underwriters formed NFPA in 1896
• Publishes almost 300 codes, standards, and recommended practices
• NFPA’s NEC® may be the most widely used code in the U.S.
• Triangle Shirtwaist fire: Life Safety Code®
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Code Changes
• Two major groups involved in the process– ICC– C3 group
• NFPA, ASHRAE, IAPMO, and WFCA
• Both groups use a consensus process to develop and maintain their documents– Disagree on what consensus really means
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
The International Code Council Code Change Process
FIGURE 4-6The ICC code development process
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
The NFPA Code Change Process
FIGURE 4-8NFPA uses a systemof nine membercategories to ensurethat no group hasundue influencewithin the codeand standardsdevelopmentprocess
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Fire Service Commitment
• ICC voting procedures– Opportunity for full fire service participation– Obligation to present and future firefighters
• Must exercise influence through groups– International Association of Fire Chiefs, the
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), and regional organizations
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Code Adoption
• Two basic methods used– Adoption by reference
• The jurisdiction passes an ordinance that lists or references a specific edition of a model code
– Adoption by transcription• The model code is republished as an ordinance by
a jurisdiction
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
State and Local Adoption
• Legal requirements to ensure adequate public notice– State minimum code that can be locally
amended– State mini-maxi code with no option of local
amendment• Favored by business interests/developers
– Locally adopted code
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
What Codes Cannot Do
• Cycle of catastrophe/public outcries of “there ought to be a law” will continue to exist
• The largest fire prevention bureau cannot inspect every building every day
© 2011 Delmar, Cengage Learning
2nd Edition
Summary
• Organizations originally formed to reduce property loss and protect lives– Evolved to promote public safety
• Major reorganization in community, 2003– Three regional model code organizations
voted to consolidate/form the ICC
• Effective codes: adequate education, enforcement, and public cooperation