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Nashville Adopts the IFC on 3rd and Final Vote

[Source: Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County, Tennessee | August 18, 2009]

The Nashville City Council voted unanimously on August 6 to enact Substitute Ordinance No. BL2008-350 to adopt the International Fire Code with certain local amendments in place of the National Fire Prevention Association Fire Code and Life Safety Code.

Ordinance No. BL2008-350:

ORDINANCE NO. BL2009-509 (HUNT & RYMAN) – This ordinance amends the recently adopted 2006 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) pertaining to the fire flow requirements for single-family homes constructed on lots of one acre in size or greater within the general services district (GSD). On August 6, 2009, the council enacted Substitute Ordinance No. BL2008-350 to adopt the International Fire Code with certain local amendments in place of the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA) fire code and life safety code.

Substitute Ordinance No. BL2008-350 included some special exemptions from the more stringent fire-flow requirements for existing building lots, which includes infill lots in an established subdivision. Single and two-family homes less than 3,600 square feet on existing building lots are exempt from the fire-flow requirements contained in Appendix B of the IFC as long as such existing building lots either (1) meet the Insurance Services Office (ISO) fire-flow requirements; (2) have a fire hydrant within 500 feet that flows at least 750 gallons per minute with 20 psi pressure; (3) have a fire hydrant within 500 feet and a secondary fire hydrant within 1,000 feet, even if such hydrants do not pump 750 gallons per minute; or (4) they meet the fire-flow requirements that were set forth by the fire marshal at the time the subdivision plat was approved. Single and two-family dwellings exceeding 3,600 square feet constructed on existing building lots must either meet the ISO requirements or Appendix B of the IFC.

This ordinance would add another exception from the more stringent fire flow requirements for single-family homes within the GSD constructed after May 30, 2009, on a lot of one acre in size or more. In the event such a lot of one acre in size or more within the GSD is subdivided in the future, all dwellings constructed on the subdivided lots would be required to meet the fire flow requirements of Appendix B of the International Fire Code.

Local governments that enforce their own fire codes have the authority under state law to adopt a code that is at least as restrictive as the state standards.

Original Release

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