2015 IFC will be Finalized in Atlantic City

The framework of the 2015 International Fire Code (IFC) is heading to Atlantic City, N.J., for final disposition by code officials from across the country during ICC's Group B Public Comment Hearings Oct. 2-10 at the Atlantic City Convention Center. The hearings will be preceded by the Code Council's 2013 Annual Conference.

As a public fire-safety professional, the Group B Public Comment Hearings are your opportunity to have a voice in the model code development process. Your participation will help lead to safer construction, improved fire safety, saved lives and reduced property losses.

Significant proposed changes to the 2015 IFC submitted by the Fire Code Action Committee include:
 
 

F9–13 Addresses nuisance fire ignitions requiring fire department response
F15–13 Addresses vehicle impact protection (posts and other barriers)
F15–13 Addresses combustible storage in corridors
F17–13 Addresses combustible storage in rooms or areas exempted from fire sprinkler coverage
F21–13 Addresses fire alarm verification when approved by the Fire Chief
F23–13 Addresses requirements for crowd manages at 250 persons
F24–13 Addresses training and duties for crowd managers
F25–13 Addresses an editorial revision to better organize IFC Chapter 4
F43–13 Addresses requirements to improve building address identification
F47–13 Addresses unnecessary storage in Fire Command Centers
F53–13 Addresses requirements for Emergency and Stand-by Power systems; added definitions
F56–13 Addresses an editorial revision to better organize IFC 604.2 (sections in alphabetical order)
F59–13 Addresses emergency power requirements f9or voice/alarm communication systems
F62–13 Addresses requirements for Solar Photovoltaic systems
F63–13 Addresses requirements for Solar Photovoltaic systems
F91–13 Addresses requirements for prevention of grease accumulation/cleaning of cooking exhaust Hoods
F93–13 Addresses requirements for Tags on kitchen hood or duct systems (re; cleaning)
F97–13 Addresses correlation of fire resistance requirements with IBC
F98–13 Addresses maintenance requirements for fire and smoke barriers
F115–13 Addresses minimum size of fire pump rooms
F116–13 Addresses notification requirements for fire protection systems that are out of service
F124–13 Addresses egress requirements for rooftop assembly uses
F128–13 Addresses definition for Commercial Motor Vehicle
F138–13 Addresses maximum number of sprinkler heads for limited area sprinkler systems\
F141–13 Addresses requirements for fire department connections
F144–13 Addresses recognition of water MIST systems as an automatic fire-extinguishing system
F158–13 Addresses requirements for voice’/alarm communication systems in Educational occupancies
F162–13 Addresses requirements for testing, maintaining and replacing smoke alarms
F163–13 Addresses allowance of building fire alarm system smoke detectors as an alternative to single and multiple-station smoke alarms
F173–13 Addresses requirements fort monitoring of a fire alarm system
F174–13 Addresses requirements to mandate point addressable fire alarm systems
F176–13 Addresses fire alarm verification when approved by the Fire Chief
F178–13 Addresses requirements for problematic fire alarm systems
F180–13 Addresses an editorial revision to better organize carbon monoxide detector requirements into new section of the IFC
F199–13 Address clarification of explosion venting requirements
F213–13 Addresses requirements for historic buildings to develop a fire protection plan (adds reference to NFPA 914-1o Code for Fire Protection of Historic Structures)
F222–13 Addresses requirements for retroactive automatic fire sprinkler installation in A-2 Occupancies
F223–13 Addresses requirements for retroactive automatic fire sprinkler installation in high-rise buildings
F235–13 Addresses egress requirements for “stepped aisle and aisle stair to correlate with IBC
F245–13 Addresses clarification of requirements to mitigate hazards associated with combustible dust
F266–13 Addresses what is considered a temporary structure
F268–13 Addresses structural requirements for temporary structures
F280–13 Addresses a prohibiting of pipe cleaning with flammable gasses
F281–13 Addresses clarification to standpipe requirements in buildings under construction or demolition
F282–13 Addresses safety requirements for hot work on flammable and combustible liquid storage tanks
F292–13 Addresses correlation of IFC Table 5003.1.1(1) and (2) with IBC Table 307.1(1) and 307.1(2)
F298–13 Addresses correlation of IFC and IBC emergency and stand-by power requirements
F310–13 Addresses requirements for liquid carbon dioxide soda systems
F312–13 Addresses correlation of explosive materials requirements with DOT regulations
F322–13 Addresses requirements for liquid biofuels
F337–13 Addresses modifications to IFC Appendix C (Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution)
F339–13 Addresses modifications to IFC Appendix D (Fire Apparatus Access
F340–13 Addresses modifications to IFC Appendix B
F346–13 Addresses addition of new IFC Appendix (Requirements for Firefighter Air Replenishment Systems)
F347–13 Addresses addition of new IFC Appendix (High-rise Buildings – Retroactive Automatic Sprinkler Requirement)
G6–13 Addresses requirements for hazardous material use and storage
G7–13 Addresses deletion of terminology no longer necessary in IFC
G17–13 Addresses clarification of IBC and IFC requirements for emergency and stand-by power in H Occupancies
F359–13 Addresses requirements to reduce nuisance alarms attributed to improper location of smoke Alarms
F360–13 Addresses clarification of requirements for installation of Carbon Monoxide Alarms, includes retroactive requirements for specific R and I Occupancies

 
  Significant proposed changes to the International Residential Code include:  
 

RB94–13 Address draft stopping in concealed spaces
RB166–13 Addresses combustibility requirements and thermal barrier for exterior wall finishes based on distance from property line
RB237–13 Addresses fire protection of wood floor assemblies not protected by a residential fire sprinkler system

 
  The full results of the ICC Group B Committee Action Hearings are available here.

The Report of the Committee Action Hearing is available here.