No. 29865 (Amendment): R156-56-704. Statewide Amendments to the IBC

DAR File No.: 29865
Filed: 04/26/2007, 12:44
Received by: NL

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The purpose of this rule filing is to clarify requirements for areas of refuge which are required to be located in exit stairways in certain multistory buildings. Areas of refuge are areas where people with disabilities may go in the event of a fire or other emergency to await rescue by fire fighting or other emergency personnel. Disabled persons are often not able to traverse stairs when a fire or other emergency alarm sounds. The 2003 edition of the International Building Code (IBC) was inadequate in addressing areas of refuge for disabled persons. Under that code, the safety of disabled persons was not adequately protected in emergency situations. As a result, the 2006 code made several changes requiring areas of refuge, which in many cases could be very costly to implement and did not necessarily add significantly to the protection for persons with disabilities in emergency situations and did not sufficiently balance the costs of implementation compared to added safety achieved. For certain installations it could be quite costly to comply with the new requirements. Also, alternative methods of protection of disabled persons may be available at lower costs but still providing more protection than was previously provided in the 2003 codes, however these alternatives have not been adequately considered in the 2006 code. Areas of refuge can be costly because they are not allowed to be in the normal building use areas but must be in areas that are protected from fire or smoke. The area that would normally be used for this purpose under the 2006 code is in stairways. This can be costly to provide adequate space for persons in wheelchairs to wait for rescue while providing for enough space for safe exit for other persons. The wheel chairs in the area of refuge cannot block the exit for other persons. The International Code Council (ICC) scheduled final action hearings to be held in May 2007 which will decide how the IBC will address this issue in the next code cycle. At that time, ICC will be taking one of three possible actions: 1) leave the 2006 code unchanged; 2) return to the 2003 code; or 3) adopt proposed compromise language. Whichever action is taken at this final action hearing in May 2007 will be the provisions that will go into the 2009 IBC code. It is anticipated that the proposed compromise language will be the alternative which will be adopted. The proposed rule filing under DAR No. 29864 is the compromise language that is proposed for the ICC final action committee and which is expected to be the result of that hearing in May 2007. It is expected that if the ICC adopts the proposed compromise language, then the filing under DAR No. 29864 would be adopted in Utah to correspond to the action taken by the ICC at the national level. The proposed rule filing under DAR No. 29865 is the potential alternative being considered by ICC that would return the IBC to provisions that were contained in the 2003 IBC. Although this is one of the alternatives that will be considered at the ICC final action hearings, this alternative is not expected to be adopted. If the ICC at the final action hearing returns to the 2003 code, then the filing under DAR No. 29865 would be adopted in Utah to correspond to the action taken by the ICC at the national level. The Utah Uniform Building Code Commission also believes that it is important to follow the national action at the earliest possible time so that the very stringent requirements are not effective for the remainder of the current code cycle and then relaxed again at the next code cycle. Accordingly, either the filing under DAR No. 29864 or 29865 would be adopted depending on action taken at the final action hearing by ICC at the national level. The alternative proposed rule not adopted would then be allowed to lapse. It should also be noted that this rule filing is one of four rule filings affecting Rule R156-56. Once the Division and Commission have determined which of all of the rule filings affecting Rule R156-56 will be made effective, a nonsubstantive rule filing may be filed by the Division to update and correct all subsection numbering. (DAR NOTE: The other filings for Rule R156-56 are: changes to Rule R156-56 are under DAR No. 29863; different changes to Section R156-56-704 under DAR No. 29864; and other changes to Rule R156-56 under DAR No. 29866 in this issue, May 15, 2007, of the Bulletin.)

Summary of the rule or change:

Amendments to Section 1007.3 and 1007.4 regarding areas of refuge are added at Subsections R156-56-704(27) and (28).

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 58-56-1, and Subsections 58-1-106(1)(a), 58-1-202(1)(a), 58-56-4(2), and 58-56-6(2)(a)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

The Division has determined that there should be no direct effect on the state budget. However, there may be substantial cost savings to buildings if the state is involved in construction of a building where areas of refuge are required if either proposed filing under DAR No. 29864 or 29865 is adopted.

local governments:

The Division has determined that there should be no direct effect on a local government budget. However, there may be substantial cost savings to a buildings if the local government is involved in construction of a building where areas of refuge are required if either proposed filing under DAR No. 29864 or 29865 is adopted.

other persons:

It is expected that cost savings for certain buildings could be substantial but it is impossible to estimate due to the variability of construction designs that may be affected. It is unknown how many persons these amendments may affect; therefore, it is impossible to estimate an aggregate impact.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

It is impossible to estimate the compliance or savings of affected persons because the costs or savings would vary depending on the building being constructed. It is expected that cost savings for certain buildings could be substantial if either filing under DAR No. 29864 or 29865 is adopted.

Comments by the department head on the fiscal impact the rule may have on businesses:

This rule filing clarifies the requirements for areas of refuge. Two alternatives are drafted, the adoption of which will depend upon the decision of the ICC. No fiscal impact to businesses is anticipated beyond those already discussed in the rule summary. Francine A. Giani, Executive Director

The full text of this rule may be inspected, during regular business hours, at the Division of Administrative Rules, or at:

Commerce
Occupational and Professional Licensing
HEBER M WELLS BLDG
160 E 300 S
SALT LAKE CITY UT 84111-2316

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Dan S. Jones at the above address, by phone at 801-530-6720, by FAX at 801-530-6511, or by Internet E-mail at [e-mail]

Interested persons may present their views on this rule by submitting written comments to the address above no later than 5:00 p.m. on:

06/14/2007

Interested persons may attend a public hearing regarding this rule:

5/15/2007 at 9:00 AM, State Office Building, Room 4112, Salt Lake City, Utah

This rule may become effective on:

06/22/2007

Authorized by:

F. David Stanley, Director

RULE TEXT

R156. Commerce, Occupational and Professional Licensing.

R156-56. Utah Uniform Building Standard Act Rules.

R156-56-[704]801. Statewide Amendments to the IBC.

The following are adopted as amendments to the IBC to be applicable statewide:

 

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(26) Section (F)907.2.10 is deleted and replaced with the following:

(F)907.2.10 Single- and multiple-station alarms. Listed single- and multiple-station smoke alarms complying with U.L. 217 shall be installed in accordance with the provision of this code and the household fire-warning equipment provision of NFPA 72. Listed single- and multiple-station carbon monoxide detectors shall comply with U.L. 2034 and shall be installed in accordance with the provisions of this code and NFPA 720.

(F)907.2.10.1 Smoke alarms. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in the locations described in Sections (F)907.2.10.1.1 through (F)907.2.10.1.3.

(F)907.2.10.1.1 Group R-1. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed in all of the following locations in Group R-1:

1. In sleeping areas.

2. In every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area to the door leading from the sleeping unit.

3. In each story within the sleeping unit, including basements. For sleeping units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.

(F)907.2.10.1.2 Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1, regardless of occupant load at all of the following locations:

1. On the ceiling or wall outside of each separate sleeping area in the immediate vicinity of bedrooms.

2. In each room used for sleeping purposes.

3. In each story within a dwelling unit, including basements and cellars but not including crawl spaces and uninhabitable attics. In dwellings or dwelling units with split levels and without an intervening door between the adjacent levels, a smoke alarm installed on the upper level shall suffice for the adjacent lower level provided that the lower level is less than one full story below the upper level.

(F)907.2.10.1.3 Group I-1. Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall be installed and maintained in sleeping areas in occupancies in Group I-1.

Exception: Single- or multiple-station smoke alarms shall not be required where the building is equipped throughout with an automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section (F)907.2.6.

(F)907.2.10.2 Carbon monoxide alarms. Carbon monoxide alarms shall be installed on each habitable level of a dwelling unit or sleeping unit in Groups R-2, R-3, R-4 and I-1 equipped with fuel burning appliances.

(F)907.2.10.3. Power source. In new construction, required alarms shall receive their primary power from the building wiring where such wiring is served from a commercial source and shall be equipped with a battery backup. Alarms shall emit a signal when the batteries are low. Wiring shall be permanent and without a disconnecting switch other than as required for overcurrent protection.

Exception: Alarms are not required to be equipped with battery backup in Group R-1 where they are connected to an emergency electrical system.

(F)907.2.10.4 Interconnection. Where more than one alarm is required to be installed with an individual dwelling unit in Group R-2, R-3, or R-4, or within an individual sleeping unit in Group R-1, the alarms shall be interconnected in such a manner that the activation of one alarm will activate all of the alarms in the individual unit. The alarm shall be clearly audible in all bedrooms over background noise levels with all intervening doors closed. Approved combination smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors shall be permitted.

(F)907.2.10.5 Acceptance testing. When the installation of the alarm devices is complete, each detector and interconnecting wiring for multiple-station alarm devices shall be tested in accordance with the household fire warning equipment provisions of NFPA 72 and NFPA 720, as applicable.

(27) In Section 1007.3 a new exception 6 is added as follows:

6. Areas of refuge are not required at exit stairways in buildings or facilities equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.

(28) In Section 1007.4 the word "exception" is changed to "exception 1" and an exception 2 is added as follows:

2. Elevators are not required to be accessed from an area of refuge or horizontal exit in buildings or facilities equipped throughout with an automatic fire sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section 903.3.1.1 or 903.3.1.2.

(27) In Section 1008.1.8.3, a new subparagraph (5) is added as follows:

(5) Doors in Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies, where the clinical needs of the patients require specialized security measures for their safety, approved access controlled egress may be installed when all the following are met:

5.1 The controlled egress doors shall unlock upon activation of the automatic fire sprinkler system or automatic fire detection system.

5.2 The facility staff can unlock the controlled egress doors by either sensor or keypad.

5.3 The controlled egress doors shall unlock upon loss of power.

 

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KEY: contractors, building codes, building inspection, licensing

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [March 27, ]2007

Notice of Continuation: March 29, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 58-1-106(1)(a); 58-1-202(1)(a); 58-56-1; 58-56-4(2); 58-56-6(2)(a)