No. 27975 (Amendment): R710-9-6. Amendments and Additions

DAR File No.: 27975
Filed: 06/01/2005, 11:00
Received by: NL

 

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Utah Fire Prevention Board met on May 10, 2005, in a regularly scheduled Board meeting and voted by motion to amend Rule R710-9 by adding an amendment to deal with fire alarm system nuisance alarms and a clarification.

 

Summary of the rule or change:

The proposed amendments to Section R710-9-6 are as follows: 1) in Subsection R710-9-6(6.10.3), the Board proposes to add a section that would require that fire alarm systems that experience unwarranted nuisance alarms would be required to be sensitivity tested. If the nuisance alarms continued after sensitivity testing, the fire alarm system would need to be replaced as required by the Authority Having Jurisdiction; and 2) in Subsection R710-9-6(6.11.1), the Board proposes to add four words to further clarify the allowance for specialized security in occupancies such as hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities.

 

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

Section 53-7-204

 

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget because the proposed amendments will not affect state government budget by their enactment.

 

local governments:

There is no anticipated cost or savings to the state budget because the proposed amendments will not affect the local government budgets by their enactment.

 

other persons:

There could be an aggregate anticipated cost to other persons with the enactment of one of the rule amendments. If nuisance fire alarms require sensitivity testing to be completed, there could be a cost of approximately $100 to $3,000 per occupancy to complete the sensitivity testing depending on the size of the structure. If the completed adjustments of the fire alarm sensitivity did not reduce nuisance fire alarms, replacement of the fire alarm system could cost from a few thousand dollars to as much as $100,000 depending on the size and use of the building. To establish a complete and definitive estimation on an aggregate cost to other persons is impossible to complete due to the fact of the unknown number requiring sensitivity testing and the unknown number of systems that would fail again after sensitivity testing and have to be replaced.

 

Compliance costs for affected persons:

Compliance costs would be from approximately $100 to $3,000 per fire alarm system to have the system sensitivity tested. Costs could be from a few thousand dollars to $100,000 to replace the fire alarm system if a reasonable expectation of sensitivity cannot be obtain in the adjustments made.

 

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

The proposed amendment that would require sensitivity testing on fire alarm systems and possibly require replacement on systems that cannot have nuisance fire alarms lowered to a reasonable degree, would normally only affect the older fire alarm systems. These systems are normally over 20 years of age and many times cannot be adjusted to stop excessive false alarms. With regard to public safety, an overage of false fire alarms places the responding fire and police agencies and the public at risk as they respond with full alarm to only discover another false alarm. Robert Flowers, Commissioner

 

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

Public Safety
Fire Marshal
5272 S COLLEGE DR
MURRAY UT 84123-2611

 

Direct questions regarding this rule to:

Brent Halladay at the above address, by phone at 801-284-6352, by FAX at 801-284-6351, 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:

07/15/2005

 

This rule may become effective on:

07/18/2005

 

Authorized by:

Ron L. Morris, Utah State Fire Marshal

 

 

RULE TEXT

R710. Public Safety, Fire Marshal.

R710-9. Rules Pursuant to the Utah Fire Prevention Law.

R710-9-6. Amendments and Additions.

The following amendments and additions are hereby adopted by the Board for application statewide:

 

. . . . . . . .

 

6.10 Smoke Alarms

6.10.1 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 907.3.2 is amended to add the following: On line three after the word "occupancies" add "and detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses)".

6.10.2 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 907.3.2.3 is amended to add the following: On line one after the word "occupancies" add "and detached one- and two-family dwellings and multiple single-family dwellings (townhouses)".

6.10.3 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 907.20.5 is amended to add the following sentences: Increases in nuisance alarms shall require the fire alarm system to be tested for sensitivity. Fire alarm systems that continue after sensitivity testing with unwarranted nuisance alarms shall be replaced as directed by the AHJ.

6.11 Means of Egress

6.11.1 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1008.1.8.3 is amended to add the following: 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 the 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. 6. Doors in Group I-1 and I-2 occupancies, where the clinical needs of the patients require approved, listed delayed egress locks, they shall be installed on doors as allowed in IFC, Section 1008.1.8.6.

6.11.2 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1009.3 is amended as follows: On line six of Exception 5 delete "7.75" and replace it with "8". On line seven of Exception 5 delete "10" and replace it with "9".

6.11.3 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1009.11, Exception 4 is deleted and replaced with the following: 4. In occupancies in Group R-3, as applicable in Section 101.2 and in occupancies in Group U, which are accessory to an occupancy in Group R-3, as applicable in Section 101.2, handrails shall be provided on at least one side of stairways consisting of four or more risers.

6.11.4 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1009.11.3 is amended to add the following: Exception: Non-circular handrails serving an individual unit in a Group R-1, Group R-2 or Group R-3 occupancy shall be permitted to have a maximum cross sectional dimension of 3.25 inches (83 mm) measured 2 inches (51mm) down from the top of the crown. Such handrail is required to have an indention on both sides between 0.625 inch (16mm) and 1.5 inches (38mm) down from the top or crown of the cross section. The indentation shall be a minimum of 0.25 inch (6mm) deep on each side and shall be at least 0.5 (13mm) high. Edges within the handgrip shall have a minimum radius of 0.0625 inch (2mm). The handrail surface shall be smooth with no cusps so as to avoid catching clothing or skin.

6.11.5 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1012.2 is amended to add the following exception: 3. For occupancies in Group R-3 and within individual dwelling units in occupancies in Grouop R-2, as applicable in Section 101.2, guards shall form a protective barrier not less than 36 inches (914mm).

6.11.6 IFC, Chapter 10, Section 1027.2 is amended to add the following: On line five after the word "fire" add the words "and building".

6.12 Fireworks

6.12.1 IFC, Chapter 33, Section 3301.1.3 is amended to add the following Exception: 10. The use of fireworks for display and retail sales is allowed as set forth in UCA 53-7-220 and UCA 11-3-1.

6.13 Flammable and Combustible Liquids

6.13.1 IFC, Chapter 34, Section 3404.4.3 is amended as follows: Delete 3403.6 on line three and replace it with 3403.4.

6.14 Liquefied Petroleum Gas

6.14.1 IFC, Chapter 38, Section 3809.12, is amended as follows: Delete 20 from line three and replace it with 10.

6.14.2 IFC, Chapter 38, Section 3809.14 is amended as follows: Delete 20 from line three and replace it with 10.

 

KEY: fire prevention, law

[May 3, 2005]July 18, 2005

Notice of Continuation June 12, 2002

53-7-204