Public Safety, Fire Marshal

Section R710-4-3

Amendments and Additions

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 36022
Filed: 04/02/2012 09:05:46 PM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Utah Fire Prevention Board met on 03/13/2012, in a regularly scheduled Board meeting and voted by motion to amend Section R710-4-3 to allow secondary schools to take half of the required fire drills each year and use them for other required drills such as shelter in place, earthquake drill, or lock down for violence.

Summary of the rule or change:

The following amendments are proposed as listed: 1) in Subsection R710-4-3(3.1.1(e)), the Board proposes to modify an existing footnote in the 2009 International Fire Code, and allow secondary schools to use half of the required fire drills for other purposes. Currently, a secondary school is required to have four emergency evacuation fire drills per school year. The Board proposes to allow secondary schools to use the second and fourth evacuation drill for other required drills such as shelter in place, earthquake drill or lock down for violence; and 2) in Subsection R710-4-3(3.1.1(f)), the Board proposes to remove the approval of the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and changed the word "can" to "may".

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Subsection 53-7-204(1)(b)

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to the state budget because this just changes the type of drill and does not require a further cost for compliance.

local governments:

There is no aggregate cost or savings to local government because this proposed amendment does not affect local government.

small businesses:

There is no aggregate cost or savings to small businesses because this proposed amendment does not affect small businesses and only affects secondary schools.

persons other than small businesses, businesses, or local governmental entities:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to other persons because this just changes the type of drill allowed and does not require additional costs to implement.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no compliance costs for affected persons because the proposed amendment allows the school district to decide if they wish to substitute other required drills for the required fire drills. This allows for all types of drills to be rehearsed and does not further affect the time commitment for teaching and studies in the secondary schools.

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

There is no fiscal impact on businesses for the enactment of this proposed rule amendment.

Lance Davenport, 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 MarshalRoom 302
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 [email protected]

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:

05/15/2012

This rule may become effective on:

05/22/2012

Authorized by:

Brent Halladay, State Fire Marshal

R710. Public Safety, Fire Marshal.

R710-4. Buildings Under the Jurisdiction of the State Fire Prevention Board.

R710-4-3. Amendments and Additions.

3.1 Fire Drills

3.1.1 IFC, Chapter 4, Section 405.2, Table 405.2, is amended to add the following footnotes:

e. Secondary schools in Group E occupancies shall have an emergency evacuation drill for fire conducted at least every two months, to a total of four emergency evacuation drills during the nine-month school year. The first emergency evacuation drill for fire shall be conducted within 10 school days of the beginning of classes , and the third emergency evacuation drill for fire shall be conducted within 10 school days after the beginning of the next calendar year. The second and fourth emergency evacuation drills may be substituted by a security or safety drill to include shelter in place, earthquake drill or lock down for violence.

f. In Group E occupancies, excluding secondary schools, [if the AHJ approves,] the monthly required emergency evacuation drill [can]may be substituted by a security or safety drill to include shelter in place, earthquake drill or lock down for violence. The routine emergency evacuation drill for fire must by conducted at least every other evacuation drill.

g. A-3 occupancies in academic buildings of institutions of higher learning are required to have one emergency evacuation drill per year, provided the following conditions are met:

1. The building has a fire alarm system in accordance with Section 907.2.

2. The rooms classified as assembly, shall have fire safety floor plans as required in Section 404.3.2(4) posted.

3. The building is not classified a high-rise building.

4. The building does not contain hazardous materials over the allowable quantities by code.

3.2 Door Closures

3.2.1 IFC, Chapter 7, Section 703.2. Add the following: Exception: In Group E Occupancies, where the corridor serves an occupant load greater than 30 and the building does not have an automatic fire sprinkler system installed, the door closures may be of the friction hold-open type on classrooms doors with a rating of 20 minutes or less only.

3.3 Fire Protection Systems

3.3.1 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.2.8 is amended to add the following: Exception: Group R-4 fire areas not more than 4500 gross square feet and not containing more than 16 residents, provided the building is equipped throughout with an approved fire alarm system that is interconnected and receives its primary power from the building wiring and a commercial power system.

3.3.2 Water Supply Analysis

3.3.2.1 For proposed construction in both sprinklered and unsprinklered occupancies, the owner or architect shall provide an engineer's water supply analysis evaluating the available water supply.

3.3.2.2 The owner or architect shall provide the water supply analysis during the preliminary design phase of the proposed construction.

3.3.2.3 The water analysis shall be representative of the supply that may be available at the time of a fire as required in NFPA, Standard 13, Annex A.15.2.1.

3.3.3 Fire Alarm Systems

3.3.3.1 Required Installations

3.3.3.1.1 All state-owned buildings, college and university buildings, other than institutional, with an occupant load of 300 or more, all schools with an occupant load of 50 or more, shall have an approved fire alarm system with the following features:

3.3.3.1.1.1 Automatic detection devices that detect smoke shall be installed throughout all corridors and spaces open to the corridor at the maximum prescribed spacing of thirty feet on center and no more than fifteen feet from the walls or smoke detectors shall be installed as required in NFPA, Standard 72, Section 5.3.

3.3.3.1.1.2 Where structures are not protected or partially protected with an automatic fire sprinkler system, approved automatic detectors shall be installed in accordance with the complete coverage requirements of NFPA, Standard 72.

3.3.3.1.1.3 Manual fire alarm boxes shall be provided as required. In public and private elementary and secondary schools, manual fire alarm boxes shall be provided in the boiler room, kitchen, and main administrative office of each building, and any other areas as determined by the AHJ.

3.3.3.2 Main Panel

3.3.3.2.1 An approved key plan drawing and operating instructions shall be posted at the main fire alarm panel which displays the location of all alarm zones and if applicable, device addresses.

3.3.3.2.2 The main panel shall be located in a normally attended area such as the main office or lobby. Location of the Main Panel other than as stated above, shall require the review and authorization of the SFM. Where location as required above is not possible, an electronically supervised remote annunciator from the main panel shall be located in a supervised area of the building. The remote annunciator shall visually indicate system power status, alarms for each zone, and give both a visual and audible indication of trouble conditions in the system. All indicators on both the main panel and remote annunciator shall be adequately labeled.

3.3.3.3 System Wiring, Class and Style

3.3.3.3.1 Fire alarm system wiring shall be designated and installed as follows:

3.3.3.3.1.1 The initiating device circuits shall be designated and installed Class A as defined in NFPA, Standard 72.

3.3.3.3.1.2 The notification appliance circuits shall be designated and installed Class A as defined in NFPA, Standard 72.

3.3.3.3.1.3 Signaling line circuits shall be designated and installed Style 6 or 7 as defined in NFPA, Standard 72.

3.3.3.4 Fan Shut Down

3.3.3.4.1 Fan shut down shall be as required in IMC, Chapter 6, Section 606.

3.3.3.4.2 Duct detectors required by the IMC, shall be interconnected, and compatible with the fire alarm system.

3.3.3.5 Nuisance Alarms

3.3.3.5.1 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 907.9.5 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.

3.4 Time Out and Seclusion Rooms

3.4.1 Time Out and Seclusion Rooms are allowed in occupancies protected by an automatic fire alarm system.

3.4.2 A vision panel shall be provided in the room door for observation purposes.

3.4.3 Time Out and Seclusion Room doors may not be fitted with a lock unless it is a self-releasing latch that releases automatically if not physically held in the locked position by an individual on the outside of the door.

3.4.4 Time Out and Seclusion Rooms shall be located where a responsible adult can maintain visual monitoring of the person and room.

 

KEY: fire prevention, public buildings

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [September 7, 2010]May 22, 2012

Notice of Continuation: June 8, 2007

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 53-7-204