Public Safety, Fire Marshal

Rule R710-9

Rules Pursuant to the Utah Fire Prevention and Safety Act

Notice of Proposed Rule

(Amendment)

DAR File No.: 35296
Filed: 09/28/2011 08:13:07 AM

RULE ANALYSIS

Purpose of the rule or reason for the change:

The Utah Fire Prevention Board met on 09/14/2011 in a regularly scheduled Board meeting and proposed to amend Rule R710-9 by establishing a new definition on premixed antifreeze solution, establishing the requirements for the installation and usage of antifreeze in fire sprinkler systems involving new construction, removing limitations to the system in sprinkler heads, maximizing the allowable gallons of antifreeze allowed, and limiting the percentages of antifreeze you can use in each individual system.

Summary of the rule or change:

The Board proposed to make the following amendments to the administrative rule as follows: 1) in Subsection R710-9-2(2.8), the Board proposed to add the definition of Premixed to define what is allowed in a premixed antifreeze system by solution percentages; 2) in Subsections R710-9-11(11.1), (11.2), and (11.3), the Board proposed to limit the percentage of antifreeze allowed in new antifreeze system mixture to 38% premixed propylene glycol and 48% premixed glycerin in NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D fire sprinkler systems; 3) in Subsections R710-9-11(11.1), (11.2), and (11.3), the Board proposed to limit the capacity of the antifreeze systems in new NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D systems to 150 gallons; 4) in Subsections R710-9-11(11.1), (11.2), and (11.3), the Board proposed by amendment to remove the limit of 20 heads in antifreeze systems in NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D systems; 5) In Subsections R710-9-11(11.1), (11.2), and (11.3), the Board proposed to remove the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) from being allowed to increase the concentration of antifreeze in new systems; and 6) in Subsection R710-9-11(11.4), the Board proposed to require that a tag be attached to the riser and that the tag should indicate the date the antifreeze was tested, the type and concentration of antifreeze solution, the name of the contractor, the contractor's license number, and a statement indicating that the entire system was drained and replaced with antifreeze.

State statutory or constitutional authorization for this rule:

• Section 53-7-204

Anticipated cost or savings to:

the state budget:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to the state budget because the state budget is not effected in any way from the completion of these amendments.

local governments:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to local government because these amendments have no effect on local government whatsoever.

small businesses:

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to small businesses due to the fact that using a different design system and running the fire sprinkler piping up the interior of the occupancy and not up the inside of the outside wall and across the attic will not add significant cost to the system.

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

There is no aggregate anticipated cost or savings to other persons due to the fact that the fire sprinkler contractors will have to design the systems to use the interior of the structure instead of the outside wall and attic system to make sure the freezing temperatures will remain under the allowable percentages of antifreeze mixture.

Compliance costs for affected persons:

There is no compliance costs for affected persons to accomplish this new design procedure. It requires that the automatic fire sprinkler system designer have the riser and fire sprinkler system enter the interior portion of the structure to provide heat and the protection allowed to prevent the system from freezing due to the new limitations of antifreeze in the water in the fire sprinkler system.

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

Due to the injuries and death that have occurred from the release of antifreeze rich automatic fire sprinkler systems, and the need to keep the antifreeze percentages below the proven allowed percentages researched by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), it is now necessary to design these fire protection systems differently by using the interior of the structure to help prevent freezing. The difference in design from the outside wall and attic to the interior of the structure will add no fiscal impact to the automatic fire sprinkler companies. It is just a matter of using a different design system.

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 bhallada@utah.gov

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:

11/14/2011

This rule may become effective on:

11/21/2011

Authorized by:

Brent Halladay, State Fire Marshal

R710. Public Safety, Fire Marshal.

R710-9. Rules Pursuant to the Utah Fire Prevention and Safety Act.

R710-9-2. Definitions.

2.1 "Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)" means the State Fire Marshal, his authorized deputies, or the local fire enforcement authority.

2.2 "Board" means Utah Fire Prevention Board.

2.3 "Committee" means the Firefighter Support Restricted Account Advisory Committee.

2.4 "Dwelling Unit" means one or more rooms arranged for the use of one or more individuals living together, as in a single housekeeping unit normally having cooking, living, sanitary, and sleeping facilities. For purposes of this standard, dwelling unit includes hotel rooms, dormitory rooms, apartments, condominiums, sleeping rooms in nursing homes, and similar living units.

2.5 "Division" means State Fire Marshal.

2.6 "IFC" means International Fire Code.

2.7 "LFA" means Local Fire Authority.

2.8 " Premixed" means the mixing of antifreeze with water that is prepared by the manufacturer with a quality control procedure that ensures that the antifreeze and water solution does not separate.

2.[8]9 "Restricted Account" means Firefighter Support Restricted Account.

2.[9]10 "SFM" means State Fire Marshal or authorized deputy.

2.[10]11 "Sub-Committee" means Fire Prevention Board Budget Sub-Committee or Amendment Sub-Committee.

2.[11]12 "UCA" means Utah Code Annotated, 1953.

 

R710-9-11. Amendments and Additions.

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

11.1 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.3.1.1 is amended by adding the following subsection: 903.3.1.1.2 Antifreeze Limitations. The use of antifreeze in new automatic sprinkler systems[ in new construction in the dwelling unit portion of an occupancy,] installed in accordance with NFPA 13, [is allowed up to 20 heads. The number of sprinkler heads can be expanded as allowed by the AHJ. The mixture of the antifreeze] shall be limited to a maximum concentration of [40]38% premixed propylene glycol or [50]48% premixed glycerin and the capacity of the system shall not exceed 150 gallons.[ The AHJ can allow the concentration of antifreeze to be increased due to temperature concerns.]

11.2 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.3.1.2 is amended by adding the following subsection: 903.3.1.2.2 Antifreeze Limitations. The use of antifreeze in new automatic sprinkler systems [in new construction in the dwelling unit portion of an occupancy,] installed in accordance with NFPA 13R, [is allowed up to 20 heads. The number of sprinkler heads can be expanded as allowed by the AHJ. The mixture of the antifreeze] shall be limited to a maximum concentration of [40]38% premixed propylene glycol or [50]48% premixed glycerin and the capacity of the system shall not exceed 150 gallons.[ The AHJ can allow the concentration of antifreeze to be increased due to temperature concerns.]

11.3 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.3.1.3 is amended by adding the following subsection: 903.3.1.3.1 Antifreeze Limitations. The use of antifreeze in new automatic sprinkler systems [in new construction] installed in accordance with NFPA 13D, [is allowed up to 20 heads. The number of sprinkler heads can be expanded as allowed by the AHJ. The mixture of the antifreeze] shall be limited to a maximum concentration of [40]38% premixed propylene glycol or [50]48% premixed glycerin and the capacity of the system shall not exceed 150 gallons.[ The AHJ can allow the concentration of antifreeze to be increased due to temperature concerns.]

[11.4 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.5 is amended to add the following subsection: 903.5.1 Antifreeze Replacement. Whenever the automatic sprinkler system protecting residences and dwelling units of mixed occupancies that use antifreeze is drained, the replacement antifreeze shall be properly mixed and tested, but shall not exceed a maximum concentration of 40% propylene glycol or a maximum concentration of 50% glycerin. The AHJ can allow the concentration of antifreeze to be increased due to temperature concerns.]11.4 IFC, Chapter 9, Section 903.5 is amended to add the following subsection: 903.5.1 Tag and Information. A tag shall be attached to the riser indicating the date the antifreeze solution was tested. The tag shall also indicate the type and concentration of antifreeze solution by volume with which the system is filled, the date the antifreeze was replaced if applicable, the name of the contractor that tested and/or replaced the antifreeze solution, the contractor's license number, a statement indicating if the entire system was drained and replaced with antifreeze, and a warning to test the concentration of the antifreeze solutions at yearly intervals.

 

KEY: fire prevention, law

Date of Enactment or Last Substantive Amendment: [July 8, 2011]November 21, 2011

Notice of Continuation: June 8, 2007

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