| NFSA IRC Update Georgia | ||||||||||||||||
| Providing an update on adoption of the International Residential Code and the requirement of fire sprinkler adoption of dwellings. | ||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||
Current IRC Status Reports: HBA actively opposing Fire Service engaged State Fire Marshal: Dwayne Garriss was contacted by the Georgia Home Inspectors Association, looking for an October 24 presentation on residential sprinkler inspections. Dwayne told them if the requirement for sprinklers in one and two family dwellings is adopted it will be under the jurisdiction of the DCA. GA has voted to delay adoption of 2009 codes by another year, citing cost of updating to a new code. State Codes Advisory Committee votes to delay adoption of 2009 I-codes, which includes provisions for residential sprinklers. On January 26, 2010, in a public meeting at the Department of Community Affairs in Atlanta, the State Codes Advisory Committee (SCAC) voted 15-3 to delay the adoption of the 2009 for another year. Originally slated for adoption on January 1, 2010, the 2009 I-Codes offer the most current safeguards for people at home, at school and the workplace and have been developed through a governmental consensus process. Consequently, the 2006 edition of the I-Codes will remain in effect through December 31, 2011, if not longer. The SCAC is proposing to adopt the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code. The motion was submitted by Tomas J. Carty, President of Building Officials Association of Georgia and presiding chairman of the SCAC. The intention to delay adoption of the 2009 I-codes was not listed in the public agenda. Proponents for the delay cited a weak economy and the financial strain that building departments would incur with the purchase of the new code books and that the existing 2006 codes in Georgia are sufficient for the safety of Georgians. Opposition from the fire service noted that the ICC codes are available to everyone online free of charge, that the ISO ratings could go up (raising insurance premiums on homeowners and business across Georgia), and that there are numerous code change enhancements in the 2009 I-codes (not simply residential sprinkler requirements). The deadline for new amendment proposals for this code cycle was December 15, 2009; consequently no amendments will be considered. The fire service attempted to extend this date to March 15, 2010 since the direction of the committee had drastically changed course. The motion was defeated. The delay could lead to the bypassing of the 2009 I-codes altogether, with the SCAC adopting the 2012 I-Codes on January 1, 2012 or January 1, 2013. The 2009 I-Codes includes hundreds of safety enhancements, including residential sprinklers. The States Codes Advisory Committee, composed of 21 members, is appointed by the Commissioner of the Department of Community of Affairs and proposes amendments, modifications, and new provisions to the state minimum standard codes to the Board of Community Affairs for Statewide adoption. The Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee voted 8 to 4 to send HB 1196 to the full house for a vote. This legislation takes away any communities rights to establish residential sprinklers as a requirement under their local ordinances. It is my understanding the House will be voting on this bill on Monday. If you oppose HB 1196, please communicate with your State Representative about your opposition to House Bill 1196.Follow this link for a complete list of the Georgia House Membership. This includes an email address for most representatives. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/house/alpha.html Prohibition bill passes House - working block in Senate. Our lobbyist in GA has done an excellent job in persuading Senate Leadership to amend the current bill to allow local government to adopt fire sprinkler requirements. In the last 8 hours, the Senate President Pro Tem Tommie Williams has also publicly stated to GOP senators that the bill needs a local control amendment. One of our chief opponents in the Senate (Sen. John Bulloch) has told his local fire chief that “we expect a local control amendment will be added to the bill.” The Senate Rules chairman continues to push for our position as well. These are all the Senators in Power. Should all be over by the end of next week. |
||||||||||||||||