Fire Code Action Committee (F-CAC) Meeting Minutes June 19-20, 2012 Chicago IL Fire-CAC Members in Attendance Anthony Apfelbeck (Vice-Chairman) Daniel Finnegan Howard Hopper, P.E. Andrew King Kelly Nicolello Joe Pierce (Chairman) Emory Rodgers Earl Valios Audience in Attendance Patrick McLaughlin Jeffrey M. Shapiro, P.E., FSFPE Jim Tidwell Vicki Lovell ICC Staff in Attendance Bruce Johnson Bill Rehr Scott Stookey Summary of Actions and Regional Work Group (RWG) Assignments The following items have been approved by the F-CAC and will be moved forward as Track B Change Proposals: IBC- FS41 Item 23, 42, 49, 115, 128, 129 The following RWG and F-CAC assignments are for identified items and topics. F-CAC members will be at each of the RWG meetings to explain the intent and purpose of the change proposals and provide background on the F-CAC discussions on each assigned item. Fire-CAC Western RWG NE RWG Southern RWG Item 13 Item 2C Item 15 Item 15 Item 69B Item 41 Code change topic 11 Item 69E Item 70 Item 68 Code change topic 9 Item 71 Item 69 Item 73 Item 80 Code change topic 4 Item 95 Code change topic 12 Code change topic 6 Code change topic 13
June 19 20, 2012 Chicago Meeting Page 2 Based on the titled F-CAC 2012 Code Change Topics (6-18-2012) the following topics are new task groups or RWG assignments: Topic 4 Hotwork on Flammable & Combustible Liquid Storage Tanks. Task group is K. Nicollelo, P. McLaughlin and B. Swiecicki. Topic 6 Temporary Tents & Membrane Structures. Tasked to Western RWG Topic 9 Residential CNG Dispensing. Tasked to Southern RWG Topic 11 Fire Performance of Modular Buildings. Tasked to Northeast RWG Topic 12 H 2 O Mist Systems. Tasked to ICC staff and reviewed by F-CAC Topic 13 Class IV Organic Peroxides. Tasked to ICC staff and reviewed by F-CAC The next and final meeting of the Fire-CAC will be November 14 th and 15 th in Chicago, IL. Travel reservations notices will be sent at a later date. June 19, 2012 Meeting Minutes The meeting commenced at 0810. Committee members, participants and ICC staff offered self introductions. A review of change proposals was commenced. The Track A public comment was tabled until Wednesday. The Track B change proposals that have been reviewed and modified as a result of the teleconferences were reviewed by the F-CAC members in attendance: Item 2C: P. McLaughlin recommended providing the task group with a clean copy of the change proposal. An additional review of the change proposal as it relates to existing occupancies was also recommended. Item 13: A proposal to add optional power systems was deemed unnecessary. H. Hopper offered a proposal that clearly states the maximum standby and emergency power load transfer and minimum power duration times. His proposal eliminates a proposed table and instead clarifies all the various requirements in all the I-Codes. F-CAC desires this format. The proposal will be divided into two parts: Part I is Section 604.5 and Part II are all the various I-Code sections requiring correlation. J. Shapiro noted that the definition of Standby Power includes the phrase electric utility power which could eliminate the NFPA 110 & NFPA 70 option of different utility feeds as a source of standby power. This item will be maintained by the F-CAC and not sent to a regional work group. K. Nicolello will chair the item and S. Stookey (ICC Staff) will work on the technical content. Item 42: Reviewed the revised reason statement. Accepted by F-CAC and a motion was made and accepted to move item 42 as a change proposal for Track B. Item 44: Creates a tabular form for establishing fire flow in IRC regulated buildings and proposes to reduce fire flow for dwellings sprinklered in accordance with IRC P2904 or one of the three NFPA sprinkler standards. It includes a requirement clarifying that sprinkler demand can be part of fire flow. One issue is one table is used to reference another table in the proposal, which is not consistent with ICC editorial rules. The item was tabled and B. Rehr will review. Item 49: Clarifies the Appendix C hydrant spacing requirements and allows increased hydrant spacing in buildings protected by an automatic sprinkler system. F-CAC reviewed the reason
June 19 20, 2012 Chicago Meeting Page 3 statement. Accepted by F-CAC and a motion was made and accepted to move item 49 as a change proposal for Track B. The F-CAC commenced a review of the document titled F-CAC 2012 Code Change Topics (6-18-2012). This document is a summary of e-mail and website messages sent to ICC that are proposals for code changes. Based on the committee s review the following topics were moved forward for further study or drafting of change proposals: Topic 4 Hotwork on Flammable & Combustible Liquid Storage Tanks. This item responded to a USCSB investigation dated April 19, 2012 of an incident involving hot work on a vinyl fluoride tank. In this incident that tank undergoing was interconnected with other unit process equipment, which was not adequately isolated. Upon commencing hot work the welder was immediately killed. F-CAC members found that the IFC does not adequately address hot work operations on hazardous process equipment. The scenario of interconnected tanks is not addressed. Other loss issues are compromised floating roof tank seals. In many cases sub contractors are involved. Section 5706.7.2 is only limited to tanks in refineries, which would not be applicable to this installation. K. Nicollelo, P. McLaughlin and B. Swiecicki to review. Topic 6 Temporary Tents & Membrane Structures. F-CAC moved this item to Western RWG with the Austin (TX) and Dallas (TX) FD amendments. The Western RWG should review the proposal and offer an opinion if there is any value in adding these local amendments to the IFC. Western RWG should not act on the amendment to the IBC as this has already been reviewed by the Building CAC and they will not move to support a change proposal. Topic 9 Residential CNG Dispensing. Review IFGC 413.2.3 to determine if the requirements can be improved using reference to, or requirements from, NFPA 52. F-CAC directed Southern Regional Work Group to review IFC Chapter 52, NFPA 52 and IFGC. It appears a link back to the IFC Chapter 23 and IRC for residential CNG dispensers is needed. Topic 11 Fire Performance of Modular Housing. F-CAC referred to the NE RWG. Proposal will need approval by the Building CAC. No action can occur until the 2018 IBC Code Development cycle. Topic 12 Water Mist Systems. Table 901.6.1 references NFPA 750 for the inspection, testing and maintenance (IT&M) of water mist systems. 2012 IFC Section 2108.1, exception 1.5 recognizes these systems as an alternative fire-extinguishing system for dry cleaning plants. However, Section 904 has no guidance on IT&M or any requirements for their installation. The I-Codes don t define what constitutes a water mist system - it would be good to add some criteria for these systems. Bill Rehr has drafted a change proposal that was added to the Track B Matrix Analysis of Change Proposals. Topic 13 Organic Peroxides. The IFC requirements for Class IV organic peroxides are less restrictive than the current requirements in NFPA 400. NFPA 400 allows these materials in a Group S-1 occupancy but requires automatic sprinkler protection, spill control and mechanical ventilation. The I-Codes need to be correlated as this was a recent change. F-CAC asked S. Stookey to draft a change proposal. The F-CAC reviewed new change proposals. These are items 111-129 in the Track B Matrix Analysis of Change proposals. Change items 115, 128 and 129 were recommended to be submitted by the F-CAC as Track B change proposals. Any other proposals in the range of item 111-129 were returned to the
June 19 20, 2012 Chicago Meeting Page 4 proponent due to technical issues. The committee comments are shown in the Track B Matrix Analysis of Change Proposals. The Tuesday meeting concluded at 4:50 PM. Minutes of Building CAC and Fire CAC Joint Meeting on June 20, 2012 The meeting commenced at 8:08 AM. F-CAC reviewed the following tabled items: 15, 23, 68, 69B, 69E, 70, 73, 95, 111, 112, 113. The committee comments are shown in the Track B Matrix Analysis of Change Proposals. Notes from F CAC and Building CAC Meeting on June 20, 2012 IFC Chapter 11, IBC Chapter 34 & IEBC Building-CAC has concerns with IFC Chapter 11 in relation to IBC Chapter 34. Steve McDaniel of the B- CAC is handling the revisions to the IEBC and IBC Chapter 34. There are conflicting provisions between IFC Chapter 11 versus Chapter 34 of the IBC and the IEBC. For example, Phase I service in IFC Section 604 has retroactive requirements. Conflicts were identified between IFC Chapter 11 and the IEBC. F- CAC noted that in some jurisdictions the IEBC is not adopted. Jim Tidwell noted that the reason for the creation of Chapter 11 was to identify and articulate the retroactive provisions and to determine if there are correlation issues. Emory Rogers noted this is a jurisdiction scoping issue in Virginia. One major concern of the B-CAC is the protection of vertical openings, which originated from the legacy Uniform Fire Code. S. Winkle with the B-CAC indicated issues regarding historic buildings which can require additional analysis that may not be needed. Chairman J. Pierce proposed a task group between F-CAC and B-CAC: Emory Rogers, Anthony Apfelbeck, Steve Winkle (B-CAC) and Steve McDaniel (B-CAC). Attic Access Question concerning R807.1 attic access in one- and two- family dwellings or townhomes. Is this provision necessary for interior firefighting operations? F-CAC believes this is for equipment the fire service just takes advantage of the opening. This was not a fire service provision. Standby Power & Emergency Power IFC K. Nicolello explained purpose of the modifications to Item 13. D. Bowman indicated IBC Chapter 27 is part of the Track B proposal. Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms IFC H. Hopper introduced proposals for changes concerning CO alarms. F-CAC has a large body of stakeholders. Currently IRC has 4 paragraphs on CO alarms. F-CAC is clarifying these requirements to be more reasonable and correlated to current IRC provisions. Informational Appendix in IRC in one- and two-family dwellings IFC A. King explained a proposed information annex on application of P2904. B-CAC indicated this could be useful information for H2O purveyors. The meeting was concluded at 1:10 PM.
June 19 20, 2012 Chicago Meeting Page 5 Upcoming Regional Workgroup Meetings The Southern Fire Regional Work Group is hosting a meeting at the Marietta (GA) HQ fire station located at 112 Haynes Street. The meeting is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on August, 16 2012 and from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on August 17, 2012. Hotel rooms are available at the Hilton Inn in Marietta located at 500 Powder Springs Rd., Marietta, GA (Telephone: 770-427-2500). The meeting coordinator is Mel Cosgrove. F-CAC member is Alan Perdue. The Midwestern Fire Regional Work Group is a hosting a meeting at the Aloft (Chicago O Hare) Hotel located 9700 Balmoral Avenue in Rosemont, IL. The meeting is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on August 8, 2012 and from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on August 9, 2012. Telephone number is 847-518-1234. The meeting coordinator is Bob Neale. F-CAC members are Dan Finnegan and Earl Valois. The Western Fire Regional Work Group is a hosting a meeting at the Park City Fire Service District Administrative Offices located at 736 West Bitner Road in Park City, UT. The meeting is scheduled from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on August 1, 2012 and from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on August 2, 2012. Point of contact is Fire Marshal/Assistant Chief Scott Adams. The meeting coordinator is David Nichols. F-CAC member is Kelly Nicolello. The Northeast Fire Regional Work Group is a hosting a meeting at the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services located at 1 State Road in Stow, MA. The meeting is scheduled from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on August 22, 2012 and from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM on August 23, 2012. The point of contact is Timothee Rodrique. The meeting coordinator is Roland Hall. F-CAC members are Ken Bush and Emory Rodgers.