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  • Wednesday, March 13, 2024 17:37 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    SB 6120 modified laws in Washington related to the Wildland Urban Interface Code (WUIC).  SB 6120 included emergency provisions and will take effect upon the Governor’s signature, which is expected to occur in mid-March 2024.  In order to start or continue enforcing the WUIC after this emergency rule takes effect, local jurisdictions should be aware of implementation recommendations from WSAFM.


  • Wednesday, February 07, 2024 08:07 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    Fellow Fire Marshals,

    The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals (WSAFM) needs you to contact your legislator or your municipality’s lobbyist to ask for an amendment to be added to HB2071.

    HB2071, as it is currently written, will exempt multiplex housing from the IBC and lessen the likelihood that sprinklers and other fire protection systems will be provided. The end goal of the legislation is to find ways to build multiplexes more affordably. The legislation states: “Allowing middle and multiplex housing to be built according to the standards of the international residential code will result in housing being easier to build and more affordable without sacrificing quality and safety. Therefore, the legislature intends to simplify the production of middle and multiplex housing by allowing more types of housing to use provisions of the international residential code.

    The legislation creates a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) for the purpose of recommending the additions or amendments to rules or codes that are necessary for the council to apply the Washington state residential code to multiplex housing. The legislation goes on to say that the TAG “must consider the life safety systems…….” WSAFM strongly believes that the language “must consider” needs to be replaced with “will include”. 

    To find your legislative representation you can search here:  https://app.leg.wa.gov/Rosters/Members/House

    House Bill 2071 Information

    Timeline:  Let us know by Friday 2/7 if you are willing to get involved. WSAFM’s lobbyist is more than willing to assist you in your efforts. Contact Bryan McConaughy via e-mail at bryan@bmcconsulting.net and cc WSAFM Legislative Leads Dave Kokot dkokot@wsafm.com or Karen Grove karen.grove@seattle.gov.

    Yours in service,

    The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals

  • Monday, December 18, 2023 17:34 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    On November 17, the SBCC approved amendments to the WUI code that weaken or remove defensible space requirements and ask local jurisdictions to adopt their own map (the DNR map would no longer be referenced).   WSAFM has concerns and provided an official letter to the SBCC.  Defensible space is a national best practice and proven code strategy to reduce death and property loss from wildfire.  WSAFM feels the SBCC exceptions go too far in Chapter 6, particularly for jurisdictions in the eastern, drier part of the state.   In addition, WSAFM is concerned that the SBCC is creating an unfunded mandate for local jurisdictions by removing the DNR map (SBCC amendments to Chapter 3).  WSAFM would rather see the DNR map improved with more local flexibility rather than require all local jurisdictions to create and maintain their own maps.

    WSAFM's official comment is here: WSAFM WUI Position Paper

    The proposed Draft Language from the SBCC is here: Microsoft Word - Defensible Space Proposal Council Decision Nov 17 (wa.gov)

    Please contact Dave Kokot with comments or feedback at dkokot@wsafm.com.

  • Wednesday, November 01, 2023 10:31 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    The 2024 Legislative Session begins on Monday, January 8, 2024, and will run for a short 60 days.  The Washington State Association of Fire Marshals Legislative Committee has established draft priorities for the 2024 session.  We are requesting feedback from the membership through December 1, 2023.  Please email karen.grove@seattle.gov or dkokot@wsafm.com with comments or suggestions. 

  • Tuesday, September 12, 2023 08:48 | Dave Kokot (Administrator)
      • A meeting of the Fire Service Delivery Workgroup is scheduled for  Tuesday, September 26, 2023 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Lacey Fire District’s Training and Education Center in Lacey, Washington.  WSAFM is not a member of the Workgroup, but is requested to provide testimony as a stakeholder.  We are looking for comments and suggestions to be included in our testimony to the Workgroup.  Members interested in providing testimony information are requested to contact Dave Kokot at dkokot@wsafm.com. 

        The Fire Service Delivery Workgroup was established by the 2023 Operating Budget. The workgroup’s purpose is to evaluate the existing funding and service delivery models of fire service functions (currently provided by the Washington State Fire Marshal’s Office) including, but not limited to:

        a)      Fire service training and certifications;

        b)      Apprenticeships;

        c)      Risk mobilization;

        d)      Fire prevention;

        e)      Inspections and plan review;

        f)       Data collection;

        g)      Building codes and fire sprinkler and monitoring systems; and

        h)      Fireworks and fire safe cigarettes.

        They are seeking statewide stakeholder input. To that end, we will be providing the following:

        1. How we interact with the Office of the State Fire Marshal
        2. Most important challenges our organization faces regarding fire service funding, or fire service delivery
        3. Recommendations to improve those concerns

        The Fire Service Delivery Workgroup must report its findings and recommendations for the future delivery of these functions to the Legislature and the Governor by December 1, 2023.

       


  • Wednesday, July 05, 2023 09:42 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    The State Building Code Council of Washington State (SBCC) has extended a previously approved emergency rule to allow fire code officials to utilize the 2023 edition of NFPA 855 for the Installation of Energy Storage Systems. This emergency rule had support from regulatory agencies and industry when it was first introduced in November of 2022 to the SBCC. The existing emergency rule expired in May of 2023 and with the delay of the implementation of the 2021 Washington State Codes it was necessary to create an extension.


    An amended Chapter 12 of the 2021 International Fire Code (IFC) was also approved by the SBCC for Off-Cycle Rule making. This chapter is particularly relevant for the installation and maintenance of batteries and energy storage systems (ESS). The proposed changes bring forward the latest code language from the 2024 IFC into the Washington State 2021 Fire Code.


    The 2021 WA State Fire Code also has two new sections addressing Lithium-ion batteries and powered mobility devices such as electric scooters and bikes. Section 322 Lithium-Ion and Lithium Metal Batteries and section 323 Powered Micromobility Devices and Powered Industrial Trucks were developed to help address the hazards associated with the use of lithium-ion batteries. The new code language is from the 2024 IFC (International Fire Code) and was brought forward early in Washington State to assist in regulating this industry. The first printing of the State’s insert pages are a good source for Chapter 3 modifications.  The 2021 Washington Fire Code with these amendments is expected to take effect no earlier than October 29, 2023. 

  • Thursday, June 01, 2023 15:22 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    The State Building Code Council (SBCC) voted on May 24, 2023, to delay the effective date of the 2021 codes until October 29, 2023 (120 days).  The SBCC also created to Technical Advisory Groups to consider stakeholder proposals on sections of the commercial and energy codes.  Possible modifications are being considered as a result of legal uncertainty stemming from the decision in California Restaurant Association v. City of Berkeley. 

    The first printing of insert pages showing WA amendments to the 2021 IFC is available here:  www.sbcc.wa.gov/state-codes-regulations-guidelines/state-building-code/fire-code-amendments

  • Tuesday, January 24, 2023 12:48 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    The SBCC recently passed an emergency amendment to the 2018 Fire Code to bring forward additional provisions available in the 2021 code related to requirements for battery energy storage systems.  This amendment provides local AHJs additional safety provisions at time of permitting and installation -- provisions that are included in the 2021 codes but not available under the 2018 code. 


    These changes (shown in underline below) will take effect following the publication by the State’s Code Reviser’s office (early February): 


    1201.1 Scope. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to the installation, operation and maintenance of energy systems used for generating or storing energy. It shall not apply to equipment associated with the generation, control, transformation, transmission, or distribution of energy installations that is under the exclusive control of an electric utility or lawfully designated agency. Energy storage systems regulated by Section 1206 shall comply with this chapter as appropriate and NFPA 855.


    Chapter 80 REFERENCED STANDARDS

    NFPA 855-23 Standard for the Installation of Stationary Energy Storage Systems

    1201.1 

  • Wednesday, November 23, 2022 12:42 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    On Friday 11/18/2022, the SBCC passed the first Washington WUI Code! The new WUI Code will go into effect along with the other State codes on July 1, 2023 [now delayed to 10/29/2023 along with the suite of constrution codes including the fire code]. The code is based on the International WUI Code and is amended by the State to require all jurisdictions to implement all of the requirements of RCW 19.27.560 within the framework of the model code published by ICC.

    As adopted by the state, the minimum requirements are those found in RCW 19.27.560 and findings of fact are per the DNR wildland interface map. Additional amendments allow local jurisdictions to refine findings of fact in addition to the DNR map. Furthermore,  other ignition resistant construction classifications may be proposed by applicants based on an assessment of risk presented by applicants and reviewed by local jurisdictions. The code amendments approved by the SBCC were largely developed by the WASFM / WABO working group.  This is a good example of the fire marshals and building officials collaborating to move an important new code forward in Washington State.  For more information about the amendments and steps to take to implement the new code please see:  Washington State Association of Fire Marshals - State Codes (wsafm.com)

    Thank you to Traci Harvey (Spokane Valley), Dave Kokot (Spokane), Mark Jung (Kirkland), and many others who contributed to this important fire prevention work in Washington. 

  • Monday, October 24, 2022 15:11 | Karen Grove (Administrator)

    Throughout the summer there have been proposals submitted to the State Building Code Council asking to defer the effective date of the 2021 Building Codes including the Fire Code in Washington State.  Most recently on 10/21/2022 the SBCC considered two proposals that would have moved the effective date to November 2023 or December 2023.  However, those proposals were not approved.  The effective date for the 2021 Building Codes including the Fire Code remains 7/1/2023.

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