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Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Adopting the 2012 International Fire Code
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MEETING DATE: June 16, 2013
DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
CONTACT: Danny Kistner, Fire Chief
Andrew Barr, Deputy Fire Marshal
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance
ITEM SUMMARY:
- Every three years, the national building and fire codes are updated. Typically, cities which utilize these codes adopt the new standards approximately one to two years after they are introduced. This allows time for staff, architects and builders to review the new codes, and for local amendments, such as the NCTCOG amendments, to be developed.
- The North Central Texas Council of Governments promotes the standardization of local amendments for its member cities. These are adopted by NCTCOG as model construction codes in an effort to simplify the construction process, advance the safety of building systems, promote common code interpretation, facilitate the mobility of contractors, and reduce training and construction costs.
- The NCTCOG's Regional Codes Coordinating Committee (RCCC) and its four Advisory Boards are comprised of local public and private code professionals (public building officials and inspectors, private architects and engineers, and construction and trades professionals) who review the latest editions of the model construction codes and recommend uniform amendments for the North Central Texas region.
- Staff recommends incorporating a dual transition period upon adoption of the new codes. Some projects are already being designed under the new code, while others are in design with the old code. The dual transition period will allow an applicant to either submit under the new codes upon Council adoption, or until August 1, 2013, they may submit under the previous codes.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
- The City of McKinney adopted the 2006 International Codes in July of 2008.
- The City of McKinney Fire Department did not consider the adoption of the 2009 International Fire Code, in order to allow a longer transition period for the code development cycle.
- The 2012 International Codes have been published for 14 months. This period of time has allowed the municipalities and the development community an opportunity to review said codes. The Fire Department staff has also produced a 'Key Changes' handout that will be distributed after the adoption of the new codes.
- As proposed, adopting the 2012 International Fire Code (as described in the above recommended city council action), and their associated amendments will:
- Provide the most current life safety code applications with respect to construction and occupancy of structures.
- Adopt selected and uniform amendments recommended by the North Central Texas Council of Governments and recognized by the area cities.
- Prepare the City of McKinney for the pending August 2013 ISO Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule and assist with the recent ISO re-grade of the Fire Department , which is used in developing insurance rates for properties within the city limits.
- Bring the City of McKinney to a code update cycle (every 3 years) respective of the recommendations by the International Code Council.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: