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Consider/Discuss/Act on an Ordinance Amending Chapter 42, Fire Prevention and Protection of the Code of Ordinances of the City of McKinney, Texas by Repealing Article II, “Fire Prevention Code” in its Entirety and Adopting a New Article II, Title “Fire Prevention Code” to Adopt the 2015 Edition of the International Fire Code, and the North Central Texas Council of Governments Recommended Amendments
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Safe and Secure Community
MEETING DATE: January 2, 2018
DEPARTMENT: Fire Department
CONTACT: Danny Kistner, Fire Chief
Mike Smith, Fire Marshal
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION: Approve Ordinance
ITEM SUMMARY:
• Every three (3) years, the International Code Council (ICC) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) publish new codes for the states and local municipalities to consider for adoption. The North Texas municipalities consider the adoption of the updated codes every three (3) years, after the NCTCOG has published the proposed amendments.
• 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.
• The Ordinance includes updating permitting, plan review and inspection fee schedule to current industry standards based on size of the project rather than the current flat rate.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• Currently, the City is utilizing the 2012 International Fire Code (IFC) with local and NCTCOG amendments.
• The McKinney Code Adoption Team reviewed the 2015 IFC, and presented Four (4) Significant Financial Impact sections to the McKinney Code Subcommittee for review. The McKinney Code Subcommittee recommended all Four (4) of these Significant Financial Impact change sections to be included into the full Code Adoption Amendments.
• The proposed 2015 IFC ordinance is in line with the recommended code adoption by the McKinney Code Adoption Team to the 2015 IBC, IMC, IFGC, IECC, IRC, IPMC and NEC
• The proposed codes were presented to the City Council at the December 18, 2017 Work Session. The City Council provided direction to staff to proceed with the consideration of the Ordinances at the next Regular meeting.
• As proposed, adopting the 2015 International Fire Code (as described in the above recommended city council action) and their associated amendments will:
o Provide the most current life safety code applications with respect to construction and occupancy of structures, as well as safety of firefighters.
o Adopt amendments recommended by the North Central Texas Council of Governments and recognized by the area cities.
o Prepare the City of McKinney for the pending January 2018 ISO re-grade of the Fire Department , which is used in developing insurance rates for commercial and residential properties within the city limits.
o Bring the City of McKinney to a code update cycle (every 3 years) respective of the recommendations by the International Code Council.