DEPARTMENT: SAFD
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Charles N. Hood
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
2018 Fire Code Amendments
SUMMARY:
The San Antonio Fire Department is in the process of reviewing and amending the 2018 International Fire Code. The code is scheduled for adoption along with all other associated codes in late spring 2018. This memo serves to brief the Committee on the amendment and adoption process of the fire code, with a summary of significant changes to the code for this cycle.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The International Code Council (ICC) publishes new codes every three years. The code package includes Fire, Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Existing Building, Residential, and Energy Codes. As the codes are designed to work in conjunction with each other, they are reviewed by Development Services and the SAFD shortly after they are published so that they can be adopted at the same time. The codes are often amended to best serve the needs of our community. The SAFD receives amendment proposals from uniformed staff, DSD plan reviewers, design professionals, Fire Protection Engineers and other stakeholders. We have met and discussed potential amendments with the San Antonio Apartment Association, the San Antonio Restaurant Association, the San Antonio Food Truck Association, night club owners and other stakeholders that are to be affected by the new code or proposed amendments. The SAFD has reviewed over 40 proposed amendments and/or deletions this cycle.
Public hearings on the codes are held via open meetings conducted by the Building Related and Fire Codes Appeals and Advisory Board (BRFCAAB). The board assigns a subcommittee for each of the codes. The SAFD will have presented the fire code and draft "A" of the amendments to the subcommittee over 3 meetings by the end of March. The complete process will take at least 5 meetings to complete before recommendations are made to the full BRFCAAB board. Should the board...
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