WSR 17-08-013

PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY

[Filed March 24, 2017, 1:59 p.m.]

Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 51-50 WAC, amendment of the 2015 International Building Code; and chapter 51-54A WAC, amendment of the 2015 International Fire Code.

Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: RCW 19.27.074.

Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: This rule making will resolve two separate issues in the Building Code (chapter 51-50 WAC) and Fire Code (chapter 51-54A WAC), as follows: (1) The state building code council (SBCC) has worked with a stakeholder coalition to resolve issues related to fire alarm systems in schools, in response to a budget proviso passed by the 2016 legislature, on the issue of alarm installations in schools; emergency rules were adopted, permanent rules are needed. (2) In 2016, SBCC adopted a rule requiring NICET certification for installation of fire alarm systems, with a deadline of July 1, 2017. Adoption of that deadline did not meet the needs of the alarm industry due to training requirements; the compliance date is changed to July 1, 2018, to allow for appropriate training. Permanent rules are needed.

Process for Developing New Rule: SBCC technical advisory groups met with subject experts and stakeholder groups to develop proposed solutions; SBCC approved adoption of the proposed language.

Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Tim Nogler, Washington SBCC, P.O. Box 41449, Olympia, WA 98504-1449, (360) 407-9280, fax (360) 586-5366, email sbcc@ga.wa.gov.

March 10, 2017

Steve K. Simpson

Council Chair