|
Title:
|
Update on Fire Code Amendments
|
Title
Update on Fire Code Amendments
Description
This report provides the Public Safety and Justice Subcommittee with information on proposed changes to the Fire Code.
THIS ITEM IS FOR DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION.
Report
Summary
The City of Phoenix adopted the 2018 International Fire Code in 2019. Since then, the Fire Code has been revised to ensure its continual relevance and modernization in requirements and protective measures. The Fire Code is the foundation of the Fire Department's ability to safeguard and mitigate risks for our community and first responders. Beyond the Fire Code's primary role, the code is pivotal in supporting and fostering growth within our community. As community risk profiles change, the Fire Code must evolve to remain relevant to the best practices in community risk reduction.
The Fire Department uses a standard process to assess the need for amendments to the Fire Code that focuses on openness, transparency, balancing interests, and building partnerships. The proposed amendment packet (Attachment A) resulted from extensive stakeholder feedback and alignment with the Fire Department’s goals and mission. The Fire Safety Advisory Board, which serves on behalf of the City Council as an advisory board for matters relating to Fire Prevention, voted unanimously in favor of this packet after more than 15 hours of review, public meetings, and discussions.
This amendment packet encompasses updates and changes across three key areas:
The first set of corrections aims to address identified clerical errors that arose during the publishing and formatting of the original Fire Code. These errors include numbering errors, where section numbering sequences were inadvertently adjusted or reset, as well as grammar and sentence structure errors. These corrections have been made in the amendment packet and will help ensure transparency in enforcement and compliance with the Fire Code.
Second, the Fire Code updates aim to help keep pace with the evolving landscape of materials and industry trends to support development growth without causing construction delays. Simultaneously, these revisions incorporate technological advancements and industry developments within the commercial and industrial sectors. For example, the fast-growing and evolving battery energy storage sector is central to the amendment packet. The packet incorporate the latest national fire codes and industry standards for batteries and their systems to enhance community protection while safeguarding first responders.
Lastly, there are modifications to the Fire Code's fee schedule to streamline permit processing steps and fees to support renewable energy systems. The result will be a more efficient process for requestors and City staff. While this measure is anticipated to result in a modest reduction in revenue, the significant benefits to customers, industry partners, and staff outweigh the revenue decrease.
The Fire Department will publish the code changes in English and Spanish to expand outreach and welcome input from the City's diverse community. This amendment package will likely be the final amendment as staff plans to work on the next iteration of adopting the 2024 International Codes in partnership with the Planning and Development Department.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.