Title
Adoption of 2024 International Fire Code with Phoenix Amendments (Ordinance G-7464) - Citywide
Description
Request to adopt the 2024 International Fire Code (IFC) with Phoenix amendments.
Report
Summary
The IFC is a national standard, and the 2024 IFC is currently being adopted by jurisdictions in Maricopa County and the State of Arizona, including the State Fire Marshals' Office. Phoenix has utilized the IFC since 2006. The IFC is developed through a public consensus process and is consistent with Phoenix Council Resolution 19015, approved in December 1997, that supports the development of consensus-based construction codes and standards. The continued use of the IFC allows Phoenix customers to utilize a code that reflects the current evolution of building materials, technologies, industry practice, and reduces the cost of construction and compliance.
Since the fire and building codes are complementary, the Phoenix Fire and Planning and Development departments work in coordination to ensure requirements and terminology are consistent, predictable, and user-friendly for customers. It is also essential that codes be technically relevant and updated to the latest industry standards and approaches. In July 2025, the Phoenix Construction Code, based on the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) with Phoenix Amendments, was adopted.
The approach taken by Phoenix Fire staff in the Fire Code adoption process has been to involve the fire protection and development sectors, as well as community representatives, through industry meetings and listening sessions, along with engagement from the Fire Safety Advisory Board's (FSAB) open public meetings. The FSAB is a City Council-appointed board representing the interests of many stakeholder groups, including, but not limited to: architecture; building owners and managers; fire protection engineers and contractors; event industry; solar contractors; hazardous materials industries; health care; property insurance communities; real estate; and the public. The goal of the process is to adopt the IFC base code while making clarifying amendments tailored to Phoenix that support, assist, and protect the Phoenix community.
Highlights of the 2024 IFC and Phoenix amendments include:
New National Base Code Operational Permits
- New operational permit requirements for temporary heating and cooking in special event tents and in wildfire risk areas.
- New operational permit requirements for temporary heating at construction sites.
- New operational permit requirements for stationary and mobile Energy Storage Systems (ESS).
- New operational permit requirements for the accumulation of greater than 15 cubic feet of lithium-ion batteries.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) (Chapter 12)
- Bringing new first responder-focused signage at BESS sites to identify and bring situational awareness to the firefighters and other response personnel of the BESS system onsite.
- Clarification and enhancement of the requirements for the detection of toxic and flammable gases to help designers and planners understand gas detection requirements for their BESS system, to help detect and mitigate explosive conditions.
- Bring forth national fire code language that further clarifies that BESS operated by utility providers are to comply with the requirements found in the Phoenix Fire Code and are not exempt.
- Enhanced requirements for automatic fire sprinkler design criteria, now taking into account the energy capacity of the BESS.
- Add additional new battery chemistry types to the Phoenix Fire Code in relation to maximum allowed quantities, regulations, and enforcement, which are not in the current Phoenix Fire Code.
- Enhances signage requirements at electrical disconnect boxes for firefighter awareness at single-family homes with BESS onsite outside or in the vehicle garages.
Professional Engineer Stamp (Chapter 1)
- Adjusts the Professional Engineer (PE) Stamp requirement to align with State Law and engineering practices.
Emergency Access (Chapter 5)
- Increase the distance from a fire lane to a building. Slight adjustment from the 2018 current code, taken from stakeholder and first responder engagement and feedback.
- Clarifies the testing intervals and parameters for emergency radio responder coverage systems (ERRCS) used to support firefighter radio communications in buildings.
Refrigeration and Gas Detection System (Chapter 6)
- Adoption of a new national code language to support the transition from toxic refrigerants like ammonia to less toxic options.
- Consolidation of gas detection requirements found throughout the current fire code to a singular section to enhance customer experience and increase compliance.
Motor Fuel Dispensing Locations (Chapter 23)
- Adding language to allow cellular phones in place of fixed land lines at unattended fueling locations to contact 911 in the event of an emergency after industry and stakeholders' feedback.
National Standard Referenced (Chapter 80)
- Updating numerous national standards references to their current editions to enhance and promote new technologies and risk reduction processes, also to align with the latest industry standards.
The IFC and Phoenix amendments are included as Attachment A.
The Fire Code adoption process is consistent with the 2024 International Building Code (IBC) adoption process approved by the City Council on June 18, 2025. The Fire Safety Advisory Board acts as the reviewing body for the IFC, just as the Development Advisory Board (DAB) acts as the reviewing body of the IBC. The Fire Safety Advisory Board gave their unanimous approval of the adoption of the 2024 IFC with the proposed Phoenix Amendments on October 2, 2025.
The effective date of the new Fire Code, if adopted by Council, is February 17, 2026. After the effective date of this ordinance, any person who has already substantially completed the design work on a project may request that the Fire Code Official allow completion of the design using the preceding Phoenix Fire Code (G-7242). If allowed, by the Fire Code Office's opinion and discretion, such a person will have until August 31, 2026, to complete the design and submit a complete permit application to the City for review.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This item was presented to the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning (TIP) Subcommittee on November 19, 2025.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Fire Department.