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Protect our Homes, Maintain Home Rule
IAFC On Scene: March 15, 2009 National leadership is calling on leaders at the state and local level. Calling all fire service personnel to action!
A recent IAFC member alert notified us that “Homebuilders Trying to Preempt Adoption of State and Local Sprinkler Regulations.” Their attempts are now going beyond fire sprinklers. They’re also trying to ensure local jurisdictions aren’t able to adopt model building and fire codes stronger than those adopted by the state. This could severely limit items in the International Code Council’s body of codes and the National Fire Protection Association’s codes and standard especially designed to protect citizens and firefighters. The divisions, sections, committees and general members of the IAFC must unite to fight these attempts to restrict local adoption of fire and building codes. The health, safety and well-being of our citizens depend on prevention and mitigation efforts before the emergency, which is when our emergency response kicks in. This prevention and mitigation to the built environment is best accomplished with the adoption and enforcement of national, model building and fire codes. The International Code Council is the predominant building-code organization in our country and regulates the construction of most new buildings. The NFPA is the predominant codes and standards-making organization to ensure life safety from fire. These model codes are developed at a national level by professionals from local levels, intended to be adopted and enforced by professionals at the local level.
It is encouraged that our state governments promulgate codes that establish a minimum for the state, especially to cover those areas lacking any codes. However, it shouldn’t be the role of the state to limit our local ability to improve the level of protection to our citizens and firefighters. House Bill 2267 in Arizona, Senate Bill 2354 in North Dakota and House Bill 554 in Texas are all aimed at limiting a local jurisdictions ability to adopt and enhance codes. Don’t lose your right as a fire chief to best serve. Don’t lose your community’s ability to best determine the building and fire code package best suited to protect the citizens and firefighters. Model building and fire codes protect homes to high-rises, and it’s our responsibility to ensure our maximum capability to provide the best possible service to our community. Get involved! Join forces with your local and state organizations to unite and ensure the homebuilders and other special interest groups don’t take away our right to best serve the citizens and firefighters in our community. Visit www.iafc.org/flss for more information on how to be involved. Shane Ray is fire chief of the Pleasant View (Tenn.) Volunteer Fire Department. He serves on the Fire and Life Safety board of directors. |
Individuals and organizations across our country are taking action that limits our ability to best serve our communities. These special interest groups are introducing legislation to state government that limits a local fire departments’ ability to provide fire and life safety techniques and technologies, thus protecting our citizens and firefighters. |
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