Tenn. Regulator Announces Emergency Rules for Fire and Building Codes

Leslie Newman, Commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, filed emergency rules with the Secretary of State’s Office last week to allow building plans to be submitted and reviewed under the 2006 International Building Code (IBC) and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code.

With these emergency rules, the Fire Prevention Division will review plans submitted under the 1999 Standard Building Code, the 2006 IBC, the 2003 Uniform Fire Code and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code.

Now, the construction and design firms which had relied on rules adopting the 2006 International Building Code and the 2006 Uniform Fire Code as the minimum standard that were withdrawn by the department last month can proceed with submitting plans under those codes. These emergency rules are effective immediately and will remain in effect until July 8. The department hopes to have formal permanent rules in effect by that date.

Newman will be considering which of two fire codes to adopt: the 2006 International Fire Code or the 2006 Uniform Fire Code.

In order to solicit the widest range of comments possible, a public meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. in the Tennessee Room at the Tennessee Tower in Nashville. All interested parties are encouraged to attend the hearing and speak and/or provide written information. The Commissioner will rely on the information obtained at this public meeting and will promulgate rules in the future proposing adoption of an updated fire code.

In addition, a formal rulemaking hearing is scheduled for March 19, to propose the adoption of the 2006 International Building Code. Once the hearing is concluded, the department will consider all written and oral comments and forward the rulemaking hearing rules to the Attorney General’s Office for legal review. Once approved and returned to the department, the rules will be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office. The rules will become effective within 75 days.

A future rulemaking hearing for a proposed updated fire code will follow the same procedure as with the building code hearing.

Source: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance