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Item # 24.

Work Session and Regular Meeting

Meeting Date:	04/28/2020
Department:	Development Services
Pillars:	Innovation in Entrepreneurship & Business
Milestones:	Leverage Airport assets to maximize business growth and expansion

AGENDA CAPTION:

Consider Action to Approve an Ordinance Amending Chapter 38 "Fire and Fire Prevention", Article II "Fire Code" of the Addison Code of Ordinances, Adopting the 2018 Edition of the International Fire Code With Amendments.

BACKGROUND:

The Town regulates the construction, alteration, occupancy and maintenance of buildings through the adoption and enforcement of a series of codes. The Town currently operates under the 2012 International Code Council (ICC) Codes and the 2014 National Electrical Code. These codes regulate commercial and residential structures including elements pertaining to fire protection, plumbing, mechanical and electrical building elements. New versions of these codes are released every three years to account for issues that arise between code cycles, new construction methods, and to clarify existing regulations. Staff is proposing that the Town adopt the 2018 ICC Codes and the 2017 National Electrical Code. Staff presented an overview of the code update process to the City Council during a work session on February 25, 2020.

While most of the ICC Codes are codified within Chapter 18 of the Town's Code of Ordinances, the International Fire Code is codified in Chapter 38 "Fire and Fire Prevention" which includes other fire safety regulations. This agenda item specifically adopts the 2018 ICC Fire Code with local amendments under Article II. Local amendments are intended to fine tune the code to Addison. In most cases, local amendments are development by the North Central Texas Council of Governments for consideration by each community in this area. The changes from the 2012 Fire Code to the 2018 Fire Code are highly technical standards related to fire prevention, fire protection, life safety and safe storage and use of hazardous materials in new and existing buildings. These changes were developed by code experts and industry professionals to balance life-safety concerns with industry best practices.

Additionally, existing requirements found in Article III of the Chapter pertaining to the Fire Department generally are being included in the ordinance for clarity with no changes proposed.

The new code provisions would be effective June 1, 2020 to allow Staff time to communicate with the development community about the updated code.

RECOMMENDATION:

Administration recommends approval.

Attachments
Ordinance - Chapter 38 Article II Fire Code