Virginia Law

A. The following changes shall be made to Section 501, General:

1. Change Section 501.2 to read:

501.2 Permits. A permit shall be required as set forth in Section 107.2.

2. Delete Section 501.4.

B. The following changes shall be made to Section 503, Fire Apparatus Access Roads:

1. Add exceptions to Section 503.1 to read:

Exceptions:

1. Fire apparatus access roads shall be permitted to be provided and maintained in accordance with written policy that establish fire apparatus access road requirements, and such requirements shall be identified to the owner or the owner's agent prior to the building official's approval of the building permit.

2. On construction and demolition sites fire apparatus access roads shall be permitted to be provided and maintained in accordance with Section 3310.1.

2. Change Exception 1 (Exception 2 remains) of Section 503.1.1 to read:

Exceptions:

1. The fire code official is authorized to increase the dimension of 150 feet (45,720 mm) where any of the following conditions occur:

1.1. The building is equipped throughout with an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with the applicable NFPA13, NFPA 13R, or NFPA 13D standard.

1.2. Fire apparatus access roads cannot be installed because of location on property, topography, waterways, nonnegotiable grades, or other similar conditions, and an approved alternative means of fire protection is provided.

1.3. There are not more than two Group R-3, Group R-5, or Group U occupancies.

3. Add an exception to Section 503.2.1 to read:

Exception: Fire apparatus access roads exclusively serving single-family dwelling or townhouse developments that are fully sprinklered as provided for in Section R313.1 or R313.2 of the International Residential Code shall have an unobstructed width of not less than 18 feet (5486 mm), exclusive of shoulders.

4. Add Section 503.7 to read:

503.7 Fire lanes for existing buildings. The fire code official is authorized to designate public and private fire lanes as deemed necessary for the efficient and effective operation of fire apparatus. Fire lanes shall comply with Sections 503.2 through 503.7.

C. The following changes shall be made to Section 504, Access to Building Openings and Roofs:

1. Change Section 504.1 to read:

504.1 Required access. Exterior doors and openings required by the applicable building code shall be maintained readily accessible for emergency access by the fire department. An approved access walkway leading from fire apparatus access roads to exterior openings shall be provided when required by the fire code official.

2. Change Section 504.3 to read:

504.3 Stairway access to roof. Stairway access to the roof shall be maintained and marked at street and floor levels with a sign indicating that the stairway continues to the roof.

D. The following changes shall be made to Section 507, Fire Protection Water Supplies:

1. Add Section 507.3.1 to read:

507.3.1 Fire flow requirements for fully sprinklered residential developments. Notwithstanding Section 103.1.2, the fire flow requirements in Table B105.1(1) of Appendix B of the IFC shall be permitted to be used for determining fire flow in single-family dwelling and townhouse developments which are fully sprinklered as provided for in Section R313.1 or R313.2 of the International Residential Code.

2. Change Section 507.5.1 to read:

507.5.1 Where required. Fire hydrant systems shall be located and installed as directed by the fire department. Fire hydrant systems shall conform to the written standards of the jurisdiction and the fire department.

Exceptions:

1. For in-fill development of fewer than five detached single-family dwellings constructed in existing residential developments.

2. For the reconstruction or rehabilitation of detached single-family dwellings.

3. Add Section 507.5.1.2 to read:

507.5.1.2 Fire hydrant requirements for fully sprinklered residential developments. Notwithstanding Section 103.1.2, the number and distribution of fire hydrants in Table C102.1 of Appendix C of the IFC shall be permitted to be used in single-family dwelling and townhouse developments that are fully sprinklered as provided for in Section R313.1 or R313.2 of the International Residential Code, with the spacing and distances of fire hydrants indicated in Table C102.1 increased by 100%.

E. The following changes shall be made to Section 508, Fire Command Center:

1. Change Section 508.1 to read:

508.1 General. Where required by the applicable building code or where otherwise provided, a fire command center for fire department operations shall comply with Sections 508.1.1 through 508.1.6.

2. Delete Section 508.1.1.

3. Change Section 508.1.2 to read:

508.1.2 Separation. Fire-rated construction shall be maintained in accordance with Section 701.6 of this code.

4. Delete Section 508.1.3.

5. Change Section 508.1.4 to read:

508.1.4 Layout approval. A layout of the fire command center and all features shall be submitted for approval prior to modification.

6. Change Section 508.1.6 to read:

508.1.6 Required features. In addition to the features required by the applicable building code, the fire command center shall contain the following:

1. A telephone for fire department use with controlled access to the public telephone system.

2. Schematic building plans indicating the typical floor plan and detailing the building core, means of egress, fire protection systems, firefighter air-replenishment systems, firefighting equipment, and fire department access and the location of fire walls, fire barriers, fire partitions, smoke barriers, and smoke partitions.

3. An approved building information card that includes all of the following information:

3.1. General building information that includes property name, address, the number of floors in the building above and below grade, use and occupancy classification (for mixed uses, identify the different types of occupancies on each floor), and the estimated building population during the day, night, and weekend;

3.2. Building emergency contact information that includes a list of the building's emergency contacts, including building manager, building engineer, and their respective work phone numbers, cell phone numbers, and email addresses;

3.3. Building construction information that includes the type of building construction, including floors, walls, columns, and roof assembly;

3.4. Exit access stairway and exit stairway information that includes number of exit access stairways and exit stairways in building; each exit access stairway and exit stairway designation and floors served; location where each exit access stairway and exit stairway discharges; interior exit stairways that are pressurized; exit stairways provided with emergency lighting; each exit stairway that allows reentry; exit stairways providing roof access; elevator information that includes number of elevator banks, elevator bank designation, elevator car numbers, and respective floors that they serve; location of elevator machine rooms; control rooms and control spaces; location of sky lobby; and location of freight elevator banks;

3.5. Building services and system information that includes location of mechanical rooms, location of building management system, location and capacity of all fuel oil tanks, location of emergency generator, and location of natural gas service;

3.6. Fire protection system information that includes location of standpipes, location of fire pump room, location of fire department connections, floors protected by automatic sprinklers, and location of different types of automatic sprinkler systems installed, including dry, wet, and preaction; and

3.7. Hazardous material information that includes location and quantity of hazardous material.

4. Work table.

F. The following changes shall be made to Section 510, Maintenance of In-Building Emergency Communication Equipment:

Change Sections 510.1 through 510.3 and delete Sections 510.4 through 510.6, including subsections.

Sections 510.1 through 510.3 to read:

510.1 General. In-building emergency communication equipment shall be maintained in accordance with USBC and the provisions of this section.

510.2 Additional in-building emergency communications installations. If it is determined by the locality that increased amplification of their emergency communication system is needed, the building owner shall allow the locality access as well as provide appropriate space within the building to install and maintain necessary additional communication equipment by the locality. If the building owner denies the locality access, appropriate space, or both, the building owner shall be responsible for the installation and maintenance of these additional systems.

510.3 Field tests. After providing reasonable notice to the owner or the owner's representative, the fire official, police chief, or their agents shall have the right during normal business hours or another mutually agreed upon time to enter onto the property to conduct field tests to verify that the required level of radio coverage is present at no cost to the owner.