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Virginia Administrative Code
Title 13. Housing
Agency 5. Department of Housing And Community Development
Chapter 63. Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code
12/4/2023

13VAC5-63-545. Chapter 7 Fire safety requirements.

A. Delete the following sections from Chapter 7 of the IPMC:

1. Section 701.2 Responsibility.

2. Section 704.5 Fire department connection.

3. Section 704.6.1 Where required.

4. Section 704.6.1.1 Group R-1.

5. Section 704.6.1.2 Groups R-2, R-3, R-4, and I-1.

6. Section 704.6.1.3 Installation near cooking appliances.

7. Section 704.6.1.4 Installation near bathrooms.

8. Section 704.6.2 Interconnection.

9. Section 704.6.3 Power source.

10. Section 704.6.4 Smoke detection system.

11. Section 704.7 Single-station and multiple-station smoke alarms.

B. Change the following sections in Chapter 7 of the IPMC:

1. Section 701.1 General. The provisions of this chapter shall govern the maintenance of fire safety facilities and equipment.

2. Section 702.1 General. The means of egress system shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code and Chapter 10 of the SFPC to provide a safe, continuous, and unobstructed path of travel from any point in a building or structure to the public way.

3. Section 702.2 Aisles. The required width of aisles shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code.

4. Section 702.3 Doors. Means of egress doors shall be maintained and, to the extent required by the code in effect at the time of construction, shall be readily openable from the side from which egress is to be made without the need for keys, special knowledge, or effort.

5. Section 702.4 Emergency escape openings. Required emergency escape openings shall be maintained in accordance with the code in effect at the time of construction and to the extent required by the code in effect at the time of construction shall be operational from the inside of the room without the use of keys or tools. Bars, grilles, grates, or similar devices are permitted to be placed over emergency escape and rescue openings provided the minimum net clear opening size complies with the code that was in effect at the time of construction and such devices shall be releasable or removable from the inside without the use of a key, tool, or force greater than that which is required for normal operation of the escape and rescue opening.

6. Section 704.1 General. Systems, devices, and equipment to detect a fire, actuate an alarm, or suppress or control a fire or any combination thereof shall be maintained in an operable condition at all times.

7. Section 704.1.1 Maintenance and alterations. Fire protection systems shall be maintained in accordance with the original installation standards for that system. Alterations and repairs to fire protection systems shall be done in accordance with the applicable building code and the applicable standards.

8. Section 704.1.2 Required fire protection systems. Fire protection systems shall be repaired, operated, tested, and maintained in accordance with this code. A fire protection system for which a design option, exception, or reduction to the provisions of this code or the applicable building code has been granted shall be considered to be a required system.

9. Section 704.1.3 Fire protection systems. Fire protection systems shall be maintained in accordance with the Statewide Fire Prevention Code.

10. Section 704.3.1 Preplanned impairment programs. Preplanned impairments shall be authorized by the impairment coordinator. Before authorization is given, a designated individual shall be responsible for verifying that all of the following procedures have been implemented:

1. The extent and expected duration of the impairment have been determined.

2. The areas or buildings involved have been inspected, and the increased risks determined.

3. Recommendations have been submitted to management or the building owner or manager.

4. The fire department has been notified.

5. The insurance carrier, the alarm company, the building owner or manager, and other authorities having jurisdiction have been notified.

6. The supervisors in the areas to be affected have been notified.

7. A tag impairment system has been implemented.

8. Necessary tools and materials have been assembled on the impairment site.

11. Section 704.4 Removal of or tampering with equipment. It shall be unlawful for any person to remove, tamper with, or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant, fire detection and alarm system, fire suppression system, or other fire appliance required by this code or the applicable building code except for the purpose of extinguishing fire, for training purposes, for recharging or making necessary repairs, or where approved by the fire code official.

12. Section 704.4.2 Removal of existing occupant-use hose lines. The fire code official is authorized to permit the removal of existing occupant-use hose lines where all of the following conditions exist:

1. Installation is not required by this code or the applicable building code.

2. The hose line would not be utilized by trained personnel or the fire department.

3. The remaining outlets are compatible with local fire department fittings.

13. Section 704.6 Single-station and multiple-station smoke alarms. Required or provided single-station and multiple-station smoke alarms shall be maintained in accordance with the applicable building code.

Statutory Authority

§ 36-98 of the Code of Virginia.

Historical Notes

Derived from Virginia Register Volume 34, Issue 18, eff. September 4, 2018; amended, Virginia Register Volume 37, Issue 14, eff. July 1, 2021.

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