New York State to Combine Fire and Building Codes
Eliminating the confusion created by various fire and building codes at the state and local levels is a major goal of legislation recently enacted in New York State. As a result of the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code Act, New York will have its first combined code by Jan. 1, 1984.
The legislation allows local governments to enact fire code provisions that are more stringent than those in the state code when local situations require better protection. Also, a uniform, statewide approach to the training and qualification of code administration and enforcement personnel will be provided by the state.
The new law mandates that the secretary of state shall establish minimum code enforcement standards for all local governments, and it sets a public policy to immediately provide a minimum level of fire protection throughout the state. All areas without a code are required to apply the existing State Building Construction Code and the State Fire Prevention Code by March 1, 1982.
The new minimum code will have provisions for building construction type, contents, use of premises and maintenance, and it will have special requirements for such occupancies as places of public assembly, hospitals and schools. Also, public buildings will be treated the same as private buildings under the new code. Existing buildings will be required to incorporate advances in fire protection technology and building construction. Where appropriate, provisions of the new code will be applied retroactively.
Aid to local governments
The New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control will administer a financial and technical aid program to help local governments enforce both local and state fire and building codes.
The new law creates a Fire Prevention and Building Code Council in the Division of Housing and Community Renewal which will develop the uniform fire prevention and building code and will evaluate its effectiveness. The council will be chaired by the state commissioner of housing and community renewal and will include the state fire administrator and 15 appointed members.
The need for a uniform fire prevention and building code was determined by a fire safety task force appointed by Governor Hugh L. Carey after the fire that killed 26 persons in Stouffer’s Inn of Westchester in Harrison, N.Y., last Dec. 4. The task force included state and local government officials, including Secretary of State Basil A. Paterson, and authorities in the fire prevention and health fields.
