Bill > HB2551

This bill revises the authority of the state fire marshal regarding building codes, specifically for multi-family dwelling units, by amending Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 68, Chapter 120. It allows local governments, after consulting with a registered architect or engineer, to amend adopted building codes to exclude up to six-family dwellings from certain requirements for one- and two-family dwellings, provided these larger dwellings meet specific safety standards: each dwelling has a separate exit, dwellings are separated by walls and floors with a two-hour fire resistance rating, and the entire structure is no more than three stories above ground. Crucially, the state fire marshal will not mandate automatic fire sprinkler systems for these up to six-family dwellings, though local governments retain the ability to require sprinklers and can allow the use of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13D standard, which is a specific set of guidelines for sprinkler systems, for such dwellings.