Bill > S1632

Introduced Session

This bill would prohibit the use of light frame wood construction for residential group R-2 structures, including apartments, hotels, and dormitories, in census tracts with a population density of 5,000 or more persons per square mile, and would establish new construction standards for light frame wood construction for these structures in all other census tracts. This bill is in response to the numerous massive fires that have occurred in multiple unit residential structures of light frame wood construction, while occupied and under construction. The extreme speed with which light frame wood construction can reach its failure point when exposed to fire has led to devastating results for residents and first responders. This bill would address the risk of this type of construction by eliminating it from densely populated areas where the risk of fires spreading to other structures is too great, and would strengthen construction requirements where this construction is permitted to reduce the risk of massive fires, for the protection of residents, public safety personnel, and property. In census tracts with a population density of less than 5,000 persons per square mile, a residential group R-2 structure may be constructed using light frame wood construction only if: (1) the structure is a detached structure that does not exceed 7,000 square feet in area per story; (2) the structure has no more than three stories and does not exceed 40 feet in height; (3) the structure has a minimum fire separation distance of 30 feet; and (4) an automatic sprinkler system is installed throughout the structure, in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 13. Limiting the size of these structures is of critical importance to the goals of this legislation. The bill's size limitations and fire separation distance requirements would forbid the current practices of (1) stacking "separate" structures, to gain greater height, and (2) separating interior "buildings" by ineffective core board fire assemblies, to gain greater area. The result of these unsafe practices is the formation of much larger, highly combustible detached structures that exceed the construction code size restrictions that would otherwise apply. Indeed, these practices have led to the construction of very large light frame wood construction residential structures, sometimes the size of a city block or more, which have been destroyed by quickly spreading fires, putting lives and property at serious risk. In addition, this bill would require that residential group R-2 structure light frame wood construction projects be monitored by fire watch guards 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A fire watch guard would have to be present from the time construction begins until 48 hours after the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. The primary responsibility of a fire watch guard would be to watch for the occurrence of a fire or other emergency. In the event of a fire or other emergency, a fire watch guard would have to immediately alert the 911 emergency telephone service. A fire watch guard would also be responsible for ensuring that all construction code requirements are followed with respect to any hot work on the construction site. A fire watch guard would also have to report fire safety issues to the municipal construction code official, who may revoke construction permits for projects posing fire safety risks. The municipality may assess owners of residential group R-2 structure construction projects using light frame wood construction reasonable fees to cover the costs incurred by a municipality for carrying out its responsibilities pursuant to this bill. The bill would also require an owner or agent of a residential group R-2 structure of light frame wood construction, including existing structures, to provide written notice to current and prospective lessors or purchasers of dwelling or sleeping units in the structure of the fire safety limitations of light frame wood construction.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Christopher Bateman (R)*,  Shirley Turner (D)*,  Brian Stack (D),  Loretta Weinberg (D), 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee (on 02/16/2016)