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Consider adopting Ordinance No. 3607 amending Chapter 38 titled "Fire Prevention and Protection" of the Code of Ordinances by adopting the provisions of the 2018 edition of the International Fire Code with amendments and Appendix M "High-Rise Buildings - Retroactive Automatic Sprinkler Requirement"; and take appropriate action.
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BACKGROUND:
To insure that structures in the City of Farmers Branch are built and maintained to a minimum standard for fire safety, the City adopts a model fire code. The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) sponsors a review of the most current fire codes and recommends adoption of the code with regional amendments to address regional conditions. These amendments are intended to regionalize code adoptions and promote enforcement of the same set of minimum standards in the region. Model codes are updated on a routine basis through an international governmental consensus process.
Currently, most of our neighboring municipalities have adopted and are enforcing the 2018 IFC with the NCTCOG amendments with the exception of the City of Coppell and the Town of Addison.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Farmers Branch routinely adopts updated versions of model construction codes to insure that structures meet minimum standard for health and safety. Currently the City of Farmers Branch is enforcing the 2015 International Fire Code. The ordinance as proposed will adopt the 2018 International Fire Code with the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) amendments and minimal amendments to address Farmers Branch local issues.
A notable change to the Farmers Branch local amendments is to modify the sprinkler requirements for all new buildings, and additions to existing buildings from two thousand five hundred (2,500) square feet to six thousand (6,000) square feet. This recommendation is included in the NCTCOG amendments.
One notable change to the 2018 IFC base code is the requirement for existing Group A-2...
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