THE SENATE	S.B. NO.	2390
TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 2012
STATE OF HAWAII

A BILL FOR AN ACT

RELATING TO FIRE PROTECTION.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that the statute on approval of building plans by county fire chiefs was originally enacted in 1945 and was last amended substantively in 1978.  Much has changed since then in the standards for building occupancy and fire codes.

     The purpose of this Act is to clarify and update the duties of the county fire chief in approving building plans to ensure compliance with the fire code and building occupancy requirements.

     SECTION 2.  Section 132-9, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§132-9  Submission of building plans for approval.  [Before work commences upon the construction of any building of the types hereinafter enumerated, or upon an alteration or addition to any building, the plans and specifications for the work shall be submitted to the county fire chief.  Neither the person causing the construction, alteration, or addition to be made, nor the person's architect or agent, shall authorize, order, or permit the work thereon to start and no contractor, builder, or other person may start the work, before approval of the plans and specifications by the county fire chief. 

The foregoing provisions shall be applicable to buildings, the whole or any part of which are being, or intended to be, used as:

(1) Hospitals, sanitariums, asylums, children's nurseries, and other such institutions;

(2) Hotels, apartment houses, rooming houses, and tenement houses; provided that when any such building to be constructed or upon which alterations or additions are to be made, is only one story high, with living accommodations permanently designated and intended for less than twenty-five persons, this section shall not apply;

(3) Schools, churches, auditoriums, halls, gymnasiums, dance halls, nightclubs, factories, office buildings, stores, and all other such buildings where persons work, congregate, or assemble; provided that when any such building to be constructed, or upon which alterations or additions are to be made, is only one story high, and is permanently designated and intended for a total accommodation at any one time of less than one hundred persons, this section shall not apply.]

(a)  The county fire chief may require plans and other documentation to show compliance with the fire code and fire and life safety standards for the following:

(1) Construction, alteration, rehabilitation, or addition to any building, structure, or property;

(2) Change in use of buildings or property, or change in occupancy; and

(3) Installation or alteration of any procedures, equipment, property, or structure for any life safety or fire protection systems, including one- and two- family dwellings.

(b)  No work on construction shall commence until:

(1) Plans and specifications are approved by the county fire chief and other agencies having jurisdiction; and

(2) Any required permits have been issued.

(c)  This section shall be applicable to the State and the counties, and other municipal subdivisions, and their officers, as well as to private persons."

     SECTION 3.  This Act shall apply to building plans submitted for approval after the effective date of this Act.

     SECTION 4.  Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.  New statutory material is underscored.

     SECTION 5.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

INTRODUCED BY:

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Report Title:

Fire Protection; Building Plans

Description:

Amends requirements for submission of building plans to the fire chief for approval.

The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.