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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES |
H.B. NO. |
345 |
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TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 2013 |
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STATE OF HAWAII |
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A BILL FOR AN ACT
relating to fire protection.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
SECTION 1. Current law relating to submission of building plans for approval to the appropriate county fire chief was enacted more than thirty years ago, based upon circumstances relevant at that time. Building occupancies and classifications have since changed, and each county fire chief's review authority with respect to building plans varies depending upon agreements with their respective building officials.
The purpose of this Act is to clarify and update the authority of the county fire chief to review plans and specifications for the construction, alteration, and other installations for buildings or properties, as authorized by the fire code of each county.
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.]
The county fire chief shall be authorized, within the respective chief's county, to require plans, documentation, or both, to demonstrate compliance with the fire code and fire and life safety standards for:
(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.
No work shall be authorized or commenced prior to the approval of plans and specifications by the county fire chief and other agency required to approve building plans and the issuance of any required permits.
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 any 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.
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INTRODUCED BY: |
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Report Title:
Fire Chiefs; Fire Code; Life Safety Standards; Construction
Description:
Authorizes the county fire chiefs to require that various types of construction comply with the fire code.
The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.