December 7, 2001—After almost two years of study and comparison to other available fire codes, the State of Utah Fire Prevention Board voted unanimously to adopt the International Fire Code (IFC) effective January 2, 2002. The Utah Fire Prevention Task Force analyzed, reviewed and recommended the 2000 IFC based on the need for consistency between the building and fire codes. The clarity of the language used in the IFC and the fact that other fire codes considered were not stand-alone documents, which would require numerous amendments to be enforceable, were cited as major factors in the decision. The Fire Prevention Task Force also expressed concern about whether any new building code, other than the International Building Code (IBC), which is coordinated with the IFC, would be viable in the near future.
The 2000 International Fire Code, 2000 International Building Code, 2000 International Residential Code, 2000 International Mechanical Code, 2000 International Fuel Gas Code and 2000 International Energy Conservation Code will be effective in January 2002 in Utah. The 2000 International Plumbing Code has been in effect in Utah since January 2001.
In addition the Board of Directors for the Washington State Association of Fire Marshals unanimously approved an action endorsing the adoption of the IFC in Washington State.
Based on a report from BOMA.org
