PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Requires hard-wired, single-station smoke alarms in every guest room, following National Fire Protection Association Standard 74 (or its successor). It also requires automatic sprinkler systems in public places with guest rooms, built to NFPA 13 or 13‑R (or their successors), except for buildings three stories or lower. If a sprinkler system was already installed before October 25, 1992 and met the local standard in force then that put a sprinkler head in each guest-room sleeping area, the new sprinkler rule does not apply. If another rule makes it impossible to meet a specific part of NFPA 13 or 13‑R, the place is exempt only from that part. States and local governments may still make and enforce their own fire rules. Definitions: smoke detector = alarm that senses combustion particles; automatic sprinkler system = supervised piping with sprinklers that release water when heat from a fire activates them and that can provide required alarm signals; governmental authority having jurisdiction = the government body that approves fire safety systems.

Title 15, §2225

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Contents of guidelines

The guidelines referred to in section 2224 and 2226 of this title consist of— (1)

(2)a requirement that an automatic sprinkler system be installed in accordance with National Fire Protection Association Standard 13 or 13–R, or any successor standard to that standard, whichever is appropriate, in each place of public accommodation affecting commerce except those places that are 3 stories or lower.

(b)Exceptions

(1)The requirement described in subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to a place of public accommodation affecting commerce with an automatic sprinkler system installed before October 25, 1992, if the automatic sprinkler system is installed in compliance with an applicable standard (adopted by the governmental authority having jurisdiction, and in effect, at the time of installation) that required the placement of a sprinkler head in the sleeping area of each guest room.

(2)The requirement described in subsection (a)(2) shall not apply to a place of public accommodation affecting commerce to the extent that such place of public accommodation affecting commerce is subject to a standard that includes a requirement or prohibition that prevents compliance with a provision of National Fire Protection Association Standard 13 or 13–R, or any successor standard to that standard. In such a case, the place of public accommodation affecting commerce is exempt only from that specific provision.

(c)Effect on State and local law

The provisions of this section shall not be construed to limit the power of any State or political subdivision thereof to implement or enforce any law, rule, regulation, or standard concerning fire prevention and control.

(d)Definitions

For purposes of this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)The term “smoke detector” means an alarm that is designed to respond to the presence of visible or invisible particles of combustion.

(2)The term “automatic sprinkler system” means an electronically supervised, integrated system of piping to which sprinklers are attached in a systematic pattern, and which, when activated by heat from a fire, will protect human lives by discharging water over the fire area, and by providing appropriate warning signals (to the extent such signals are required by Federal, State, or local laws or regulations) through the building’s fire alarm system.

(3)The term “governmental authority having jurisdiction” means the Federal, State, local, or other governmental entity with statutory or regulatory authority for the approval of fire safety systems, equipment, installations, or procedures within a specified locality.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1997—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 105–108, § 3(1), inserted “or any successor standard to that standard” after “Association Standard 74”. Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 105–108, § 3(2), inserted “, or any successor standard to that standard” before “, whichever is appropriate,”. Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105–108, § 3(3), inserted “, or any successor standard to that standard” after “Association Standard 13 or 13–R”. 1992—Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 102–522, § 105(a), added subsec. (b) and redesignated former subsecs. (b) and (c) as (c) and (d), respectively. Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 102–522, § 105(b), added par. (3).

§2225 Fire Prevention and Control Guidelines for Places of Public Accommodation

Summary

Title 15, §2225

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata