Assigned to GOV & COM                                                                                                          FOR COMMITTEE

 

 

 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2628

 

building and fire safety; codes

 

Purpose

 

Repeals the Arizona Uniform Plumbing Code Commission and removes the definition of “state plumbing code.”  Establishes the Building Safety Technical Committee to make a comparison of all available published, coordinated and integrated sets of model building codes.

 

Background

 

The Uniform Plumbing Code Commission (Commission) was created in 1997 to establish and adopt by rule a standardized plumbing code (Laws 1997, Chapter 112). The legislation also required Arizona municipalities and counties to adopt the code by ordinance. The Commission has since adopted the Arizona Plumbing Code (Code). The Code is based on the 1994 Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC) and its appendices and installation standards, promulgated by the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO). According to the Commission, most Arizona cities and municipalities have already adopted some version of the UPC.

 

However, a set of building codes promulgated by the International Code Council (ICC), which replaces individual model codes with a single, coordinated set of model codes regulating all aspects of building design and construction, including plumbing, became available for adoption in January 2000 and some Arizona political subdivisions have already adopted the ICC codes. The IAPMO code is not coordinated with the plumbing code of the ICC and a dispute among municipalities, industry and the Commission has resulted as to which code should prevail in Arizona.

 

H.B. 2628 repeals the Arizona Uniform Plumbing Code Commission and removes from statute the definition designating the “state plumbing code” as the code adopted by the Commission. The bill removes the requirement that all municipalities must use the state plumbing code and allows a municipality to adopt any nationally recognized model building code that places firefighter safety as a principle consideration.

 

The bill also establishes the Building Safety Technical Committee. In an attempt to determine which code is most favorable for Arizona, the Committee is required to report to the Legislature a comparison of all available published, coordinated and integrated sets of model building codes. The Committee is terminated on January 1, 2004.

 

There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.

 

Provisions

 

Building Safety Technical Committee

 

1.      Establishes the Building Safety Technical Committee and prescribes the membership.

 

2.      Requires the Committee to prepare a comparison of all available published, coordinated and integrated sets of model building codes, including at least the following categories: 

 

  1. consideration for fire and life safety;
  2. affordability;
  3. availability of support services for enforcement;
  4. the process by which model codes are developed;
  5. tenure and credibility of the model code documents;
  6. enforceability and practicality of code requirements.

 

3.      Requires the Registrar of Contractors to provide staffing and office space for the Committee.

 

4.      Requires the Committee to submit a report of the comparison to the Legislature by December 31, 2003.

 

5.      Terminates the Committee on January 1, 2004.

 

Miscellaneous

 

6.      Repeals the Arizona Uniform Plumbing Code Commission.

 

7.      Removes the definition of “state plumbing code.”

 

8.      Removes the restriction that a municipality may not adopt a plumbing code other than the state plumbing code.

 

9.      Allows a municipality to adopt a nationally recognized model building code that places firefighter safety as a principle consideration.

 

10.  Removes the authority for a municipality to grant a variance from the state plumbing code on an individual project basis.

 

11.  Makes technical and conforming changes.

 

12.  Provides for a general effective date.

 

House Action

 

RGO                3/22/02            DPA    5-2-1-2

3rd Read           4/10/02                        46-7-7-0

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

April 15, 2002