Published January 17 2018
During the study session on Tuesday evening, the City Council reviewed several proposed revisions to the city’s fire and construction codes. The updates are part of a routine effort to ensure Bellevue’s codes are consistent with state and international codes.
The proposed amendments include:
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Adoption of the 2017 National Electrical Code as required by Washington state law.
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Require all high-rise buildings (defined as floor or occupied roof more than 75 feet above the lowest level of Fire Department access) to provide a “qualified building representative.” The individual would be expected to be available and on-site in case of a fire emergency.
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Require the installation of a “Firefighter Rescue Air” system in all new high-rise buildings. The system would allow firefighters to easily refill their breathing tanks in order to maximize resources during a fire.
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Clarification on the requirements for fire alarm panel replacements. The update would mandate that fire alarm systems to be upgraded to meet current code requirements when the panel is replaced.
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An expansion of the fire code appeals process, allowing challenges to be made on any fire code interpretation.
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Increasing penalties for illegal use of fireworks from $100 to up to $1,000. Fire officials stated that the current enforcement penalty of $100 is ineffective and often ignored. They emphasized that a greater deterrent is needed.
During the question and answer period, councilmembers discussed several issues including potential costs for customers and enforcement concerns. The fire code amendments are expected to return for further council review sometime in the near future. Formal adoption could also happen at that meeting.
More details are available in the council’s agenda materials.