PRINTER'S NO. 4013

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

1068

Session of

2018

INTRODUCED BY SCHLEGEL CULVER, WARD, PICKETT, FARRY AND JAMES,

SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON LABOR AND INDUSTRY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2018

Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, Fire codes are necessary to ensure that entities

charged with protecting this Commonwealth from fire and

explosion are following and enforcing the same standards to

minimize loss to persons and property; and

WHEREAS, Municipalities in this Commonwealth are required

under 34 Pa. Code Pt. XIV to adopt provisions of the

International Fire Code (IFC), which references the National

Fire Protection Association standards, and the codes and

standards of the International Building Code 2009 and certain

WHEREAS, The IFC is published on a triennial basis, with the

2018 edition being the most recent version; and

WHEREAS, Municipalities in this Commonwealth have been

inconsistent in the adoption and enforcement of both current and

outdated editions of the codes and standards required under 34

Pa. Code Pt. XIV to the detriment of Commonwealth residents,

businesses, governments and communities; and

WHEREAS, Fire protection and suppression equipment companies

charged with the inspection, charging and refill of portable

fire suppression equipment are often required to apply

inconsistent regulatory and enforcement standards based on the

Department of Labor and Industry to conduct a study of the fire

codes and standards adopted and enforced by each municipality in

this Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the municipalities in this Commonwealth be

directed to cooperate with the Department of Labor and Industry

in conducting the study; and be it further

RESOLVED, That, in furtherance of the study, the Department

of Labor and Industry determine, at a minimum, the fire codes

and standards adopted and enforced by each municipality in this

Commonwealth and the discrepancies, if any, among them; and be

be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Labor and Industry publish

the report on the department's publicly accessible Internet

website and distribute the report to the majority chairperson

and minority chairperson of the Senate, the majority chairperson

and minority chairperson of the House of Representatives, the

majority chairperson and minority chairperson of the Labor and

Industry Committee of the Senate, the majority chairperson and

minority chairperson of the Labor and Industry Committee in the

House of Representatives, the majority chairperson and minority

chairperson of the Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness

and Emergency Preparedness Committee of the House of

Representatives, upon receipt of the report, may conduct at

least four geographically dispersed public input hearings to

receive policy recommendations for the adoption of uniform fire

code and enforcement standards throughout this Commonwealth.