Hawaii 2024 Regular Session

Hawaii Senate Bill SB2229 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 2229 THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024 STATE OF HAWAII A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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3	3	THE SENATE S.B. NO. 2229
4	4	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
5	5	STATE OF HAWAII
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7	7	THE SENATE
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9	9	S.B. NO.
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11	11	2229
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13	13	THIRTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2024
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17	17	STATE OF HAWAII
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31	31	A BILL FOR AN ACT
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37	37	RELATING TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
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43	43	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:
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47	47	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, as amended by Act 53, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, prohibits the counties from adopting any codes or regulations requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family residential dwellings, except to meet road access or firefighting water supply requirements. Because of their reliability and effectiveness in suppressing a fire in its initial stages and lessening property damage by up to eighty per cent, national residential building codes have required fire sprinklers in residential dwellings since 2009. The legislature notes that the intensity, severity, and spread of fire in a residential building are related directly to each building's materials. Although improvements may have been made in building construction and design, the volatility and toxicity of the synthetic materials used in some new buildings allow untenable conditions to be reached more rapidly when a fire occurs. The legislature recognizes that the respective counties face unique challenges and issues relating to fire protection, including population density, proximity of structures, infrastructure, access, and fire protection resources. According to the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Sprinkler Initiative's legislative adoption report, only two states, California and Maryland, have statewide requirements for fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family residential dwellings, while eighteen states allow requirements to be determined by local jurisdictions. The legislature believes that it is not in the best interest of public health and safety to prohibit any measures that may be considered and adopted by the counties to improve fire survivability and reduce fire losses by regulating the use of fire sprinklers in residences. The legislature acknowledges that the state building code council is responsible for reviewing and adopting the latest editions of national model building codes for the State and serves as the forum for discussion by building code experts from the various fields of building design, construction, safety, and health. The legislature further acknowledges that on November 13, 2018, the state building code council adopted the state residential code which requires the installation of fire sprinklers in all newly constructed one- and two-family residential dwellings in the State. Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to allow each county to determine the proper requirements for fire sprinkler systems in residences. SECTION 2. Section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed. ["[§46-19.8] Fire sprinklers; residences. No county shall require the installation or retrofitting of automatic fire sprinklers or an automatic fire sprinkler system in: (1) Any new or existing detached one- or two-family dwelling unit in a structure used only for residential purposes; and (2) Nonresidential agricultural and aquacultural buildings and structures located outside an urban area; provided that this section shall not apply to new homes that require a variance from access road or firefighting water supply requirements."] SECTION 3. Act 53, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is repealed. SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval. INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________ By Request
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49	49	SECTION 1. The legislature finds that Act 83, Session Laws of Hawaii 2012, as amended by Act 53, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, prohibits the counties from adopting any codes or regulations requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family residential dwellings, except to meet road access or firefighting water supply requirements. Because of their reliability and effectiveness in suppressing a fire in its initial stages and lessening property damage by up to eighty per cent, national residential building codes have required fire sprinklers in residential dwellings since 2009.
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51	51	The legislature notes that the intensity, severity, and spread of fire in a residential building are related directly to each building's materials. Although improvements may have been made in building construction and design, the volatility and toxicity of the synthetic materials used in some new buildings allow untenable conditions to be reached more rapidly when a fire occurs. The legislature recognizes that the respective counties face unique challenges and issues relating to fire protection, including population density, proximity of structures, infrastructure, access, and fire protection resources.
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53	53	According to the National Fire Protection Association's Fire Sprinkler Initiative's legislative adoption report, only two states, California and Maryland, have statewide requirements for fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family residential dwellings, while eighteen states allow requirements to be determined by local jurisdictions. The legislature believes that it is not in the best interest of public health and safety to prohibit any measures that may be considered and adopted by the counties to improve fire survivability and reduce fire losses by regulating the use of fire sprinklers in residences.
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55	55	The legislature acknowledges that the state building code council is responsible for reviewing and adopting the latest editions of national model building codes for the State and serves as the forum for discussion by building code experts from the various fields of building design, construction, safety, and health. The legislature further acknowledges that on November 13, 2018, the state building code council adopted the state residential code which requires the installation of fire sprinklers in all newly constructed one- and two-family residential dwellings in the State.
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57	57	Accordingly, the purpose of this Act is to allow each county to determine the proper requirements for fire sprinkler systems in residences.
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59	59	SECTION 2. Section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is repealed.
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61	61	["[§46-19.8] Fire sprinklers; residences. No county shall require the installation or retrofitting of automatic fire sprinklers or an automatic fire sprinkler system in:
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63	63	(1) Any new or existing detached one- or two-family dwelling unit in a structure used only for residential purposes; and
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65	65	(2) Nonresidential agricultural and aquacultural buildings and structures located outside an urban area;
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67	67	provided that this section shall not apply to new homes that require a variance from access road or firefighting water supply requirements."]
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69	69	SECTION 3. Act 53, Session Laws of Hawaii 2017, is repealed.
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71	71	SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken.
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73	73	SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
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77	77	INTRODUCED BY: _____________________________
78	78	By Request
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80	80	INTRODUCED BY:
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82	82	_____________________________
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86	86	By Request
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88	88	Report Title: State Fire Council Package; Counties; Residences; Fire Sprinkler Systems Description: Repeals section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow the counties to determine the proper requirements for fire sprinkler systems in residences. The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.
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94	94	Report Title:
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96	96	State Fire Council Package; Counties; Residences; Fire Sprinkler Systems
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100	100	Description:
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102	102	Repeals section 46-19.8, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow the counties to determine the proper requirements for fire sprinkler systems in residences.
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110	110	The summary description of legislation appearing on this page is for informational purposes only and is not legislation or evidence of legislative intent.