Proposed Regulation Changes

The Fire Prevention Division has proposed amendments to a series of existing regulations. A public hearing has been scheduled for June 3, 2008 at 9 AM in the Senate Room of Jayhawk Towers. The Notice of Hearing contains summaries of the proposed revisions.

Proposed regulation amendments:

• 22-1-1 Municipal compliance with Kansas fire prevention code
• 22-1-2 Compliance with certain building codes
• 22-1-3 Adopted national standards
• 22-8-13 Adoption of national codes
• 22-10-3 Registration certificate
• 22-11-6 Maternity centers
• 22-11-8 Adult and boarding care homes
• 22-15-7 Juventile detention centers
• 22-18-3 Construction requirements for school buildings

News and Notes

A new fire concern has reared its ugly head. Rubber mulch is being used in childcare facilities and schools. At first, this seems like a win-win situation: it is less injury-prone than wood chips or gravel and provides a means for recycling tires, which can be difficult to dispose of. According to the federal government, rubber mulch is even considered to be "non-flammable." (For a material to be considered "flammable," it must ignite and burn with a self-sustained flame at a rate greater than .01 inches per second along a major axis.)

However, in recent tests by a Kansas fire department, the rubber mulch was repeatedly exposed to an open flame and it quickly propagated a fire that spread across the top of the material. The amount of heat and smoke produced by the burning rubber mulch can pose a serious threat to buildings and exits.

Although there are no codes that specify where this mulch can and can't be used, the fire department performing the test recommends that this rubber mulch be kept at least 20 feet away from buildings and exit paths.

Congratulations go out to three more facilities! Lawrence Presbyterian Manor in Lawrence, Midwest Surgery Center in Wichita and Somerset-Claridge Court in Prairie Village had deficient-free inspections. The energy and time you put into maintenance, fire drills, and documentation really paid off!

These facilities join Enterprise Estates (Enterprise) and Stanton County Health Care System, who had deficient-free inspections during 2008. Congratulations on your hard work and dedication to promoting fire and life safety!

The U.S. Fire Administration has several great resources for facilities and fire departments. Among the online classes and reference information is a particularly fine resource - Coffee Break Training. This weekly publication can be delivered directly to your inbox and provides great snippets of information on over 150 fire safety and fire inspection topics. To read more about Coffee Break Training, follow this link or click on the icon for more information about the USFA.

A 2004 U.S. telephone survey found that 96% of the households surveyed had at least one smoke alarm. Roughly half of home fire deaths result from fires in the small percentage of homes with no smoke alarms. Roughly 70% of home fire deaths result from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. Homes with smoke alarms (whether or not they are operational) typically have a death rate that is 40-50% less than the rate for homes without alarms. In one-quarter of the reported fires in homes equipped with smoke alarms, the devices did not work. Households with non-working smoke alarms now outnumber those with no smoke alarms. When smoke alarms fail, it is most often because of missing, disconnected or dead batteries. See a new link for more information on smoke alarms.

If your facility (other than a one- or two-family dwelling) is planning to build a new building or a remodel of your existing building please take special note. The Fire Marshal will require written notice from your licensed architect or engineer 30 days prior to the date on which 100% of the construction will be completed.

If you have questions please call 785-296-3401 and as to speak to one of our Fire Protection Specialists.