H 4459 General Bill, By Koon, Bauer, Knotts and Rice
 A BILL TO AMEND SECTION 23-45-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA,
 1976, RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN AND
 INSTALLATION, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING DESIGN AND
 INSTALLATION, PROVIDE THAT LAYOUT AND INSTALLATION OF FIRE PROTECTION
 SPRINKLER SYSTEMS MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE 1998 EDITION OF THE NATIONAL FIRE
 PROTECTION ASSOCIATION NATIONAL FIRE CODES AND THE 1994 STANDARD BUILDING
 CODE, AND PROVIDE THAT THESE CODES AND STANDARDS SHALL APPLY UNLESS THE
 AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION HAS ADOPTED MORE RECENT VERSIONS; TO AMEND
 SECTION 23-45-147, RELATING TO THE FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ACT, SHOP
 DRAWINGS OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, CONTENTS, SUBMISSION, AND CERTIFICATE OF
 COMPLIANCE, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND PROVISIONS, PROVIDE THAT SHOP
 DRAWINGS MUST CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO SHOW COMPLIANCE WITH THE
 NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS TO THE DEGREE REQUIRED BY THE
 REGULATIONS OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, PROVIDE THAT SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BEAR
 THE LICENSE NUMBER OF THE FIRE SPRINKLER CONTRACTOR LICENSED IN SOUTH CAROLINA
 WHO PREPARED THEM, PROVIDE THAT SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE LOCAL
 AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION, THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, OR THE
 ENGINEERING/REVIEW DEPARTMENT OF THE OWNER'S INSURANCE UNDERWRITER OR ITS
 DESIGNEE, AND PROVIDE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFYING

   01/21/98  House  Introduced and read first time HJ-3
   01/21/98  House  Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-4
   02/11/98  House  Committee report: Favorable Labor, Commerce and
                     Industry HJ-1
   02/12/98  House  Read second time HJ-9
   02/12/98  House  Unanimous consent for third reading on next
                     legislative day HJ-10
   02/13/98  House  Read third time and sent to Senate HJ-1
   02/17/98  Senate Introduced and read first time SJ-8
   02/17/98  Senate Referred to Committee on Judiciary SJ-8

COMMITTEE REPORT

February 11, 1998

H. 4459

S. Printed 2/11/98--H.

Read the first time January 21, 1998.

To whom was referred a Bill (H. 4459), to amend Section 23-45-140, as amended, Code of Laws of South Carolina, 1976, relating to standards for fire protection sprinkler system design and installation, etc., respectfully

That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and recommend that the same do pass:

HARRY F. CATO, for Committee.

ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT ON GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURES IS:

After review of this bill it was determined that there will be no impact to the Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation or to the General Fund of the State.

Approved By:

Frank A. Rainwater

Office of State Budget

A BILL

TO AMEND SECTION 23-45-140, AS AMENDED, CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, RELATING TO STANDARDS FOR FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN PROVISIONS REGARDING DESIGN AND INSTALLATION, PROVIDE THAT LAYOUT AND INSTALLATION OF FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS MUST BE ACCORDING TO THE 1998 EDITION OF THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION NATIONAL FIRE CODES AND THE 1994 STANDARD BUILDING CODE, AND PROVIDE THAT THESE CODES AND STANDARDS SHALL APPLY UNLESS THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION HAS ADOPTED MORE RECENT VERSIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 23-45-147, RELATING TO THE FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ACT, SHOP DRAWINGS OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, CONTENTS, SUBMISSION, AND CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE, SO AS TO DELETE CERTAIN LANGUAGE AND PROVISIONS, PROVIDE THAT SHOP DRAWINGS MUST CONTAIN SUFFICIENT INFORMATION TO SHOW COMPLIANCE WITH THE NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS TO THE DEGREE REQUIRED BY THE REGULATIONS OF THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL, PROVIDE THAT SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BEAR THE LICENSE NUMBER OF THE FIRE SPRINKLER CONTRACTOR LICENSED IN SOUTH CAROLINA WHO PREPARED THEM, PROVIDE THAT SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION, THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL'S OFFICE, OR THE ENGINEERING/REVIEW DEPARTMENT OF THE OWNER'S INSURANCE UNDERWRITER OR ITS DESIGNEE, AND PROVIDE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE CERTIFYING THAT THE FIRE PROTECTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM WAS INSTALLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPROVED SHOP DRAWINGS MUST BE DELIVERED TO THE OWNER OF THE BUILDING AND THE AUTHORITY HAVING JURISDICTION BEFORE A CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY MAY BE ISSUED; AND TO REPEAL SECTION 23-45-145, RELATING TO THE "FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM SPECIFICATION SHEET".

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION 1. Section 23-45-140 of the 1976 Code, as last amended by Act 467 of 1994, is further amended to read:

"Section 23-45-140. Fire protection sprinkler systems as defined in Section 23-45-30(6) must be designed and installed according to National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Chapter 13, 1991 Edition; NFPA 13A, 1987 Edition; NFPA 13D, 1991 Edition; NFPA 13R, 1991 Edition; NFPA 14, 1993 Edition; NFPA 20, 1993 Edition; and NFPA 24, 1992 Edition, and all pamphlets referenced in them. In addition the following codes and standards must be followed when applicable: NFPA 1, 1993 Edition; NFPA 10, 1990 Edition; NFPA 14A, 1989 Edition; NFPA 22, 1993 Edition; NFPA 25, 1992 Edition; NFPA 101, 1991 Edition; NFPA 231, 1990 Edition; NFPA 231(C), 1991 Edition; NFPA 231(D), 1989 Edition; and NFPA 409, 1990 Edition. Layout and installation of fire protection sprinkler systems as defined in Section 23-45-30(6) must be according to the 1998 edition of the National Fire Protection Association National Fire Codes and the 1994 Standard Building Code. These codes and standards apply unless the authority having jurisdiction has adopted more recent versions. Within thirty calendar days from the date of submission to the Division of the State Fire Marshal, the review of sprinkler plans for compliance with the above codes must be completed and a letter issued either approving the plans or listing the corrective action necessary for approval. If no letter is issued within thirty calendar days, the plans are deemed to be approved."

SECTION 2. Section 23-45-147 of the 1976 Code, as added by Act 467 of 1994, is amended to read:

"Section 23-45-147. (A) Shop drawings must be prepared for every fire protection sprinkler system, as defined in Section 23-45-30(6), to be installed in South Carolina and must meet the following requirements:

(1) shop drawings, along with any attached specification sheets, must contain sufficient information to show compliance with the National Fire Protection Association standards called for in the Fire Sprinkler System Specification Sheet to the degree required by the regulations of the State Fire Marshal;

(2) shop drawings must bear the stamp, authorized signature, and license number of the fire sprinkler contractor licensed in South Carolina who prepared them.

(B) shop drawings must be submitted to the registered professional engineer who prepared the Fire Sprinkler System Specification Sheet, if applicable, to determine compliance with the Fire Sprinkler System Specification Sheet. Otherwise, the shop drawings must be submitted, to determine compliance with the Fire Sprinkler System Specification Sheet, to one of the following:

(1) the local authority having jurisdiction;

(2) the South Carolina State Fire Marshal's office; or

(3) the engineering/review department of the owner's insurance underwriter or its designee.

(C) The local authority having jurisdiction, the awarding authority, or the state agency having jurisdiction over the project may also require the submission of fire protection sprinkler system shop drawings for review, in addition to the requirements stated above, or may require their submission to the State Fire Marshal's office or other designee for review, but in no case may the stamp or seal of a registered professional engineer be required on shop drawings.

(D) In lieu of performing its own plan review on plans submitted, the State Fire Marshal's office may accept the plan review of an insurance underwriter or its designee if it meets the standards established by the regulations of the State Fire Marshal's office.

(E) A Certificate of Compliance certifying that the fire protection sprinkler system was designed and installed in accordance with the "Fire Sprinkler System Specification Sheet" approved shop drawings must be delivered to the owner of the building, and the authority having jurisdiction, and the State Fire Marshal's office on a form approved by the State Fire Marshal's office before a certificate of occupancy may be issued."

SECTION 3. Section 23-45-145 of the 1976 Code is repealed.

SECTION 4. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.