Deval L. Patrick
Governor / The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Department of Public Safety
One Ashburton Place, Room 1301
Boston, Massachusetts 02108-1618
Phone (617) 727-3200
Fax (617) 727-5732
TTY (617) 727-0019
/ Andrea J. Cabral
Secretary
Thomas G. Gatzunis, P.E.
Commissioner

Minutes

Building Code Coordinating Council (BCCC)

DPS Conference Room, Room 1301, One Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108

May 15, 2014, 1:02 p.m.

  1. Roll Call

  1. Anne Powers Co-Chair (AP)xpresent absent
  2. Liz Minnis Co-Chair (LM)xpresent absent
  3. Ian Finlayson (IF)x present absent
  4. Tom Gatzunis (TG)xpresent absent
  5. William Miller (WM)xpresent absent
  6. Kevin Robinson (KR) xpresent absent
  7. Steve Rourke (SR)x present absent
  8. Rob Anderson (RA)xpresent absent
  9. Peter Senopoulos (PS)xpresent absent
  10. Wayne Thomas (WT)xpresent absent
  11. Peter Kelly (PK)xpresent absent
  12. Mike Feeney (MF)present xabsent
  13. Madelyn Morris (MM)present xabsent
  14. Tom Hopkins (TH)x present  absent
  15. Walter Zalenski (WZ)x present  absent
  16. Beth McLaughlin (BM)xpresent absent
  17. Aime DeNault (AD)xpresent absent
  18. Tim Langella (TL)x present  absent

Note 1: Votes are noted as (Motion by, Second by, All) if the vote is unanimous followed by the time.

Note 2: See the attached page “BCCC Membership” for department names.

  1. Review and approval ofApril 17, 2014 meeting minutes.(TG, KR, All) 1:03
  2. Administration:Letter from Henry Geryk received indicating Beth McLaughlin as designee for BPRS.
  3. Old Business:
  4. 271 CMR Sheet Metal Code, The 2012 Massachusetts Uniform Sheet Metal Code. Review and approval. Tabled. Remained tabled. Peter Kelly reiterated he is available to answer any questions.
  5. DPL’s Summary Statement to BCCC, file received 4/3/14.
  6. 271 CMR Chapters 1-5 and 7-9, files received 4/3/14.
  7. 271 Chapter 6: adoption of the Uniform Mechanical Code (table of contents, chapters 1-8 and appendix), files received 4/3/14.

5.New Business:

  1. 527 CMR Fire Code, Submittal of additional changes to proposed 527 CMR 1 (NFPA 1- 2012, amended). Chief Robinson read the 5/1/14 BFPR memo posted on the Flip Drive which addressed two issues: Fire department permits for fire protection systems and requirements for automotive lubrication service centers. A motion was made to accept the auto service centers change first. TG suggested this issue was covered in the building code but had no objection to the revised language added to 527 CMR. (PS, AD, All except TL).
  2. A motion was made to accept the language added to 527 CMR relating to permits for fire protection systems. PS indicated similar language has been part of 527 for 15-years. The language, it was argued, ensures fire department review if there is a lack of communication between the fire and building officials. PS also discussedrequirements of several related general laws governing the installation of fire protection systems. TG noted the language duplicates building code requirements. TG emphasized that it is the BCCC’s mandate to remove duplication between codes. TG had concernsthat the proposed language also creates a duplicative appeals process if approved and TG clarified that the communication problem between fire and building officials, due to a lack of oversight 15 years ago, has long been remedied and the code language strengthened making it a requirement to involve the fire official.
  1. PS agreed that in many instances there is good communication between building and fire services now, but not always the case. SR suggested the fire code permit serves as a notice to fire services anda check/balancebetween fire and building service interests and aids in enforcement.
  1. TR noted BFPR received 40 comments on this issue compared to one or two on other 527 issues. In response to IF inquiry TR replied that most if not all of those comments were from fire officials.
  1. TG emphasized the need for checks and balances and noted it has been strengthened in the code over the years and noted that a second permit is not needed for that purpose and only resultsin duplicity.
  1. RA reiterated that cooperation/communication between fire and building officials has significantly improved over the last 15 years, noting that the second duplicative permit also has a fee associated with it and stressed the need for one permitting authority.
  1. AP noted concern that if BCCC accepts this duplication,what prevents the next regulation from getting by BCCC with duplication?
  1. TG noted permits for other specialized codes are required only for work regulated by those codes and that in this case the work is regulated by the building code and therefore rightly should only be permitted by the building official.
  1. SR cited laws and cases that indicate BFPR should have a say on anything fire safety related. KR emphasized the concern is life safety.
  1. TG reiterated that the continuous effortto improve the building code language regarding involvement of the fire official over the years has addressed the concerns of 15 years ago.
  1. (PS, AD, in favor: SR, JPS, AD, PK, KR, WT, opposed: TG, RA, BM, WZ, IF, TH, WM, abstain: TL)1:59. The motion failed and therefore the language added to 527 CMR relating to permit requirements for the installation of fire protection systems was not approved for inclusion in the revised document. TH noted after the vote that it’s important to ensure safety but it’s also important to make the process easy and cost effective, which is the mission of the BCCC by controlling conflict and duplication.

6.Other matters not received 14-days before this meeting.

7.Approval to Adjourn (KR, TG, all) 2:01

Exhibits listed as file names:

527 CMR 1 modifications

527, BFPR memo to BCCC

BPRS Designee, May 15, 2014

BCCC Membership
Department / Position / Held by: / Designee: / Telephone:
1 / EO PSS – Exec. Off. Public Safety and Security / Secretary - BCCC co-chair / Andrea Cabral / Anne (Nancy) Powers / 617 727 7775
2 / EO A+F – Exec. Off. Administration and Finance / Secretary - BCCC co-chair / Glen Shor / Liz Minnis / 617 727 4050 x566
3 / EO EEA – Exec. Off. Energy, Environmental Affairs / Commissioner / Mark Sylvia / Ian Finlayson / 617 626 4910
4 / DPS – Dept. Public Safety / Commissioner / Tom Gatzunis / - / 617 727 3200
5 / DHCD – Dept. Housing and Community Development / Chairman (Secretary) / Greg Bialecki / William Miller / 617 573 1163
6 / BFPR –Board of Fire Prevention Regulations / Chairman / Kevin Robinson / - / 978 567 3307
7 / DFS – Dept. Fire Services / State Fire Marshal / Steven Coan / Steve Rourke / 978 567 3182
8 / BBRS – Board Building Regulations and Standards / Chairman / Brian Gale / Rob Anderson / 617 826 5268
9 / BSEE – Board State Examiners Electricians / Chairman / Steven Coan / Peter Senopoulos / 978 567 3183
10 / BSEPG – Board State Examiners Plumbers Gasfitters / Chairman / Paul Kennedy, Sr / Wayne Thomas / 617 727 6388
11 / BSESM – Board State Examiners Sheet Metal / Chairman / Jeff Chase / Peter Kelly / 617 727 3022
12 / DPH – Dept. Public Health / Commissioner / Lauren Smith MD / Mike Feeney / 617 624 5757
13 / DEP – Dept. Environmental Protection / Commissioner / Kenneth Kimmel / Madelyn Morris / 617 654 6599
14 / AAB – Architectural Access Board / Chairman / Walter White / Tom Hopkins / 617 727 0660
15 / BER – Board Elevator Regulations / Chairman / Walter Zalenski / - / 617 826 5238
16 / BPRS – Board Pipefitters, Refrig. Techs., Sprinklers / Chairman / Henry Geryk / Beth McLaughlin / 617 826 5227
17 / FSC – Fire Safety Commission / Chairman / Aime DeNault / - / 978 475 8585
18 / AGO – Attorney General / Attorney General / Martha Coakley / Tim Langella / 617 963 2031