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Friday, March 20, 2009

Ind. Law - More on "Indiana fire codes could be tougher" says Star. And they could be accessible, says ILB

Updating this ILB entry from March 15th, where I note that the Indiana Fire Code simply incorporates by reference the copyrighted "International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, first printing * * * except those revisions made in sections 2 through 49 of this rule" ...

This means that if you access Indiana's 675 IAC 22 at the State of Indiana's Administrative Code website, you will find nothing but 50-some pages that read like this: "Amend Section 304.1.2 by deleting the last sentence in its entirety without substitution." You will not find the International Fire Code, 2006 Edition.

Even if you find a copy of the ""International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, first printing," you have to read it in conjunction with the 50-page of 2008 Indiana revisions - that means looking back and forth between two different documents.

And recall that the State no longer publishes paper versions of the Indiana rules; they exist only online.

Thursday I received this note from a reader:

Marcia – I was recently frustrated by this issue while attempting to get a design release from the Fire Marshal’s office. Their requests for more information would include references like those in your recent posting. I finally found this resource and thought you might want to share it with your readers I had to give up some personal information to register for the free service, and there are restrictions, but it is useful. Thanks for the great service you provide.
The link is to the International Code Council Online Library. You can use it to access an online version of, for example, the International Fire Code. It does not have the "International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, first printing," but it has the fourth printing. (Interestingly, I did not find a "Section 304.1.2." in the fourth printing.)

All of this is very difficult, however, when you are reading complex material. How much easier it would be with an up-to-date, merged version which could truly be called the "Indiana Fire Code" and which was also available in printed form, or at a minumum could be printed out by the user.

Also, as noted in this Sept. 2, 2008 ILB entry, Carl Malamud has made available online the bulk files for the various international buildings codes. Here is the website - public.resource.org. (But beware, the fire code is a 37M document.)

Posted by Marcia Oddi on March 20, 2009 02:40 PM
Posted to Indiana Law