GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

S	1 

SENATE BILL 657

Short Title:  Building Code Revisions.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Senator Sherron.

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Referred to:  Judiciary II/Election Laws

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April 11, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO ADOPT ALTERNATIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS FOR BUILDINGS BUILT PRIOR TO 1953 AND TO REAPPOINT THE MEMBERS OF THE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  G.S. 143-138(j) reads as rewritten:
"(j)	Subsection (i) of this section does not apply to business occupancy buildings as defined in the North Carolina State Building Code except that evacuation plans as required on page 8, lines 2 through 16 [Section 1008, footnote following subsection (h)], and smoke detectors as required for Class I Buildings as required by Section 1008.2, page 11, lines 5 through 21 [Section 1008.2, subdivision (c)(1)]; Class II Buildings as required by Section 1008.3, page 17, lines 17 through 28 and page 18, lines 1 through 10 [Section 1008.3, subsections (c) and(d)]; and Class III Buildings, as required by Section 1008.4, lines 21 through 25 [Section 1008.4, subsection (c)] shall not be exempted from operation of this act as applied to business occupancy buildings, except that the Council shall adopt rules that allow a business occupancy building built prior to 1953 to have a single exit to remain if the building complies with the following requirements:
(1)	The building is fully equipped with quick response automatic sprinkler heads.
(2)	The single exit stair enclosure has a two hour fire rating with all openings protected.
(3)	The single exit stair shaft is equipped with a smoke pressurization system in compliance with subsection (i) of this section."
Sec. 2.  The terms of office of the Building Code Council shall expire on July 1, 1995.
Sec. 3.  G.S. 143-136(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Creation; Membership; Terms. – There is hereby created a Building Code Council, which shall be composed of 17 members appointed by the Governor, consisting of one registered architect, one licensed general contractor, one registered architect or licensed general contractor specializing in residential design or construction, one registered engineer practicing structural engineering, one registered engineer practicing mechanical engineering, one registered engineer practicing electrical engineering, one licensed plumbing and heating contractor, one municipal or county building inspector, one licensed liquid petroleum gas dealer/contractor involved in the design of natural and liquid petroleum gas systems who has expertise and experience in natural and liquid petroleum gas piping, venting and appliances, a representative of the public who is not a member of the building construction industry, a licensed electrical contractor, a registered engineer on the engineering staff of a State agency charged with approval of plans of State-owned buildings, a municipal elected official or city manager, a county commissioner or county manager, an active member of the North Carolina fire service with expertise in fire safety, a member of the Building Owners and Management Association, and a member of The Historic Preservation Society of North Carolina, Inc. In selecting the municipal and county members, preference should be given to members who qualify as either a registered architect, registered engineer, or licensed general contractor. Of the members initially appointed by the Governor, six shall serve for terms of two years each, commencing on July 1, 1995, six shall serve for terms of four years each, commencing on July 1, 1995, and five shall serve for terms of six years each, commencing on July 1, 1995. Thereafter, all appointments shall be for terms of six years. The Governor may remove appointive members at any time. Neither the architect nor any of the above named engineers shall be engaged in the manufacture, promotion or sale of any building material, and any member who shall, during his term, cease to meet the qualifications for original appointment (through ceasing to be a practicing member of the profession indicated or otherwise) shall thereby forfeit his membership on the Council. In making new appointments or filling vacancies, the Governor shall ensure that minorities and women are represented on the Council.
The Governor may make appointments to fill the unexpired portions of any terms vacated by reason of death, resignation, or removal from office. In making such appointment, he shall preserve the composition of the Council required above."
Sec. 4.  Sections 2 and 3 of this act become effective July 1, 1995.  The remainder of this act is effective upon ratification.