Regarding Adoption of the ICC Fire Codes

Dear TBOA member,

 Please print out two copies of the attached Word document. On one copy please sign and mail to the Insurance Commissioner as soon as possible. On the second copy, if your local fire marshal, fire inspector or fire chief is supportive of the IFC, attempt to have him or her sign and also send to the commissioner. 

  Please don't forget the public hearing Friday, February 15^th at 9 a.m. in the Snodgrass Tennessee Tower, located at 312 8^th Avenue North in Nashville. Remember traffic is heavy in Nashville this early so please allow extra time.

Sincerely,

Tim Ward
President, TBOA

Honorable Commissioner Leslie A. Newman

Department of Commerce and Insurance

500 James Robertson Parkway

Davy Crockett Tower, 5^th Floor

Nashville, TN  37243-0565

Re:  International Fire Code

Dear Commissioner Newman,

 As a regulator and code official in the state of Tennessee, I ask that you please give great consideration to the adoption of the International Fire Code (IFC), along with the International Building Code (IBC), both of which are published by the International Code Council (ICC).  It is my belief that the IFC adopted along with IBC would provide code officials with a correlated and compatible family of codes.

 By adopting correlated codes, design professionals, contractors, builders, and building owners can be assured that both the building official and the fire official will be working together to assure the citizens of the great state of Tennessee can work, live and play in buildings that are safe.

 The scope of the IFC clearly states that the intent of the IFC is to not only provide safe buildings for the occupants but also provide for the safety of firefighters and emergency responders in both new and existing buildings.

 Both the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM) have signed memorandums of understanding with the ICC which assures the placement of members of those organizations on key ICC committees; assuring their voices will be heard in the development of the IFC as well as all ICC codes and standards.

 Good luck in your endeavors to adopt the best code for the state of Tennessee and I am looking forward to working with your staff in the State Fire Marshals Office in making our state safe.

 Sincerely,

Tim Ward respectfully requests that you printout the above letter, sign it and forward it to the addressee in the heading.  Download the letter now in Word format.