The State Fire Marshal’s Office has announced a kick-off meeting to review the current provisions of the codes in relationship to Group L occupancy requirements. Group L allows an alternate method of design for research labs that have regulated hazardous materials in excess of that permitted by the control area concept in Section 414. Without these provisions research laboratories would be limited to the first three floor levels above grade plane to have sufficient amount of regulated hazardous materials to conduct their operations or would have to be classified as a Group H occupancy. The Group L occupancy is a California created occupancy classification which became part of the 2007 California Codes and has not have a review or significant update since this time of introduction.
SFM would like to have persons participate in this review from all perspectives of users, developers, building owners, architects and those responsible for enforcement .At this time there is not a representative from a local building department and such individual would be extremely helpful. SFM is actually interested in having individuals having any form of interest in the review process and therefore has established a Web conference for those that may not be able to attend the actual Sacramento meeting.
This meeting will be held August 221 to 4 PM at SFM Headquarters in Sacramento.
If you like to join the conference call: Call in 888-251-2909 Participant: 204798
This information is also found at www.ncnsfpe.org