2006 Utah Code - 53-7-204 — Duties of Utah Fire Prevention Board -- Local administrative duties.

     53-7-204.   Duties of Utah Fire Prevention Board -- Local administrative duties.
     (1) The board shall:
     (a) make rules in accordance with Title 63, Chapter 46a, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act:
     (i) adopting a nationally recognized fire code and the specific edition of that fire code as the state fire code to be used as the standard;
     (ii) establishing minimum standards for the prevention of fire and for the protection of life and property against fire and panic in any:
     (A) publicly owned building, including all public and private schools, colleges, and university buildings;
     (B) building or structure used or intended for use as an asylum, a mental hospital, a hospital, a sanitarium, a home for the aged, an assisted living facility, a children's home or day care center, or any similar institutional type occupancy of any capacity; and
     (C) place of assemblage where 50 or more persons may gather together in a building, structure, tent, or room for the purpose of amusement, entertainment, instruction, or education;
     (iii) establishing safety and other requirements for placement and discharge of display fireworks based upon:
     (A) the specific edition of the nationally recognized fire code selected by the board under Subsection (1)(a)(i); and
     (B) relevant publications of the National Fire Protection Association;
     (iv) establishing minimum safety standards for retail storage, handling, and sale of class C common state approved explosives;
     (v) defining methods to establish proof of competence to place and discharge display fireworks;
     (vi) for deputizing qualified persons to act as deputy fire marshals, and to secure special services in emergencies;
     (vii) implementing Sections 53-7-106 and 53-7-205;
     (viii) setting guidelines for use of funding; and
     (ix) establishing criteria for training and safety equipment grants for fire departments enrolled in firefighter certification;
     (b) recommend to the commissioner a state fire marshal;
     (c) develop policies under which the state fire marshal and his authorized representatives will perform;
     (d) provide for the employment of field assistants and other salaried personnel as required;
     (e) prescribe the duties of the state fire marshal and his authorized representatives;
     (f) establish a statewide fire prevention, fire education, and fire service training program in cooperation with the Board of Regents;
     (g) establish a statewide fire statistics program for the purpose of gathering fire data from all political subdivisions of the state;
     (h) establish a fire academy in accordance with Section 53-7-204.2;
     (i) coordinate the efforts of all people engaged in fire suppression in the state;
     (j) work aggressively with the local political subdivisions to reduce fire losses;
     (k) regulate the sale and servicing of portable fire extinguishers and automatic fire suppression systems in the interest of safeguarding lives and property;

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     (l) establish a certification program for persons who inspect and test automatic fire sprinkler systems; and
     (m) establish a certification program for persons who inspect and test fire alarm systems.
     (2) The board may incorporate in its rules by reference, in whole or in part, nationally recognized and readily available standards and codes pertaining to the protection of life and property from fire, explosion, or panic.
     (3) (a) The board may only make amendments to the state fire code adopted under Subsection (1)(a)(i) in accordance with Section 53-7-205.
     (b) The amendments may be applicable to the entire state or within a city, county, or fire protection district.
     (4) The following functions shall be administered locally by a city, county, or fire protection district:
     (a) issuing permits, including open burning permits pursuant to Sections 11-7-1 and 19-2-114;
     (b) creating a local board of appeals in accordance with the state fire code; and
     (c) establishing, modifying, or deleting fire flow and water supply requirements.

Amended by Chapter 318, 2006 General Session