High-Profile: A Closer Look at IIDA New England
October 2014
Small Change, Large Impacts
Upcoming Events
By Doug Anderson
On April 1, 2014 the Boston Fire Department (BFD) issued a revised Regulation IX-10 addressing the use of flame-retardant upholstered and plastic furniture. The Regulation is part of the Boston Fire Doug Anderson Prevention Code, a separate and often more restrictive regulation than the MA State Fire Prevention Code, 527 CMR. The updated regulation removes most Group B (business) occupancies from being required to have upholstered chairs, benches, couches, and banquettes; and solid plastic chairs, from complying with the California Technical Bulletin 133 (CAL 133). Note that most Group B spaces are now exempt not only from CAL 133 but also CAL 117. These changes bring the City of Boston in line with the rest of the state for most Group B spaces. Group A spaces are still required to have CAL 133 furnishings, even if the building is fully sprinklered. “Group A” spaces include rooms used for assemblytype purposes, such as conference and dining rooms, with individual room occupant loads of 50 or more. In tenant
spaces with mixed uses of Groups A and B, there is no requirement for separation between the uses. Thus, Group B office spaces can be provided with nonlisted furnishings, while an adjacent Group A cafeteria or conference room open to the office area must have CAL 133. In our recent experience, contractors and others have been slow to embrace these changes, because it is a “relaxation” of a code requirement and is “different” from the way things have been done for 30 plus years. One of the fears expressed is that “BFD will change their minds next
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On April 1, 2014 the Boston Fire Department (BFD) issued a revised Regulation IX-10 addressing the use of flame-retardant upholstered and plastic furniture.
Get Involved! For opportunities to get involved, reach out to Sean Schuette at sschuette@intrinxec.com.
week.” This is not likely to happen. On January 1, 2015, Mass. will adopt a new edition of 527 CMR which no longer references CAL 133; however, other, similar testing standards are referenced. It is not yet known how or if BFD will further revise Regulation IX-10. Doug Anderson is manager, Code Advisory Group, at Commercial Construction Consulting, Inc. (C3). Mechanical Electrical Plumbing Fire Protection Commissioning Central Plants
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