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What are Fire Codes and Why are They Important?

If you’re buying or building a commercial structure, it’s important that you familiarize yourself with the fire codes adopted in the great state of Alaska. This is true not just so your building passes all inspections, but for the safety of those who will inhabit it. If you’re unfamiliar with fire codes, here’s a few things to know:

What are They?

Fire codes are a set of standards that are created and enforced by a government body for the purpose of fire prevention and safety. Fire codes can be extensive and not every aspect of them will be applicable to your business.

How Do They Work?

Fire codes are like most laws in that they are not exactly the same in every state, town, or city. The International Code Council, which wrote and now updates the International Fire Code, and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), which created its own fire code, update and revise their codes continually to ensure they’re as up to date with new fire-prevention technology as possible.

These then serve as a baseline for states, which create their own laws based on the new information or adopt the regulations without revision. For example, in Florida, the State Fire Marshal updates a new fire prevention code every three years. These are then enforced at the local and county level. Counties, special districts, and municipalities can also create their own amendments, which only apply to those communities.