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County staff unveils draft International Fire Code 2024 for Johnson County, highlights lithium-battery and ESS rules
Summary
Marshall Moore presented a draft Johnson County fire code based on the 2024 International Fire Code, proposing construction and operational permits for commercial, public and multifamily buildings and new regulation and permitting authority for energy storage systems and lithium battery storage; no action taken, draft to be reviewed by county attorney then returned to the court.
Marshall Moore presented a near-final draft of a local fire code based on the 2024 International Fire Code and asked the court to review the document after county attorney feedback. Moore said the code’s purpose is “twofold” — to protect the public and to protect firefighters — and described how the draft handles construction and operational permits, hydrant and water-supply standards, sprinkler thresholds and specialized rules for energy storage systems (ESS) and lithium battery storage.
Moore told the court the proposed code would apply primarily to commercial buildings, public buildings and multifamily residential buildings with four or more units; many existing buildings would be grandfathered until retrofit or significant remodels trigger code compliance. Moore emphasized that the county’s draft can differ from state-adopted codes and is being tailored for local conditions.
On ESS and lithium storage the draft contains stringent requirements: lab-tested fire-safety designs, remote shutoff capability, required construction and operational permits and setbacks to reduce risks to adjacent subdivisions. "Fire code gives you the ability to regulate these things via permit," Moore said, describing both construction- and annually reviewed operational-permit processes for higher-risk facilities.
Moore also described proposed automatic-sprinkler triggers the draft recommends (for example, automatic sprinklers for new construction at 12,000 square feet or certain occupancies and lower thresholds for highly flammable storage such as mattresses). He discussed the county’s concerns about water supply and hydrant spacing and noted options such as cisterns for sites where extending a water supply would be cost-prohibitive.
Moore outlined a timeline: he will provide the draft (roughly 75–78 pages) to the county attorney for review, then present the revised draft to the court (anticipated in January) and aim for implementation in the March–April timeframe, with opportunities for public comment and changes before adoption. He also noted training provided by an industry vendor (Tesla) for firefighters on lithium-battery fires and called for continued training for volunteers and staff.
No formal action was taken; commissioners asked clarifying questions about fees, enforcement authority, and how the code would treat group homes and certain residential uses. Moore said fee schedules and some operational details remain to be finalized and will be included in the draft the court will receive for review.
The court took no action on the item; staff will deliver the draft to the county attorney and return to the court for further review and potential adoption steps.
