Fire marshal urges county to adopt building code to complement fire code

Fire Marshal Carl Fowler presented the case for adopting the International Building Code (IBC) to complement the county's fire code, saying the building code addresses construction type, fire resistance, egress and other structural matters that the fire code does not fully regulate. He said such a framework would be especially important as large commercial and industrial projects, including data centers, come to the region.

"The IFC and the IBC, international billing code, they're not redundant. They address different things," Fowler told the court, explaining that the building code governs structural aspects and construction classifications while the fire code governs suppression and alarm systems. Commissioners questioned who would perform plan review and whether county staff had capacity; Fowler said his office would undertake much of the review but outside reviewers could be engaged for specialty items.

Commissioners directed staff to consult legal counsel about regulatory authority and the practical steps needed for code adoption and asked Fowler to return with a concrete implementation plan once legal and staffing questions are resolved.