Public Meeting Notice  BBRS Fire Prevention and Fire Protection Advisory Committee Meeting - 4.8.26

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, the Board of Building Regulations and Standards Fire Prevention Fire Protection Committee convened a regular monthly meeting on: 

Microsoft Teams Meeting April 8, 2026 

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 9:34 AM Chair Dave LeBlanc called the open meeting to order. 

Informational note: All votes were taken by roll call. Where each member voted in favor, the vote will be reported as unanimous.

Board Members Present

• Dave LeBlanc, Fire Protection Engineer
• Matthew Bourque, Developer
• Tom Farland, Municipal Fire Official
• Carissa Lisee, DOL Appointee
• Luke McKneally, BBRS Member
• Jake Nunnemacher, BBRS Member
• Michael Yanovitch, Building Contractor

Board Members Absent

• Steven Nocco, Municipal Building Official
• Eric Svahn, Architect

DOL Staff Present

• Tammy Gropman, Executive Director
• Charles Kilb, Senior Board Counsel

1. Review/Discuss/Vote Meeting minutes from March 11, 2026
2. Luke McKneally motioned to approve the FPFP meeting minutes for March 11, 2026, seconded by Matt Bourque.  A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
3. Review/Discuss Code change tracker form
4. Luke McKneally stated he continues to update the notes section which includes a list of the sections the subcommittee is reviewing and whether they are approved or not.   
5. Review/Discuss/Vote Assigned code sections – Chapter 4 IBC
6. Chair LeBlanc introduced Chapter 4 Section 433.2.5.1 Gas Detection System. There was discussion about the current verbiage approved by the inspector and who that means as well as clarifying the process when an alternative method is met.
7. Points made to clean up the verbiage and to clarify the gas detection system as the starting point for the requirement. Chair LeBlanc noted the starting point is a gas detection system. He explained to the subcommittee this is required when you use the carbon dioxide enrichment equipment, adding when this happens the building official needs to be in the loop. He further indicated that a gas detection system is not required when an alternative method of protection utilizing positive pressure is approved by the fire official. 
8. There was continued discussion about some language being duplicative to the fire code and therefore should be removed. Legal Counsel noted that the subcommittee’s charge is to write the building code, areas wholly covered by the Fire Code should be reviewed to see if they are necessary. The result was 10th Language being stripped back and simplified, with added signposts to the Fire Code.   
9. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to approve overall 433 as amended, seconded by Tom Farland. No further discussion. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
10. Chair LeBlanc introduced Section 415 and inquired about any updates from Jake Nunnemacher on the work he was doing. Luke McKneally noted Jake also working on 415.6.4 and also 421 Hydrogen Fuel Gas Rooms. Jake did not have anything to share with subcommittee on the homework, however, brought up two other items in Chapter 4.  Regarding Section 425 Hyperbaric Facilities, he commented on the issue being raised on how to handle oxygen treatments in a hyperbaric chamber within a spa.  He asked what the intent of section 425 is and would these spas need to comply? 
11. Discussion followed as these chambers are used all over the state in spas, homes, hospitals, etc. Chair LeBlanc stated he doubts that these “smaller” hyperbaric chambers do not need to comply with the same requirements as those in a medical facility. NFPA 99 and its requirements were mentioned for medical and healthcare requirements as well as single occupant use, yet spas may not need to meet those requirements. Jake Nunnemacher questioned about looking into this further and what are we looking to deal with? He mentioned fires that have occurred in these chambers resulting in deaths. 
12. Luke McKneally posed questions about whether such products were allowed to be used by the general public? He also asked if there are additional requirements from manufacturer. His point is what is the building official responsible for and what is the product manufacturer responsible for.
13. There was further discussion about homes being a lot different than in a facility, the definition of hyperbaric facility not in the building code but in NFPA 99, the ICC’s intent of this section, and that further research into hyperbaric facilities in needed. Jake Nunnemacher stated he would add Hyperbaric facilities to the list of homework items he currently has and would bring back his findings at the next meeting. 
14. The other item Mr. Nunnemacher brought up to the subcommittee was about the request for interpretation the BBRS heard that came from the public involving 101.4.13 Transit and Commuter rail stations where under a specialized code it sends you to NFPA 130.  He stated he will be putting in a code change proposal forward to bring it out of Chapter 1 and put it into Chapter 4.  He will have this for the next meeting on April 29. 
15. Review/Discuss Homework assignments
16. Jake Nunnemacher will review prior noted code sections as homework to bring back to subcommittee for next meeting. 
17. Chair LeBlanc asked Executive Director Gropman to add to packet this edited document dated 4/8/26 so that subcommittee members can review prior to next meeting.  He also noted A2L discussion would take place at next meeting as well and asked ED Gropman to reach out to the presenters. 
18. Chair LeBlanc stated he would review again edits to the beginning of Chapter 4. Luke McKneally stated he would be happy to put together the Front-end amendment for Chapter 4 once Jake completes homework and subcommittee reviews. 
19. The subcommittee went through remaining sections of Chapter 9, and the members were assigned certain sections for review. Sections assigned were as follows:

• 901 General – Carissa Lisee
• 902 Fire pump and Rise Room Size – Carissa Lisee
• 903 Automatic sprinkler systems – Jake Nunnemacher
• 904 Alternate automatic fire extinguish systems – Dave LeBlanc
• 905 Standpipe systems – Dave LeBlanc
• 906 Portable Fire Extinguishers – Eric Svahn
• 907 Fire Alarm and Detection Systems – Matt Bourque
• 908 Emergency Alarm Systems – Matt Bourque
• 909 Smoke Control Systems – Dave LeBlanc
• 910 Smoke and Heat Removal – Michael Yanovitch
• 911 Fire Command Center - Tom Farland
• 912 Fire Department Connections - Tom Farland
• 913 Fire Pumps – Michael Yanovitch
• 914 Emergency Responder Safety Features – Tom Farland
• 915 Carbon Monoxide Detection – Jake Nunnemacher
• 916 Gas Detection Systems – Steve Nocco
• 917 Mass Notification – Luke McKneally
• 918 Emergency Radio Communication Coverage – Jake Nunnemacher

5. Chair LeBlanc noted subcommittee members have some time to complete this work.   There was discussion resulting in subcommittee members will send their final documents to Chair LeBlanc prior to meeting to place in official doc of subcommittee. 
6. Discuss Other matters not reasonably anticipated 48 hours in advance of meeting – none.
7. Adjournment – The next meeting is scheduled for April 29, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
8. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to adjourn meeting, seconded by Tom Farland. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
9. Meeting adjourned at 11:17 AM. 

Items Relied Upon During Open Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• 780 CMR Draft Chapter 4.00