Public Meeting Notice  BBRS Fire Prevention and Fire Protection Advisory Committee Meeting - 6.24.26

Microsoft Teams meeting link and dial-in number

Join: Microsoft Teams Meeting Link 

Meeting ID: 227 378 906 005 92 

Passcode: PM3FA6VJ

Need help? | System reference

Dial in to the meeting 

Meeting phone number:+1 857-327-9245,,102508111# United States, Boston

Find a local number 

Phone conference ID: 1032 508 111# 

In accordance with the provisions of G.L. c. 30A § 20, notice is hereby given that the Board of Building Regulations and Standards 11^th Edition Fire Prevention and Fire Protection Subcommittee will be convening a meeting. 

If you need reasonable accommodation to participate in the meeting, please reach out to Cheryl Yebba at 617- 701-8711. The Agency will make best efforts to accommodate requests received in a timely manner.

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 June 24^th, 2026 

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 9:40 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
• Tom Farland
• Carissa Lisee
• Luke McKneally
• Jake Nunnemacher

Board Members Absent

• Matt Bourque
• Steven Nocco
• Eric Svahn
• Michael Yanovitch

DOL Staff Present

• Charles Kilb, Senior Board Counsel
• Andrew Chase, Associate Executive Director

1. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Meeting Minutes
2. May 27^th, 2026 – It was noted that the meeting minutes were not provided in time for meeting. 
3. Reviewed and Discussed Code Change Tracker Form
4. No updates were discussed. 
5. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Assigned Code Sections with Tracked Changes
6. Chapter 9 IBC 2024
7. Section 901 – Members reviewed proposed amendments to Section 901 of Chapter 9 and discussed replacing general references to 527 CMR with more specific references to 527 CMR 1.00 Chapter 13 where appropriate. Members discussed whether maintenance requirements for fire protection systems should remain in the building code or instead be addressed through signposting to the fire code and the applicable reference standards in Chapter 35. Members discussed the distinction between design, installation, operation, and maintenance responsibilities and considered revisions to Section 901.9 to simplify the code language while retaining an informational note referencing M.G.L. c. 148, §27A.
8. Members reviewed Section 901.2.1 regarding alternate fire protection designs and discussed revisions allowing coordinated fire protection narratives to include appendices prepared by multiple registered design professionals. Members also discussed acceptance testing provisions under Section 901.3, recommending removal of IFC-specific references while retaining references to applicable NFPA standards and approved testing criteria.
9. Members discussed integrated testing requirements for high-rise buildings and smoke control systems, including retaining initial integrated testing requirements while removing recurring inspection and maintenance provisions from the building code. Members also discussed relocating room signage provisions formerly contained in Section 901.8 into Section 914.2 to eliminate duplication.
10. Tom Farland motioned to approve Section 901, seconded by Carissa Lisee. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
11. Section 902 – Members reviewed Section 902 and noted that no amendments had been proposed. Carissa Lisee motioned to adopt Section 902 unamended, seconded by Luke McKneally. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
12. Section 907 – Members briefly introduced review of Section 907 (Fire Alarm and Detection Systems) and noted preliminary edits, including removal of an IFC reference for construction documents and addition of a reference to 527 CMR 1. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to approve Section 907, seconded by Carissa Lisee. Before substantive discussion began, members determined that the assigned reviewer was not present and agreed to defer consideration of the section until the next meeting. Jake Nunnemacher withdrew his motion, Carissa Lisee withdrew her second. 
13. Section 911 – Members reviewed Section 911 (Fire Command Center) and noted that no amendments had been proposed. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to approve Section 911, seconded by Tom Farland. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
14. Section 912 – Carissa Lisee motioned to approve Section 912, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher. Members began review of Section 912 (Fire Department Connections) and discussed approval authority for fire department connection locations under Section 912.2, including incorporation of references to 527 CMR 1.00 Chapter 13. 
15. Members reviewed proposed revisions related to fire apparatus access roads, fire department connection signage, elevated signage where connections may be obstructed by parked vehicles, fire hose thread requirements, exceptions for multiple fire department connections serving separate pressure zones in high-rise buildings, and plumbing code references to 248 CMR Chapter 10 for backflow prevention. Members also discussed amendment formatting and consistency between tracked changes and front-end amendment language. A roll call vote was held, Jake Nunnemacher opposed, none abstained. Motion passed with majority, 4 in favor, 1 opposed.
16. Section 914 – Members reviewed amendments to Section 914.2 regarding identification signage for fire protection equipment rooms. Members discussed whether the sign content and location should be approved by the fire official or the building official and raised concerns regarding approval authority where no corresponding requirement exists in 527 CMR 1. Members discussed coordination between building officials and fire officials and ultimately revised the language to require approval by the building official in consultation with the fire official. Carissa Lisee motioned to approve Section 914, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
17. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Front-End Amendments and Code Change Proposals
18. Chapter 4 11th Edition 780 CMR – Members discussed formatting conventions for front-end amendments, including the use of "delete," "replace," and "revise" instructions versus tracked changes. Counsel advised utilizing the 10^th edition as a template.  Members reviewed how model code language should be incorporated into front-end amendments and discussed maintaining consistency between committee working documents and the format required for publication. Members also discussed methods for revising portions of model code language while minimizing unnecessary repetition.
19. Reviewed and Discussed Homework Assignments
20. Members noted that Sections 903, 906, 907, 908, 915, 916, and 918 remained under review. Discussion of several sections was deferred because the assigned reviewers were not present. Members agreed that the remaining sections would be reviewed at the next meeting regardless of attendance by the assigned reviewer.
21. Reviewed Future Meeting Dates
22. Members confirmed the next meeting date to be July 8th, 2026, and discussed the deadline for submission of remaining draft amendments prior to the meeting.
23. Discussed Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of the Meeting
24. No matters were discussed.
25. Adjournment – The next meeting is on July 8^th, 2026, at 9:30 AM.
26. Luke McKneally motioned to adjourn, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
27. Meeting adjourned at 12:31 PM.

Items Relied Upon During Open Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• 2024 IBC and related portions of 780 CMR

It is anticipated that the topics shown below will be discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 

1. Review/Discuss/ Vote Minutes of the following meeting: 
   1. May 27, 2026
2. Review/Discuss Code change tracker form
3. Review/Discuss/Vote Assigned code sections with track changes
   1. Chapter 9 IBC 2024
   2. Chapter 1 IBC 2024
4. Review/Discuss/Vote Front end amendments and code change proposals
   1. Chapter 4 11^th Edition 780 CMR
5. Review/Discuss Homework assignments
6. Review Future Meeting Dates
7. Discuss matters not reasonably anticipated by the chair, 48 hours in advance of the meeting

Adjournment – the next scheduled meeting is July 8, 2026