Public Meeting Notice  BBRS Fire Prevention and Fire Protection Advisory Committee Meeting - 7.8.26

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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 and Fire Protection Subcommittee convened a regular meeting on: 

Microsoft Teams Meeting July 8^th, 2026 

The topics shown below were discussed at the aforementioned meeting: 9:41 AM Chair David 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.

Subcommittee members present

• David LeBlanc
• Matthew Bourque
• Tom Farland
• Carissa Lisee (dropped at 12:03 PM)
• Steven Nocco (dropped at 10:30 AM)
• Jake Nunnemacher
• Eric Svahn (joined 11:01 AM)

Subcommittee members absent

• Luke McKneally

DOL Staff Present

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

Acknowledged Public Attendees

• none

1. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Minutes 
   1. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to approve meeting minutes for April 29, 2026, seconded by Carissa Lisee. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
   2. Carissa Lisee motioned to approve meeting minutes with one amendment of capital T,  for May 27, 2026, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously. 
2. Reviewed and Discussed Code change tracker form
   1. Chair LeBlanc noted tracker and where subcommittee left off. 
3. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Assigned code sections with track changes
   1. Chapter 9 IBC 2024
      1. Chair LeBlanc introduced Section 907.  Carissa Lisee motioned to approve 907 as amended, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher.  Members reviewed and proposed edits to 907.1.1, 907.1.2, 907.2.  There was also review to some additional ICC changes 907.2.2.2 and 907.2.4.1.  During discussion it was noted that 907 to 907.2.4 was appropriate to include in the vote, Cariss Lisee amended her motion to approve 907 through 907.2.4, seconded by Jake Nunnemacher.  A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained.  Motion passed unanimously.
      2. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to continue discussion starting with 907.2.5, seconded by Matt Bourque.  Section 907.2.5 discussion was set aside, and subcommittee discussed 907.2.6 Group 1.  Senior Board Counsel expressed concerns with verbiage being proposed as the citation pointed to Fire Official as the AHJ, which yet in the building code it is the building official  .  He suggested citing specific sections of code instead or note see 527 CMR 1.00 if cited there.  He also repeatedly asked if 527 CMR 1.00 already allows a fire official to review and approve evacuation plans.  Chair LeBlanc explained how private mode signaling works and types of evacuations.  Further discussion ensued with points made about the fire department owning evacuation plan and building official responsible for fire alarm construct, verbiage is in ICC, fire department must agree to evacuation plan, evacuation plan comes from the fire code and 527 CMR 1.00.  The subcommittee worked to edit the verbiage to link fire official references to 527 CMR. Attorney Kilb noted the edits improved the problem, however additional review would be appropriate.
      3. Chair LeBlanc introduced section 907.2.7 and noted changes from ICC and that it is not addressed in 527 CMR 1.00 in its current state.  Jake Nunnemacher added it will be when the next edition of the fire code is adopted. Subcommittee moved on.
      4. Chair LeBlanc introduced section 907.2.8.3.1 Anunciation under Smoke Alarms.  Members discussed if proposal should be listed here or under Chapter 34.  Jake Nunnemacher stated he would make a note for the 34 Committee and then would remove from verbiage from this section.
      5. Chair LeBlanc introduced section 907.2.9.1 and discussed proposed edit for 13D systems.  After discussion, proposed verbiage removed as 13D system would not apply here.
      6. Chair LeBlanc introduced section 907.2.10 and bringing a 10^th edition amendment forward.  Chair LeBlanc explained this deals with marinas and boat storage exceeding 5,000 sq. feet.  A formatting only discussion followed.
      7. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.11.  Jake Nunnemacher spoke to the references noted. He explained that MA, for a long time required photoelectric smoke alarms  manufactured to UL 217 but in 2020 there was a massive change to how devices are tested  in UL 217. This change became effective July 1, 2024.  He went on to explain that for the most part there are no longer photoelectric or ionization devices and what is used is multicriteria devices manufactured to the UL217 8^th edition or later.  Although we are into the 10^th edition, the massive changes occurred in UL 217 8^th edition  and therefore the code needs to reflect this.  Also noted that Chapter 35 will be changed as well.
      8. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.11.3.  Minor discussion regarding NFPA 72 justifying edit as that reference only applies as part of 527 CMR 12.
      9. There was a quick discussion about 907.2.11.6 power source with comments made by members regarding the redundancy of ICC verbiage.
      10. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.11.8 and discussed 10^th edition verbiage to be carried forward and the importance of it.  
      11. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.13.2 yet no discussion.
      12. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.15 and noted why the subcommittee is keeping the reference to IFC.
      13. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.16 with discussion about having a pointer to the fire code.  
      14. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.23 Energy storage systems and carrying forward 10^th edition amendments.  This led to a robust discussion detailing what is in the fire code, the design of battery energy storage design within buildings and on their own,  the equipment involved, as well as detection systems for heat, smoke, explosion, etc. 
      15. Chair Leblanc introduced section 907.2.24 other sleeping areas and noted bringing forward 10^th edition amendments. No further discussion.
      16. Chair Leblanc introduced 907.5.2.1.3.2 and there was a short discussion about low frequency signal alarms.   
      17. Chair Leblanc introduced 907.5.2.2.6 emergency voice/alarm communication systems – evacuation. Senior Board Counsel again directed attention to verbiage being proposed which appear to delegate building code determinations to non-building officials.  There was discussion from members about who owns evacuation plan in an emergency, how the building official needs to be in the loop on what type of system, and how the system will be used.  Attorney Kilb noted that if verbiage is kept, he would need to flag this section as having a legal problem. Members discussed whether this is an issue as building departments and fire departments work together locally.  Attorney Kilb stated if this is a non-issue, to remove verbiage as it does not need to be in the building code since it is in the fire code. He advised that if the verbiage is kept, it is going against legal advice.  He recommended a vote to accept this language without modification would be against legal advice.  Executive Director Gropman weighed in with concern about going against legal advice. Chair LeBlanc indicated he would be ok with a motion going forward as the matter would not be finalized.
      18. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.5.2.3 visible alarms and noted 10^th edition language to carry forward.     
      19. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.6.1and a small note was added to see 527 CMR 12.00.  
      20. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.6.6 monitoring with minimal discussion about striking IFC reference and triple deckers/3 unit building with 13D systems.
      21. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.6.6.2 and discussion followed about verbiage citing approved by the fire code official. Attorney Kilb recommended changing this verbiage as this is the building code you must cite the building code.  Discussion ensued and Attorney Kilb suggested verbiage of building official in consultation with since it is legally problematic for the building code to have a non-building official wave component of the building code.  There was further discussion and proposed verbiage remained.
      22. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.6.6.3 and discussion followed with note pointing to MGL 148 section 27A.
      23. Chair LeBlanc introduced 907.8 with minimal discussion.
      24. Jake Nunnemacher amended his motion to accept everything from 907.2.6 up to the end of 907, seconded by Matthew Bourque. Attorney Kilb addressed and advised the subcommittee that the vote is premature as the language in this section is inconsistent with that used in other sections and appears to give building code determinations to non-building officials.  Chair LeBlanc indicated that the matter would not be sent to BBRS yet and would work with counsel for language for review at the next meeting. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained.  Carissa Lisee and Steven Nocco were absent for this vote.  Motion passed unanimously.
      25. Prior to voting there was discussion clarifying that all votes taken by the FPFP subcommittee to date are not to approve for BBRS review but to approve on an interim basis only. 
      26. Jake Nunnemacher volunteered to try draft universally acceptable language and to bring back to next meeting.      
4. Reviewed, Discussed, and Voted Front-end amendments and code change proposals – n/a
   1. Chapter 4 11^th edition 780 CMR  
5. Reviewed and Discussed Homework assignments – n/a
6. Reviewed Future meeting dates – n/a
7. Discuss Matters Not Reasonably Anticipated 48 Hours in Advance of the Meeting
   1. No matters were discussed
8. Adjournment – The next meeting is scheduled for August 7, 2026, at 1 PM. 
   1. Jake Nunnemacher motioned to adjourn, seconded by Eric Svahn. A roll call vote was held, none opposed, none abstained. Motion passed unanimously.
   2. The meeting adjourned at 12:33 PM. 

Items Relied Upon During Open Meeting

• Agenda
• Meeting Minutes
• Code Change Proposals
• 2024 IRC
• 2024 IBC
• 780 CMR related provisions

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

1. Review/Discuss/ Vote Minutes of the following FPFP meetings: 
   1. April 29, 2026
   2. 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 22, 2026