Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission

Contact Board of Firefighting Personnel Standards & Education

Meeting Information

Next Meeting
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
9:00 a.m. EDT
Location details to be confirmed

IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING COVID-19 PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY
In response to the State's guidance and orders/directives issued in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the Commission's Tuesday, October 6, 2020, meeting was not held in-person. In accordance with Governor Holcomb's executive orders that have relaxed the state's public meeting and Open Door Law requirements, the Commission's meetings may be conducted electronically/remotely through Cisco Webex. Access information for meetings will be provided below. The public is able to view or listen to the meetings online or by phone using the information below.

Variance applicants, submitters and other stakeholders with essential business before the Commission may be afforded the opportunity to participate in the meeting and address the Commission. However, direct participation in the Commission's meeting is not mandatory, and testimony is afforded at the discretion of the chairman.

If your variance application has been "tabled" by the Commission or if you have received notice that IDHS has "referred" your variance application to the Commission for determination, please contact staff at variances@dhs.in.gov with any questions or concerns. Questions or concerns regarding any other business before the Commission should be directed to buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov. Additional information will be provided here in advance of the meeting(s) as it becomes available, and as additional guidance, orders/directives and/or restrictions affect the Commission's ability to conduct its meeting(s).

• Meeting Materials
• Commission Meeting Schedule
• Meeting Minutes
• Electronic Communications Meeting Policy

About the Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission

The Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (Commission) is an 11-member commission established in Ind. Code Chapter 22-12-2 that meets monthly to conduct its business. In general, the commission is tasked with: (1) creating a statewide code of fire safety laws and building laws; (2) reviewing variance requests to codes it has adopted; (3) reviewing local ordinances containing building and fire safety laws; and (4) reviewing orders enforcing fire and building safety laws. View the list of commission members on the FPBS Commission Members page.

Subcommittees

• Indiana Boiler and Pressure Vessel Rules Rewrite Committee
• Indiana Elevator Code Committee
• Indiana Residential Code Committee

• COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Matters

  Pursuant to its authority provided in Executive Order 20-05, the Commission has taken official action to modify specific rules which, if enforced, may be detrimental to public welfare during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Please see the "COVID-19 Rule Modifications for Shelters, Care Facilities, and Hospitals" notice provided below for specific information regarding which rules have currently been modified by the Commission, the scope of the modifications, and the requirements for compliance upon expiration of the modifications. In accordance with the requirements provided in the notice below, any interested individual or entity that intends to utilize any modification within its afforded scope during the COVID-19 public health emergency shall notify the Commission at buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov. Additional concerns regarding the enforcement of any other rules of the Commission during the COVID-19 public health emergency should also be submitted to the Commission at buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov. This section and the notice provided below will be updated as additional information becomes available, and as additional official actions are taken by the Commission.

  • COVID-19 Rule Modifications for Shelters, Care Facilities and Hospitals
• Order Review

  Pursuant to its statutory authority, the Commission performs two different forms of review: (1) administrative reviews conducted pursuant to the Administrative Orders and Procedures Act (AOPA); and (2) non-AOPA review of certain orders issued state agencies and political subdivisions. For an overview of the orders reviewed by the Commission, see the document below:

  • Orders Reviewed by the Commission

  For general information about the administrative review process, how to file a petition for review, and to review the database of final order issued by the Commission, please review the information contained on the link below:

  • Administrative Review

  For an overview of the process and procedure of the Commission’s review of orders mentioned in Ind. Code § 22-13-2-7(a), see the policy below:

  • Procedure for Review of Orders Pursuant to IC 22-13-2-7(a)
• Ordinance Review

  Pursuant to Ind. Code § 22-13-2-5, the Commission is tasked with reviewing and approving the fire safety and building laws adopted in the ordinances and other regulations of political subdivisions before they can become effective. If your local jurisdiction is interested in adopting a fire safety or building law, the ordinance templates and the information contained in the link below will help guide you through this process. Additionally, if you have any questions concerning this process, or if you would like to submit your ordinance for pre-adoption review or for Commission approval, please direct your correspondence to the Commission Staff, at this email address: buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov.

  • Overview of the Commission's Program for Review and Approval

  Ordinance Templates

  The following ordinance templates have been prepared by the Commission and are recommended to be utilized when drafting an ordinance. The use of these templates will expedite review of your ordinance and assist in avoiding potential conflicts and defects.

  • Building Ordinance Template (PDF)
  • Building Ordinance Template (Doc)
  • Fire Prevention Ordinance Template
  • Unsafe Building Ordinance Template

  Approved Local Ordinances (January 1, 2018, to present)

  • City of Auburn Ordinance No. 2017-03
  • City of Rushville Ordinance No. 2017-35
  • Porter County Ordinance No. 17-23
  • Town of Chesterton Ordinance No. 2017-12
  • Michigan City Ordinance No. 4461
  • Order of Approval - Long Beach Ordinance No. 2017-06
  • Order of Approval - Thorntown Ordinance No. 2018-1
  • Order of Approval - City of Scottsburg Ordinance No. 2018-5
  • Order of Approval - Town of Warren Ordinance No. 2018-4
  • Order of Approval - Town of Roanoke Ordinance No. 2018-4
  • Order of Approval - Town of Mount Etna Ordinance No. 2018-3
  • Order of Approval - Town of Markle Ordinance No. 2018-5
  • Order of Approval - Town of Andrews Ordinance No. 2018-7
  • Order of Approval - Huntington County Ordinance No. 2018-8
  • Order of Approval - City of Columbus Ordinance No. 2, 2019
  • Order of Approval - Town of Trail Creek Ordinance No. 6-2019
  • Order of Approval - Town of Ellettsville Ordinance No. 2020-15
  • Order of Approval - Town of Ogden Dunes No. 855
• Rules, Rulemakings and Interpretations

  The Commission is granted broad authority to create fire safety, building, and equipment rules. To supplement and clarify these rules, the Commission may adopt nonrule policies and the State Building Commissioner may issue written interpretations. Below you will find: (1) a list of the Commission’s rules; (2) a list of the Commission’s nonrule policies and State Building Commissioner’s written interpretations; (3) information on how to request a written interpretation; (4) current rulemakings the Commission is undertaking; and (5) information on code comments, proposals and advice.

  • Complete List of Codes and Rules Adopted by Commission
  • Non-Rule Policies and Interpretations of the Commission's Rules
  • How to Request a Written Interpretation
  • Current Rulemakings and Rulemaking Dockets
    • Indiana Residential Code
      • Rulemaking Docket - LSA Document #19-330
    • Indiana Elevator Code
  • Emergency Rules
    • Variances - LSA Document #19-333(E)
      • Interpretation of LSA Document #19-333(E)
    • Boiler and Pressure Vessels - LSA Document #19-334(E)
    • Boiler and Pressure Vessel Standards - LSA Document #19-426(E)
  • Code Comments, Proposals, and Advice
• Variances

  Generally speaking, all fire safety and building laws must be followed. However, under certain circumstances, a variance may be granted to the Commission’s rules. See Ind. Code § 22-13-2-11. To qualify for a variance you must pay the required fee and submit facts showing that compliance with the rule will impose an undue hardship and non-compliance with the rule (or compliance with an alternative) will not be adverse to the public health, safety, or welfare. If you are interested in requesting a variance, would like to view our variance databases or would like more information about the variance process, click the link below.

  • Variances
  • Variance Sanctions
  • Commission Variance Database Search
• Other Resources
  • Contacts for Code Education Classes
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Information on Ice/Water Shield and Drip Edge
  • Adoption and Implementation of 2020 Indiana Residential Code