Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission

Contact Fire Prevention & Building Safety Commission

Meeting Information

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

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.

• 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 Elevator Code Committee
• Indiana Exploratory Committee for Code Updates

• COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Matters

  Due to the public health emergency created by the COVID-19 virus, Gov. Holcomb granted agencies broad powers to waive, suspend or modify existing rules where enforcement would be detrimental to the public welfare during the emergency, subject to his prior approval. See Executive Order 20-05. In an effort to proactively respond to the anticipated need for additional structures to be used as shelters, care facilities or hospitals during this time, the Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission (the "Commission", at its April 7, 2020, meeting, modified the rules provided in the notice below.

  However, on July 1, 2021, Executive Order 21-17 went into effect rescinding the Commission's authority to waive, suspend or modify its existing rules, during the public health emergency. See paragraph 2.b. of E.O. 21-17. Therefore, in accordance with paragraph 4 of the COVID-19 Rule Modifications for Shelters, Care Facilities and Hospitals notice below, all parties operating under the modifications must come into compliance with the rules of the Commission within 45 days of this rescission (8/15/2021). Additionally, any notice of utilization of the modifications sent to the Commission on or after July 1, 2021, are ineffective and do not authorize compliance with the now-expired modifications. If you have any questions or concerns about this, please contact Commission staff at buildingcommission@dhs.in.gov.

  • 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 non-rule policies and the State Building Commissioner may issue written interpretations. Below you will find links to: (1) a list of the Commission’s current and previous rules; (2) non-rule policies and written interpretations of the Commission's rules; (3) a flow chart summarizing the rulemaking process; (4) information on how to request a written interpretation; (5) current rulemakings the Commission is undertaking; and (6) a web form which may be utilized to submit comments or proposals regarding any of the Commission's rules.

  • List of Current and Previous Rules Adopted by Commission
  • Non-Rule Policies and Interpretations of the Commission's Rules
  • Rule Adoption Process
  • How to Request a Written Interpretation
  • Current Rulemakings and Rulemaking Dockets
    • Indiana Elevator Code
  • Code Comments and Proposals Web Form
• 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. Visit the pages below if interested in requesting a variance, viewing the variance databases or reading more information about the variance process.

  • 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