In an attempt to keep an effective correlation between fire codes and building codes, the Independence Township Board adopted the 2003 edition of the International Fire Code at the July 5 meeting.
According to a memo from Fire Marshal Greg Olrich, the township implemented the 2000 edition of the fire code in September 2001. Simultaneously, the state of Michigan used the 2000 edition of the International Building Code.
The call for adoption of the 2003 International Fire Code came in response to Michigan’s adoption of the 2003 edition of the International Building Code in 2004.
‘There’s not a significant change people will recognize. The building code changed a year ago and had matched the fire code section for section’This brings the two back in alignment,? said Olrich.
In addition to adopting the fire code, minor changes were made to township ordinances that add to the fire code. Most of the changes involved updating section numbers to bring ordinances in line with the fire code.
Olrich said the one notable change added the word ‘private? to chapter 9, article III, dealing with open burning because some residents had challenged the township’s terminology regarding burning on public and private roads.
The memo stated that the terminology was in fact restricting the depart-ment’s ability to control that particular hazard.
‘It became a problem when some people felt they could burn in the road or along the ditch (on private roads). This created a smoke problem hazardous to drivers,? said Olrich.