Fire officials study code careers and share injury data

The State Fire Marshal convenes a group to study the code official career path. The group includes the State Fire Marshal, all members of the Fire Marshal Training Council, and three members appointed by the Joint Council of Connecticut Fire Service Organizations. The section takes effect upon passage. The first meeting must be held within 60 days, and the group reports by January 1, 2027. It ends when it reports or on January 1, 2027, whichever is later.

The State Fire Marshal may issue official explanations of the Fire Safety Code when someone asks. Any person may ask for an interpretation, including whether a code provision applies. The Marshal must compile and index each interpretation. This section takes effect October 1, 2026. The Marshal must publish interpretations at intervals no longer than four months.

The Department of Public Health reports specified injuries and deaths to the Office of the State Fire Marshal, which publishes a statistical summary. Reports cover burn injuries and injuries from fireworks or explosives, and deaths from those injuries or smoke inhalation, including when those injuries contributed to a death. The department uses death certificate and hospital discharge information. The office sends its statistical summary to local fire marshals and the General Assembly. The section takes effect October 1, 2026. The first report is due by January 1, 2027, and reports are due annually after that.

Towns select polling places that meet required accessibility standards and file a compliance certification or a waiver application. The rule applies to polling places selected by town registrars of voters or the town's legislative body. A town may file either a certification in the form set by the Secretary of the State or an application for a waiver. This section takes effect October 1, 2026.

Covered garages and terminals must provide specified overhead clearance, and certain multifamily housing must meet accessibility requirements. The parking rules cover public garages and terminals with permits filed from October 1, 1985, onward, subject to the stated exemptions. The housing rule covers buildings with four or more units that have an elevator, and ground-floor units in other buildings with four or more units. A landlord may reasonably require a renter to restore interior changes, allowing for ordinary wear. Housing must meet whichever of the federal fair housing rules or State Building Code provisions requires greater accommodation. These provisions take effect October 1, 2026. For permits filed from October 1, 1985, through September 30, 2004, clearance is 9 feet 6 inches; permits filed on or after October 1, 2004, require 8 feet 2 inches.