MaineMaine directs its building codes board to remove certain elevator requirements
Maine's building codes board must pursue removal of certain elevator requirements, while the State Fire Marshal must study sprinkler costs and elevator safety.
What it does
Maine's building codes board must begin a rulemaking process to remove requirements for smoke-blocking elevator door assemblies and two-way emergency video systems.
The State Fire Marshal must study ways to lower home sprinkler costs and examine elevators designed for limited use in two-story and three-story buildings. The study does not authorize those elevators.
The State Fire Marshal must use the 2025 edition of the national fire alarm and signaling code for Maine's state standards.
The building codes board includes a voting affordable housing expert appointed by the Governor. The expert must currently work in the field and have at least five years of experience.
Maine's occupational regulation office must report on progress toward adopting elevator and tramway safety rules. The Legislature's housing committee may use the report to propose further legislation.
Argument forRemoving requirements for elevator video systems and smoke-blocking door assemblies could lower equipment costs for builders whose projects need elevators.
Argument againstRemoving required smoke-blocking assemblies at elevator doors could leave residents with fewer safeguards against smoke spreading during a building fire.
More detail
The Technical Building Codes and Standards Board must start revising Maine's building and energy code to remove these requirements. The direction covers assemblies that block smoke and drafts at elevator shaft doors and two-way emergency video systems in elevators. Removing the requirements requires changes through the board's rulemaking process. The board must begin rulemaking by September 1, 2026, and report the outcome to the Legislature's housing committee by January 15, 2027.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal must gather a working group to study sprinkler costs and safety, plus elevator costs, safety, and accessibility. The study examines elevators designed for limited use in two-story and three-story buildings. It reviews sprinkler requirements for homes with at least three units and elevator requirements for homes with at least four units. The group must recommend ways to reduce required sprinkler installation costs. Recommendations to allow elevators designed for limited use depend on members finding them appropriate. The State Fire Marshal must send findings, recommendations, and proposed legislation to the Legislature's housing committee by January 15, 2027.
The Office of the State Fire Marshal must adopt the 2025 National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code. The instruction applies to Maine's state-adopted fire alarm and signaling standards from the National Fire Protection Association.
The Governor appoints an affordable housing expert as a voting member of Maine's Technical Building Codes and Standards Board. The seat represents affordable housing interests on the board responsible for Maine's building codes. A statewide association representing affordable housing interests recommends the expert. The expert must have at least five years of experience in the field and currently work in it.
The Director of the Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation must report on progress toward adopting elevator and tramway safety rules. The report covers the office's safety program for elevators and tramways, such as cable lifts. The Legislature's housing committee may submit related legislation to the 133rd Legislature in 2027. The director must submit the report to the Legislature's housing committee no later than January 15, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 13Signed by Governor Janet MillsLatest
- Apr 6PASSED TO BE ENACTED, in concurrence.Passed 2nd Chamber
- Apr 6Sent for concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Apr 6PASSED TO BE ENACTED.Became Law
- Apr 2In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Vote recorded ACCEPT MAJORITY OUGHT TO PASS AS AMENDED REPORT. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 2The Bill was PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED as Amended by Committee Amendment "A" (S-610).Minor
- Apr 2Under suspension of the rules, the Bill was given its SECOND READING without REFERENCE to the Committee on Bills in the Second Reading.
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (S-610) was READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 2The Bill was READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 2On motion of Representative GERE of Kennebunkport, the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report was ACCEPTED.
- Apr 2Reports READ.
- Apr 2Sent down for concurrence.
- Apr 2Under suspension of the Rules, READ A SECOND TIME and PASSED TO BE ENGROSSED AS AMENDED by Committee Amendment "A" (S-610)Minor
- Apr 2Committee Amendment "A" (S-610) READ and ADOPTED.Minor
- Apr 2READ ONCE.Minor
- Apr 2Roll Call Ordered Roll Call Number 846 Yeas 19 - Nays 14 - Excused 2 - Absent 0
- Apr 2On motion by Senator CURRY of Waldo the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED.
- Apr 2Reports READ.
- Apr 1Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
- Mar 11Voted - Divided Report
- Mar 11Work Session Held
- Mar 3In concurrence. ORDERED SENT FORTHWITH.
- Mar 3The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTMinor
- Mar 3Report was READ and ACCEPTED.
- Feb 26Sent down for concurrence.
- Feb 26Bill and accompanying papers REFERRED to the Committee on HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.Minor
- Feb 26Report READ and ACCEPTED.Introduced
HousingPublic Safety