An Act To Facilitate the Upgrading and Preservation of Existing Building Structures
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 0851
Committee: Business, Research and Economic Development
Sponsors: MILLS
Amends: 10 MRSA §9701, 10 MRSA §9703, 25 MRSA §2396, 25 MRSA §2452

Legislative Document 
No. 851 
S.P.261 
February 23, 2007 
An Act To Facilitate the Upgrading and Preservation of Existing 
Building Structures 
Reference to the Committee on Business, Research and Economic Development suggested 
and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator MILLS of Somerset. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. 10 MRSA §9701, sub-§3 is enacted to read: 
3. International Fire Code. "International Fire Code" means the 2003 version of 
the International Fire Code. 
Sec.2. 10 MRSA §9703, sub-§I, as enacted by PL 2003, c. 580, § I, is repealed. 
Sec. 3. 25 MRSA §2396, sub-§6, as amended by PL 1979, c. 42, is further 
amended to read: 
6. Means of egress. The adequacy of means of egress, in the case of fire, from 
factories, 
asylums, 
hospitals, 
churches, 
schools, 
halls, 
theaters, 
amphitheaters, 
dormitories, apartment or rooming houses, hotels, motels and all other places in which 
numbers of persons work, live or congregate from time to time for any purpose wlH€fl 
that comes within the scope of the current edition of the National fire Protection 
Association No. 101, Life Safet)' International Fire Code; and 
Sec. 4. 25 MRS A §2452, sub-§I-A is enacted to read: 
I-A. Sources for rules. 
Rules adopted pursuant to this section must include a 
uniform fire and life safety code based on standards established by the International Code 
Council. 
Sec. 5. 25 MRS A §2452, sub-§I-B is enacted to read: 
I-B. Existing structures. Rules that address the modification of existing building 
structures must allow for preserving the artistic and architectural integrity of historical 
building structures when feasible without unreasonable risk to life and safety. Rules must 
also provide for varying degrees of safety requirements depending on the type of 
construction and the level of risk that may arise from variations in building type and 
intensity of use. The commissioner is required to balance the economic consequences of 
proposed rules with the need for reasonable safety requirements when considering any 
proposed rule to require installation of fire safety equipment or devices in existing 
buildings. The commissioner shall adopt rules that define different building use groups 
and levels of risk for each group, providing corresponding distinctions in safety 
requirements for different uses and hazards. The rules adopted pursuant to this section 
must apply to secured vacant buildings only to the extent necessary to eliminate hazards 
affecting adjoining properties. Rules adopted pursuant to this section are routine technical 
rules as defined in Title 5, chapter 375, subchapter 2-A. 
Sec. 6. 25 MRS A §2452, 2nd ~ from the end, as amended by PL 2003, c. 535, 
§3, is further amended to read: 
Existing boarding care facilities licensed pursuant to Title 22, Subtitle 6 must comply 
with the applicable fire safety requirements of the Life Safety International Fire Code 
adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety pursuant to Title 22, section 7856. 
Page I - 123LR1392(OI)-1 
Sec. 7. 25 MRSA §2452, last ~, as amended by PL 2003, c. 535, §3, is further 
amended to read: 
Existing children's homes licensed pursuant to Title 22, Subtitle 6 must comply with 
the applicable fire safety requirements of the Life Safety International Fire Code ef..tfle 
National fire Proteetion Assoeiation adopted by the Commissioner of Public Safety 
pursuant to Title 22, section 8103. 
Sec. 8. Maine Revised Statutes amended; revision clause. Wherever in the 
Maine Revised Statutes the words "the Life Safety Code" or "Life Safety Code of the 
National Fire Protection Association" or "National Fire Protection Association No.1 01, 
Life Safety Code" appear, they are amended to read "International Fire Code, " and the 
Revisor of Statutes shall implement this revision when updating, publishing or 
republishing the statutes. 
SUMMARY 
This bill directs the Commissioner of Public Safety to adopt a uniform fire and life 
safety code based on standards established by the International Code Council. It repeals 
the provision of law that requires fire and safety codes to be enforced instead of the 
Model Building Code when there exists a conflict between the codes. It also requires the 
commissioner to adopt rules for the modification of existing building structures that allow 
for the preservation of artistic and architectural integrity of historical building structures 
and for varying degrees of safety requirements depending on the type of construction and 
the level of risk that may arise from variations in building type and intensity of use . 
..