International Fire Code
The 2009 International Fire Code, adopted by the South Carolina Building Codes Council under Title 6, Chapter 9, effective January 1, 2011.
International Fire Code (2009)
South Carolina's Building Codes Council adopted the 2009 IFC as a mandatory statewide code, effective January 1, 2011. It covers fire prevention, fire-protection systems, means-of-egress maintenance, and the storage and use of hazardous materials in new and existing buildings. The full text below is reproduced from the 2009 edition as adopted into law, sourced from public.resource.org.
- Aerosols
This chapter establishes regulations for the manufacturing, storage, and display of aerosol products, classifying them into three levels and requiring compliance with specific sections and NFPA standards.
- Aviation Facilities
This chapter establishes fire safety regulations and operational requirements for airports, heliports, helistops, and aircraft hangars, including general precautions and specific provisions for fueling and maintenance.
- Building Services and Systems
This chapter establishes provisions for the installation, operation, and maintenance of building services and systems, including fuel-fired appliances, emergency power, electrical systems, mechanical refrigeration, elevators, stationary battery systems, and commercial kitchen hoods.
- Combustible Dust-producing Operations
This chapter establishes requirements for equipment, processes, and operations involving combustible dust explosion hazards, including precautions and enforcement standards.
- Combustible Fibers
This chapter outlines the requirements for equipment, processes, operations, and storage of combustible fibers to ensure safety.
- Compressed Gases
This chapter establishes requirements for the storage, use, and handling of compressed gases in containers, cylinders, tanks, and systems.
- Construction Requirements for Existing Buildings
This chapter establishes minimum construction, fire safety, and egress requirements for buildings that were constructed before the adoption of the current code.
- Corrosive Materials
This chapter establishes regulations for the safe storage and use of corrosive materials, including specific provisions for compressed gases.
- Cryogenic Fluids
Chapter 32 establishes regulations for the storage, use, and handling of cryogenic fluids, including specific requirements for those classified as hazardous materials.
- Definitions
This chapter establishes the definitions for words and terms used throughout this code to ensure consistent interpretation and application.
- Dry Cleaning
This chapter establishes the requirements for dry cleaning plants and their operations, covering classifications, general requirements, operational procedures, and fire protection.
- Emergency Planning and Preparedness
This chapter establishes requirements for emergency planning, preparedness, reporting, and coordination with emergency response forces to manage various emergency situations.
- Explosives and Fireworks
This chapter governs the possession, manufacture, storage, handling, sale, and use of explosives, explosive materials, fireworks, and small arms ammunition.
- Fire Protection Systems
This chapter specifies requirements for the design, installation, inspection, operation, testing, and maintenance of all fire protection systems, and outlines where they are required.
- Fire-resistance-rated Construction
This chapter specifies requirements for and maintenance of fire-resistance-rated construction, including walls, floor openings, and vertical shafts, with new buildings also complying with the International Building Code.
- Fire Safety During Construction and Demolition
This chapter establishes regulations for fire safety measures, equipment, and responsibilities during building construction, alteration, or demolition, including underground sites.
- Fire Service Features
This chapter outlines requirements for fire service features in buildings, structures, and premises, covering aspects like access roads, water supplies, and emergency communication systems.
- Flammable and Combustible Liquids
This chapter establishes requirements for the prevention, control, and mitigation of hazards associated with the storage, use, dispensing, mixing, and handling of flammable and combustible liquids.
- Flammable Finishes
This chapter governs the safe storage, handling, and application of flammable or combustible finishes, including spray finishing, dipping, and powder coating operations.
- Flammable Gases and Flammable Cryogenic Fluids
This chapter establishes regulations for the storage and use of flammable gases, flammable cryogenic fluids, and related systems, often referencing other chapters and standards for specific requirements.
- Flammable Solids
This chapter establishes regulations for the storage and use of flammable solids, including specific provisions for quantities exceeding maximum allowable limits and for materials like magnesium.
- Fruit and Crop Ripening
This chapter establishes safety requirements for the ripening of fruits, vegetables, and other crops using ethylene gas in purpose-built rooms and enclosures.
- Fumigation and Thermal Insecticidal Fogging
This chapter establishes the requirements for conducting fumigation and thermal insecticidal fogging operations within structures, including fire safety provisions.
- General Requirements
This chapter establishes general requirements for fire safety, including occupancy, maintenance, and prevention of fire spread in all structures and premises.
- Hazardous Materials-general Provisions
This chapter establishes general provisions for preventing, controlling, and mitigating dangerous conditions related to the storage, dispensing, use, and handling of hazardous materials.
- High-piled Combustible Storage
This chapter establishes requirements for the safe storage of high-piled combustible materials, including commodity classification, area designation, and fire protection features.
- Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials
This chapter establishes requirements for the safe storage and use of highly toxic and toxic materials, including solids, liquids, compressed gases, and ozone gas generators.
- Industrial Ovens
This chapter regulates the installation and operation of industrial ovens and furnaces, specifying requirements for location, fuel piping, safety interlocks, fire protection, and operational information.
- Interior Finish, Decorative Materials and Furnishings
This chapter governs the flame spread, smoke development, and fire resistance requirements for interior finishes, decorative materials, furnishings, and vegetation in both new and existing buildings.
- Liquefied Petroleum Gases
This chapter regulates the storage, handling, transportation, and installation of liquefied petroleum gas (LP-gas) and associated equipment, frequently referencing NFPA 58.
- Lumber Yards and Woodworking Facilities
This chapter establishes fire safety requirements for facilities involved in the storage, manufacturing, and processing of timber, lumber, plywood, veneers, and associated byproducts.
- Manufacture of Organic Coatings
This chapter establishes regulations for the manufacturing processes of organic coatings, specifically excluding nonflammable, water-thinned coatings, and coating application operations.
- Marinas
This chapter establishes fire and life safety requirements for marina facilities, covering general precautions, fire protection equipment, and marine motor fuel-dispensing facilities.
- Means of Egress
This chapter establishes the requirements for the design, construction, arrangement, and maintenance of means of egress systems in buildings and their portions.
- Motor Fuel-dispensing Facilities and Repair Garages
Chapter 22 establishes requirements for the design, operation, and storage at various motor fuel-dispensing facilities, including automotive, marine, fleet, aircraft, and repair garages, covering different fuel types.
- Organic Peroxides
This chapter establishes requirements for the storage and use of organic peroxides, referencing additional regulations in Chapter 27.
- Oxidizers, Oxidizing Gases and Oxidizing Cryogenic Fluids
This chapter governs the safe storage and use of oxidizers, oxidizing gases, and oxidizing cryogenic fluids, referencing other specific chapters for detailed compliance.
- Pyrophoric Materials
This chapter establishes regulations for the storage and use of pyrophoric materials, integrating specific requirements for compressed gases and maximum allowable quantities.
- Pyroxylin (cellulose Nitrate) Plastics
This chapter regulates the storage and handling of pyroxylin (cellulose nitrate) plastic materials and fabricated shapes.
- Referenced Standards
- Scope and Administration
This chapter establishes the scope and administrative framework for the fire code, detailing enforcement, permits, inspections, and official authority within the jurisdiction.
- Semiconductor Fabrication Facilities
This chapter establishes regulations for semiconductor fabrication facilities and comparable research and development areas classified as Group H-5, covering their general scope, definitions, safety provisions, storage, and handling of hazardous materials.
- Tents and Other Membrane Structures
Chapter 24 establishes regulations for both temporary and permanent tents and membrane structures, detailing specific compliance requirements based on their intended duration.
- Tire Rebuilding and Tire Storage
This chapter regulates tire rebuilding plants, tire storage, and tire byproduct facilities, covering construction, fire precautions, outdoor and indoor storage dimensions, fire department access, fencing, and water supply.
- Unstable (reactive) Materials
This chapter regulates the storage and use of unstable (reactive) materials, outlining general requirements and specific provisions for quantities exceeding established control area limits.
- Water-reactive Solids and Liquids
This chapter establishes the requirements for the safe storage and use of water-reactive solids and liquids in buildings and facilities.
- Welding and Other Hot Work
This chapter establishes requirements for fire safety during welding, cutting, open torch, and other hot work operations and equipment.