Guidelines issued by the International Fire Code (IFC) require drycleaners installing Class IIIa or IIIb solvent machines to have sprinkler systems.
TCATA and DLI proposed that the IFC code should be changed to conform to those of the National Fire Protection Association's 32 drycleaning standard, which omits the sprinkler requirement for plants that have other specific fire prevention features.
The change to the IFC code has already been accepted by a committee at the International Code Council (ICC) in November. After the period for public comment, the proposal will go to the ICC final hearings in May 2010. Once finalised, the change will become part of a revised code, which will be published in April 2011.
