SENATE CORPORATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

SENATE BILL 143

54th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2019

AN ACT

RELATING TO SAFETY INSPECTIONS; REQUIRING THE PUBLIC REGULATION COMMISSION TO ISSUE RULES REQUIRING INSPECTION OF FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPERS AND FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS IN ACCORDANCE WITH NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION STANDARDS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 52 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

     "[NEW MATERIAL] FIRE AND SMOKE DAMPER AND FIRE CONTROL SYSTEMS--COMMISSION RULES.--

          A. The public regulation commission shall issue rules requiring the inspection and testing of fire and smoke dampers and smoke control systems in accordance with national fire protection association standards in places of assembly, educational occupancies, institutional occupancies, residential occupancies consisting of four or more family units, mercantile occupancies, office occupancies, industrial occupancies, storage occupancies and miscellaneous structures consisting of towers, underground structures and windowless buildings and all buildings owned or occupied by the state or any political subdivision thereof or by municipal governments.

          B. The rules shall require that:

                (1) inspection and testing be conducted by the state or a political subdivision of the state with a fire and life safety enforcement program or other person possessing a fire life safety certification from a program accredited by the American national standards institute; and

                (2) the person conducting the inspection or test shall submit findings of noncompliance to the owner of the public occupancy and to the state fire marshal."

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