HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3606        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3845

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Carole A. Fiola

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act related to light frame truss marking.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3606        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3845

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

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An Act related to light frame truss marking.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Chapter 148 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 26I the following section:-

Section 26J.  (a)  The owner of any commercial or industrial building, or any multiunit residential building of 3 units or more, that uses light-frame truss-type construction shall mark the building with a sign or symbol in accordance with the provisions of the state fire code in a manner sufficient to warn fire department personnel and other emergency operations of the existence of light-frame truss-type construction in the building.

(b)  The board of fire prevention regulations shall promulgate regulations necessary to implement the provisions of this section, which shall include, but shall not be limited to:

(i) the dimensions and color of such sign or symbol;

(ii) the time within which commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential buildings that use light-frame truss-type construction shall be marked as required by this section; and

(iii) the location on each commercial, industrial, and multiunit residential building that uses light-frame truss-type construction where such sign or symbol must be posted.

(c)  The head of the fire department shall enforce this section. An owner of a building who fails to comply with the requirements of this section shall be subject to penalties as provided in subsection (d) or otherwise pursuant to chapter 148A.

(d) The head of the fire department may issue and deliver to the owner in violation an order to cease and desist from such violation, and to correct any hazardous condition, to prohibit occupancy or to vacate the premises of the affected building.

If the head of the fire department or his or her designee determines that a violation of this section exists which poses an immediate danger to the public health, safety, or welfare, the head of the fire department may issue an order to vacate the building in question, said order shall be effective forthwith.

The head of the fire department may seek enforcement of any order issued herein in accordance with the provisions of section 34D.

Any person who violates or otherwise fails to comply with any order issued pursuant to this section shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than 60 days or a fine of not more than $500, or both.

(e) For purposes of this section, light frame truss-type construction shall mean: a type or construction the vertical and horizontal structural elements of which are primarily formed by a system of repetitive wood or light-gage steel-framing members, or that utilizes metal-plate-connected wood trusses, metal-plate-connected metal –web wood trusses, pin-end connected steel-web wood trusses, wooden I-joists, solid sawn wood joists, composite wood joists as a floor or roof system, structural elements or load-bearing elements made of combustible materials.