State Fire Code Update Sets Timeline for Salina Code Adoption in 2027

Salina Fire Marshal Joe Kvacik informed the Building Advisory Board that the State of Kansas is updating its fire code from the 2006 edition to what will be referred to as the 2026 Kansas Fire Prevention Code, based on the 2024 International Fire Code.

Kvacik said the update is currently in a governor's task force expected to wrap up within the next couple of months, after which it would proceed through the legislative process in January or February and take effect July 1, 2027. The new code will become the state minimum, requiring Salina to move to it by that date.

Because the city must submit its code package to the state fire marshal's office 60 days before it goes to the city commission, Kvacik said the city faces a tight timeline given that the final contents won't be known until January or February. He said staff aims to have the code through subcommittees and board approval by around March, allowing time for state review and city commission action by late May or early June. If the city does not meet the deadline, it would fall under the state-adopted code and work on amendments afterward.

Kvacik said the transition should be less extensive than last year's process because the city is already using the 2018 code, with fewer changes between the 2018 and 2024 editions. Salina has also already adopted a portion of the 2024 code dealing with lithium-ion batteries.

Responding to a board question, Kvacik said the change is not expected to affect two businesses previously reviewed for gathering occupancy, because state statute prohibits imposing the requirements retroactively unless the businesses make significant changes to their occupancies. A board member noted the previously set occupancy number was 300, with new construction set at 100.