Washington · Fire code

The fire code in force in Washington now.

2021 International Fire Code with Washington amendments (ch. 51-54A WAC), part of the State Building Code; effective Mar 15, 2024. Enforced by Cities and counties enforce through local fire code officials (RCW 19.27.050); State Fire Marshal's Office (WSP) inspects state-licensed health, residential-care and child-care facilities and does plan review/inspection only where locals cannot; State Building Code Council adopts. Checked on the primary source; the state record was last reviewed 2026-11-12.

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Fire code in Washington

Checked on the source
In force

2021 International Fire Code with Washington amendments (ch. 51-54A WAC), part of the State Building Code; effective Mar 15, 2024

Applies statewide to new and existing buildings under RCW 19.27, including WA-amended Chapter 11 existing-building rules. Took effect with the 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC and UPC; last amended by WSR 23-20-027.

Source: primary document

Who enforces it

Cities and counties enforce through local fire code officials (RCW 19.27.050); State Fire Marshal's Office (WSP) inspects state-licensed health, residential-care and child-care facilities and does plan review/inspection only where locals cannot; State Building Code Council adopts

Statewide layer. County and city amendments sit on top; confirm the local office for the address.

What changes next

New edition May 3, 2027

2024 IFC with WA amendments: final draft (V2) was on the Oct 30, 2026 Council agenda; no Oct 16 or Oct 30 outcome posted (read Oct 31, 2026); IFC CR-103 still 'date tbd'; SBCC states May 3, 2027 as the effective date; next meetings Nov 20 and Dec 18, 2026

The federal layer

No federal fire code applies to a private building; OSHA's exit-route, fire-extinguisher and emergency-plan rules (29 CFR 1910 Subparts E and L) apply to every employer alongside the state fire code.

Dated items

Next 24 months
Nov 20, 2026
State Building Code Council meeting (10 a.m., Olympia); energy codes final adoption targeted. The SBCC home page (read Nov 9, 2026) posts an Oct 30 emergency wildfire rebuilding rule filed Nov 4; no other Oct 16 or Oct 30 outcome is postedWashington State Building Code Council
Confirmed date

What a building has to do

25 recurring duties

These apply when the building has the equipment or fits the type named. The frequency is the standard one; your local official can set a stricter one, so confirm it for the address.

Annual
Fire alarm system: annual inspection and testNFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed alarm contractor; report to the fire marshal on request · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Sprinkler control valves: inspected monthly when locked or electrically supervised (weekly when only sealed); open, accessible, tamper switch workingNFPA 25, Ch. 13 · Owner or contractor; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Quarterly
Sprinkler system: quarterly inspection (gauges, waterflow and supervisory alarm devices, fire department connection)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Waterflow switches (vane or pressure type) and valve tamper switches: semiannual test, signal confirmed at the panel and the monitoring company (mechanical water motor gongs: quarterly)NFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13; NFPA 72, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler or alarm contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Sprinkler system: annual inspection and main drain testNFPA 25, Ch. 5 and 13 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Sprinkler piping: internal inspection and obstruction checkNFPA 25, Ch. 14 · Licensed sprinkler contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly or Monthly
Fire pump: no-flow (churn) test. Diesel: weekly, 30 minutes. Electric: monthly, 10 minutes, but weekly when the pump serves a building beyond the fire department’s pumping capacity, has a limited-service controller, is a vertical turbine, or draws from a ground-level tankNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Owner or contractor; readings logged · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire pump: annual flow testNFPA 25, Ch. 8 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Standpipes: annual inspection of hose connections, valves, caps and gaskets, piping and signageNFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Owner or licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 5 years
Standpipes: five-year flow test (manual and dry systems also get a five-year hydrostatic test)NFPA 25, Ch. 6 · Licensed contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly or Quarterly or Twice a year or Annual
Kitchen exhaust (hood, duct, fan): inspected for grease buildup and cleaned when buildup is found. Interval by cooking volume: solid fuel monthly; high volume (24-hour, charbroiling, wok) quarterly; moderate semiannually; low annuallyNFPA 96, Table 12.4 (11.4 in older editions) · Qualified exhaust cleaning company · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year
Kitchen hood fire-suppression system: inspection and service every six months, tag datedNFPA 17A; NFPA 96, Ch. 11 · Licensed suppression contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Weekly
Generator: weekly inspection (fuel, oil and coolant levels, battery and charger, block heater, alarms, transfer switch in automatic)NFPA 110, Ch. 8 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Generator: monthly exercise under load for at least 30 minutes (diesel: at least 30% of nameplate kW or the manufacturer’s minimum exhaust temperature); transfer switches operated monthlyNFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Owner; log kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Generator: annual supplemental load test when the monthly runs do not reach 30% of nameplate: 50% for 30 minutes, then 75% for 60 minutes (1.5 hours)NFPA 110, 8.4.2 · Contractor with a load bank · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 3 years
Generator, Level 1 (life-safety) systems: run for 4 continuous hours, or the system’s class duration if shorter, at least once every 36 monthsNFPA 110, 8.4.9 · Owner or contractor; report kept · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Emergency lighting and exit signs: monthly 30-second testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Emergency lighting: annual 90-minute testNFPA 101, 7.9.3 · Owner or contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire extinguishers: monthly visual check, initialedNFPA 10, 7.2 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire extinguishers: annual maintenance and tagNFPA 10, 7.3 · Licensed extinguisher contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Fire doors and shutters: annual inspection and testNFPA 80, 5.2 · Qualified person; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Every 4 years
Fire and smoke dampers: operational testNFPA 80, 19.4; NFPA 105 · Qualified contractor · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Twice a year or Annual
Smoke control system: operated through each control sequence — semiannually for a dedicated system, annually for a nondedicated system that shares the building’s HVACNFPA 92, Ch. 8; IFC Sec. 909 (periodic testing) · Qualified contractor; written record · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Monthly
Fire drills: monthly while in session, documentedFor education. NFPA 101, 14.7.2 and 15.7.2 · Owner; documented · Not yet checked line by line against the source.
Annual
Occupant load posted; crowd managers for events over 250 peopleFor assembly, retail. NFPA 101, 12.7.6 and 13.7.6 · Owner · Not yet checked line by line against the source.

Questions about the fire code in Washington

Which fire code applies in Washington today?

2021 International Fire Code with Washington amendments (ch. 51-54A WAC), part of the State Building Code; effective Mar 15, 2024. Applies statewide to new and existing buildings under RCW 19.27, including WA-amended Chapter 11 existing-building rules. Took effect with the 2021 IBC, IRC, IMC and UPC; last amended by WSR 23-20-027.

Who enforces the fire code in Washington?

Cities and counties enforce through local fire code officials (RCW 19.27.050); State Fire Marshal's Office (WSP) inspects state-licensed health, residential-care and child-care facilities and does plan review/inspection only where locals cannot; State Building Code Council adopts.

What changes next for the fire code in Washington?

New edition May 3, 2027. 2024 IFC with WA amendments: final draft (V2) was on the Oct 30, 2026 Council agenda; no Oct 16 or Oct 30 outcome posted (read Oct 31, 2026); IFC CR-103 still 'date tbd'; SBCC states May 3, 2027 as the effective date; next meetings Nov 20 and Dec 18, 2026

Other areas in Washington

Everything in force in Washington

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