Deadline For Public Comment: 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code

Date: 7/25/25 9:00 AM
Website: firesafety.vermont.gov
Location: Barre or Virtual

Please submit comments to the agency or primary contact person listed below, before the deadline. Deadline: August 5, 2025

Rule Number: 25P022
Title: 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code.
Type: Standard
Status: Proposed
Agency: Department of Public Safety - Division of Fire Safety
Legal Authority: 20 V.S.A. §§ 2677, 2731, 2757, 2882
Summary: The 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code establishes the minimum standards to protect the public from the risks of fire, explosion, hazardous materials, dangerous structural conditions and carbon monoxide poisoning within public buildings. These amended rules provide updates and incorporate more recent editions of the same national codes and standards that are currently adopted. These rules include requirements for the addition of carbon monoxide detection in some occupancies, protection of lithium ion batteries, building energy storage systems, escape window clarifications, sprinkler system requirement modifications, and the inclusion of grab bars to prevent slips and falls. These amendments are also intended to provide clarity of the intent of currently adopted codes and standards and to incorporate existing interim operational guidance.

Persons Affected: These rules affect several governmental and private entities which include, but are not limited to the following: general contractors, general public, builders, for profit and non-profit developers, business owners, churches, private clubs, state owned/leased buildings, fire and rescue services, engineers & architects, municipal government organizations, Vermont Landlords Association, Vermont Realtors Association, Vermont Human Rights Commission, Vermont Center for Independent Living, Agency of Commerce and Community Development, American Institute of Architects, Associated General Contractors, Vermont Chamber of Commerce, Department of Buildings & General Services, Department for Children and Families, Department of Aging & Independent Living and The Division for Historic Preservation. Several entities are exempted from this rule and include single family owner occupied homes, small working farms, registered day care facilities and some home businesses.

Economic Impact: This rule is designed to reduce economic impact while providing built-in protection to reduce loss of life, injury, property and to reduce the economic impact from fire, wind, snow in public places. Many businesses and residential properties that have a fire do not re-open further contributing to the negative economic impact. Loss of residential structures from fire or structural failure further contribute to the increase in housing scarcity across the State. Incorporating modern codes and technologies into building construction creates building resiliency and improves sustainability. This code is adopted to provide minimum safety requirements to include the addition of carbon monoxide detection systems in schools and other occupancies as well as the inclusion of grab bars to prevent injury from slips and falls. These changes often realize reductions in insurance and reduce owner liability resulting from injury litigation.
Posting date: Jun 25,2025

Hearing Information
Information for Hearing # 1
Hearing date: 07-25-2025 09:00 AM
Location: Alumni Hall
Address: 20 Auditorium Hill
City: Barre
State: VT
Zip: 05641
Hearing Notes: Also virtually via MS Teams at www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 280 583 322 082 Passcode: Mk3qL6NY Dial in by phone +1 802-828-7667,,224348786# United States, Montpelier Phone conference ID: 224 348 786#

Information for Hearing # 2
Hearing date: 07-25-2025 09:00 AM
Location: Virtually via MS Teams
Address: www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 280 583 322 082 Passcode: Mk3qL6NY Dial in by phone +1 802-828-7667,,224348786# United States, Montpelier Phone conference ID: 224 348 786#
City: n/a
State: VT
Zip: n/a
Hearing Notes: Virtually via MS Teams at: www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/join-a-meeting Meeting ID: 280 583 322 082 Passcode: Mk3qL6NY Dial in by phone +1 802-828-7667,,224348786# United States, Montpelier Phone conference ID: 224 348 786#

Contact: Landon Wheeler
Email: landon.wheeler@ vermont.gov