Fire and Life Safety Evaluation Services

The first step toward code compliance is to retain a third-party licensed professional to perform the evaluation and complete the Fire and Life Safety Evaluation (FLSE) Form (PDF). The FLSE Form (Building Fire and Life Safety Evaluation Form) was developed by the Honolulu Fire Department so that the fire and life safety evaluations could be consistently applied across all buildings.
Fire and Life Safety Evaluation / Building Fire and Life Safety Evaluation Form (PDF)

On May 3, 2018, the Honolulu City Council passed Ordinance 18-14.This ordinance requires all multi-family residential buildings in the County of Honolulu which exceed 75 feet in height to complete a Fire and Life Safety Evaluation (FLSE) Form (also referred to as a Building Fire and Life Safety Evaluation Form) by May 2, 2021. The results will determine if fire safety improvements will be required.

City and County of Honolulu Ordinance 18-14 – Bill 69 (2007) CD2, FD2 (PDF)

SECTION 1. The purpose of this ordinance is to address fire safety. More specifically, this ordinance requires existing high-rise residential buildings to retrofit when necessary to comply with specified fire safety standards. This ordinance also promotes fire safety improvements in existing high-rise residential buildings through the amendment of the Fire Code of the City and County of Honolulu, and establishes a fire and life safety evaluation process to help building and unit owners address costs associated with implementing fire safety improvements.

Section 13.3.2.26.2 is amended to read:
13.3.2.26.2 – Existing high-rise residential buildings not protected throughout by an automatic fire sprinkler system shall be subject to building fire and life safety evaluation code assessments, which consist of an assessment of building safety features and fire protection systems in accordance with this code and the building code on a form prescribed by the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) in accordance with Section 20-4. A passing score on the evaluation provides a minimum level of fire and life safety to occupants and fire fighters that is approved by the AHJ. A building fire and life safety evaluation shall be conducted by a licensed design professional within three years from the effective date of this ordinance. Buildings shall comply by passing the building fire and life safety evaluation within six years from the effective date of this ordinance. The AHJ may grant an extension pursuant to Section 13.3.2.26.7 if automatic fire sprinkler systems are used to achieve compliance. All buildings must continue to maintain a passing status on their respective building fire and life safety evaluation code assessments. For the purposes of this section. “Existing high-rise residential building” means the same as “existing high-rise residential building” as defined in Section 20-5.1.

13.3.2.26.2.1 – The association of apartment owners of a condominium or the cooperative housing corporation of an existing high-rise residential building may appeal the final building fire and life safety evaluation score. and the resulting fire safety requirements for the building, as assessed by the licensed design professional or the determination of the AHJ, by filing a written request for an appeal to the director or head of the AHJ within 45 days of the date of the completed building fire and life safety evaluation assessment or the AHJ’s determination of the building’s fire and life safety requirements, whichever is later. The request for an appeal shall include a statement of the basis for appeal, supporting documentation, if any, and the relief requested. The director or head of the AHJ shall render a decision on the appeal not later than 30 calendar days from the receipt of the appeal The AHJ shall submit an annual report to the Council on the appeals filed for existing high-rise residential buildings and the disposition of the appeals.

13.3.2.26.2.2 – Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph (15), which establishes the life safety evaluation system and authorizes owners of existing high-rise residential buildings to opt-out of approved automatic sprinkler systems through a life-safety evaluation process, existing high rise residential buildings shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system in accordance with this chapter and the building code.

13.3.2.26.2.3 – Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (15), the association of apartment owners of a condominium or the cooperative housing corporation of an existing high-rise residential building 10 floors or higher may opt out of the automatic fire sprinkler system requirement; provided that, a majority of unit owners of a condominium or a majority of shareholders of a cooperative housing corporation vote to opt out of the requirement within three years of the completion of the building fire and life safety evaluation at a regularly scheduled or special meeting of the owners or shareholders, convened and noticed in accordance with the condominium’s or cooperative housing corporation’s by-laws; and provided further, that the building receives a passing score on the building fire and life safety evaluation through the implementation of alternative fire prevention and fire safety systems. An association of apartment owners of a condominium or a cooperative housing corporation that has opted out of the automatic fire sprinkler system requirement shall provide verifiable, public disclosure of its action to all current and future owners, shareholders and residents. Verifiable public disclosure shall include signs posted in the building’s public notification areas and real estate sales disclosures as may be required by Hawaii real estate industry practices.

13.3.2.26.2.4 – Each building owner shall, within 180 days from the effective date of this ordinance, file a written statement of its intent to comply with this paragraph (15) with the AHJ for approval.

13.3.2.26.2.5 – The AHJ shall review and respond to the written statement of the owner’s intent to comply within 60 days of receipt of the statement of intent to comply.

13.3.2.26.2.6 – Subject to the exceptions in the following section, the entire building shall be required to be protected by:
a) An approved automatic fire sprinkler system; or
b) Alternative fire prevention and fire safety systems as approved by the AHJ,
within 12 years of the effective date of this ordinance, except where an extension is approved by the AHJ as provided in Section 13.3.2.26.2.7.

13.3.2.26.2.7 – Compliance with the automatic fire sprinkler system throughout the building or alternative fire prevention and fire safety systems provisions of Section 13.3.2.26.2.2 shall be achieved as follows: Common areas for buildings 20 floors and over shall be completed within eight years from the effective date of this ordinance, common areas for buildings 10 to 19 floors shall be completed within 10 years from the effective date of this ordinance, and all buildings, regardless of the number of floors, shall be completed within 12 years from the effective date of this ordinance. An extension to 15 years from the effective date of this ordinance may be approved by the AHJ: provided that, compliance using an automatic fire sprinkler system in the common areas related to building egress path has been achieved.

EXCEPTION: Existing high-rise residential buildings are exempted from the automatic fire sprinkler system requirements in Section 13.3.2.26.2.2 if all dwelling units have exterior access and a continuous egress path to exit the building and have no full-length interior corridors.

EXCEPTION: Existing high-rise residential buildings less than 10 floors in height can receive a building fire and life safety evaluation passing status in lieu of the approved automatic sprinkler system requirements in Section 13.3.2.26.2.2.

EXCEPTION: Existing high-rise residential buildings may be protected throughout by an approved automatic fire sprinkler system per NFPA 13R when approved by the AHJ.

EXCEPTION: Private balconies that have at least one long side that is 50 percent open are not required to have automatic fire sprinkler protection.

EXCEPTION: Elevator hoistways and machine rooms are not required to have automatic fire sprinkler protection.

EXCEPTION: Class II wet standpipe systems may be removed when buildings are protected throughout by automatic fire sprinkler systems pursuant to Section 13.3.2.26.2.2.

EXCEPTION: Combined standpipe and automatic fire sprinkler systems using existing standpipes shall be permitted to utilize pump sizing for the fire sprinkler demand.

SECTION 3. Chapter 20, Revised Ordinances of Honolulu 1990 (“Fire Code of the City and County of Honolulu”), is amended by adding a new article to be appropriately designated by the Revisor of Ordinances and to read as follows:

“Article —. Fire and Life Safety Evaluation of Existing High Rise Residential Buildings

Sec. 20-_.1 Definitions.
As used in this article, unless the context requires otherwise:
“Building code” means the provisions of Chapter 16, ROH 1990.
“Building fire and life safety evaluation code assessment” means an assessment of building safety features and fire protection systems providing a minimum level of fire and life safety to occupants and firefighters that is approved by the AHJ.
“Building fire and life safety evaluation form” means a form that is prescribed by the AHJ for assessing the safety features and fire protection systems of an existing high-rise building.

Sec. 20-_.2 Requirement for building fire and life safety evaluations.
Existing high-rise residential buildings not protected throughout by an automatic fire sprinkler system shall receive a building fire and life safety evaluation code assessment in accordance with Section 13.3.2.26.2 on a form that is prescribed by the AHJ.

Sec. 20-_.3 Compliance.
A building fire and life safety evaluation code assessment shall be conducted by a licensed design professional using the building fire and life safety evaluation form prescribed by the AHJ in accordance with Section 13.3.2.26.2. The AHJ may grant an extension per Section 13.3.2.26.2.7 if automatic fire sprinkler systems are used to achieve compliance. All buildings must continue to maintain a passing status on their respective building fire and life safety evaluation code assessments.

Sec. 20-_.4 Building fire and life safety evaluation form.
The AHJ shall prescribe the building fire and life safety evaluation form for conducting building fire and life safety evaluations. No changes or modifications shall be made to the building fire and life safety evaluation form that is prescribed by the AHJ according to this article, or the procedures and process of utilizing the building fire and life safety evaluation form in assessing existing high-rise residential buildings, without the approval of the Council. The AHJ shall make the building fire and life safety evaluation form readily available to the public through all reasonable means, including but not limited to, providing copies through the United States Postal Service or by making electronic copies available for downloading from the AHJ’s website.”

SECTION 4. The building fire and life safety evaluation form prescribed by the AHJ, marked Exhibit A, is attached hereto and made a part of this ordinance by reference.
Bill 69 (2007) CD2, FD2 – Exhibit A (PDF)