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A.  It is hereby found and declared by the legislature that the protection of life and property will be enhanced by adoption of the National Fire Prevention Code, as it is published by the National Fire Protection Association.  It is also hereby found and declared by the legislature that the adoption of NFPA 1 will complement and not conflict with the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code.

B.  The National Fire Prevention Code, known as NFPA 1, 1997 edition, published and maintained by the National Fire Protection Association, is hereby adopted as the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code to the extent that it does not conflict with the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code.  Application of requirements that pertain to buildings shall be limited to structures, watercraft, and movables as defined by La. Rev. Stat. 40:1573.

C.  If a fire prevention code is adopted by any political subdivision of the state, it must adopt the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code.

D.  Nothing in this Section shall be construed so as to prevent the state fire marshal from enforcing the National Fire Protection Association’s Life Safety Code, nor any other laws of the state, the enforcement of which are his statutory and regulatory responsibility.

E.  The state fire marshal shall have the power and authority to promulgate those rules and regulations as may be necessary to incorporate or adopt any subsequent amendments or additions to the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code to conform to NFPA 1, as it is subsequently amended or issued as a new edition by the National Fire Protection Association.

F.  If the governing authority of any municipality or parish finds that the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code does not meet its minimum needs, that local governing authority may provide more stringent requirements than those specified in the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code when such requirements are based upon local climatic, geologic, topographic, or public safety factors after prior review and approval by the state fire marshal to ensure that such variances achieve equivalent or enhanced levels of protection as the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code.

G.  Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as requiring any political subdivision to establish an office or any other kind of governmental unit in order to enforce provisions of the State Uniform Fire Prevention Code.

H.  Nothing contained in this Section shall be construed as imposing any new or additional requirements upon any petroleum refining or chemical manufacturing facility which is subject to the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration Hazard Communication Standard, 29 C.F.R. § 1910.1200.

I.  The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any political subdivision that has adopted a model fire prevention code as of July 9, 1999, including review and approval by the state fire marshal of any future amendments, additions, or new editions of the model fire prevention code adopted by the political subdivision.

Acts 1999, No. 1137, §1, eff. July 9, 1999; Acts 2008, No. 126, §1.