St. Cloud Fire Rescue enforces building truss law

Home

Around Kissimmee

Other Sun Publications

FREE DELIVERY!
Get Free Delivery! Request your Osceola News Gazette Today.

Login Form

2013 Osceola Health

2013 Sexual Predator Sexual Offender List sexualpredatorcover13

Windows on the Classroom March 2013

School Calendar
2012-2013

View our other Special Sections

St. Cloud Fire Rescue enforces building truss law

Around Osceola

Wednesday, 14 April 2010 00:00

The state of Florida recently passed Statute 633.027, which was created to help save firefighters’ lives. Under the State Fire Marshal’s Rule 69A-3.012, any commercial, industrial, or multiunit residential structure with a lightweight truss system must be marked with an approved symbol to alert firefighters of a building’s construction type. The rule became effective Dec. 13, 2009, and directed all structures to be marked by March 13, 2010.
“Due to the many questions asked concerning the law, St. Cloud Fire Rescue had to wait for answers before enforcing the new law to ensure enforcement is done correctly,” St. Cloud Fire Marshal David Enniss said. “Representatives attended a meeting with fire department personnel from Central Florida to get a consensus of what was being done. There was also a great deal of research compiled concerning the accurate definition of lightweight truss construction, the identification of buildings within the city and the proper procedures for enforcement.”
The purpose of the law is to inform firefighters of the construction type in buildings they respond to during fire emergencies. This will not prevent them from extinguishing fires, but will make them aware so the proper tactics can be used to combat fires with the safety of all in mind.
“Basically, the rule states that the approved symbol is a Maltese Cross, 8 inches by 8 inches, and of a bright-red reflective color on a contrasting background,” Ennis explained. “The sign is to be permanently mounted 24 inches to the left of the main entrance between four and six feet above the grade-walking surface or floor.

There are variations for multi-tenant buildings, so please call Fire Rescue for determination of locations.”
Residents who believe their building will be affected or anyone who needs further information on this can call the Fire Marshal’s Office at 407-957-8484.