SECTION 101
SCOPE
101.1 Title. These regulations shall be known as the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC), hereinafter referred to as "this code" or "SFPC." The term "chapter" means a chapter in the SFPC. The SFPC was cooperatively developed by the Virginia Fire Services Board and the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development.

101.2 Scope. The SFPC prescribes regulations affecting or relating to maintenance of structures, processes and premises and safeguards to be complied with for the protection of life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion and for the handling, storage and use of fireworks, explosives or blasting agents, and provides for the administration and enforcement of such regulations. The SFPC also establishes regulations for obtaining permits for the manufacturing, storage, handling, use, or sales of explosives. Inspections under the SFPC are a governmental responsibility.

101.3 Purpose. The purposes of the SFPC are to provide for statewide standards to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion arising from the improper maintenance of life safety and fire prevention and protection materials, devices, systems and structures, and the unsafe storage, handling, and use of substances, materials and devices, including explosives and blasting agents, wherever located.

PREFACE

Introduction
The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC) is a state regulation promulgated by the Virginia Board of Housing and Community Development in cooperation with the Virginia Fire Services Board, both Governor-appointed boards, for the purpose of establishing statewide standards to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion arising from the improper maintenance of life safety and fire prevention and protection materials, devices, systems and structures and the unsafe storage handling, and use of substances, materials and devices, including fireworks, explosives and blasting agents, wherever located.

The provisions of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code are based on a nationally recognized model code published by the International Code Council, Inc. and fire protection and prevention standards published by the National Fire Protection Association. Such code and standards are made part of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code through a regulatory process known as incorporation by reference. The Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code also contains administrative provisions governing the use of the model code and standards and establishing requirements for the enforcement of the code by the local and state enforcing agencies.

In keeping with the designations of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code used previously, since the 2006 edition of the International Fire Code is incorporated by reference into this version of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code, it is known as the 2006 Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code.