Technical Bulletins & Advisory Documents
Technical Bulletins (TB’s) and advisory documents serve as the State Fire Marshal’s (SFM) official interpretation of Ohio Fire Code (OFC) provisions. They can also be informational documents to provide awareness or clarification regarding a matter that may be of particular concern to Ohio’s fire service. Typically, fire code officials throughout the state are authorized to interpret the OFC and adopt policies and procedures to clarify the application of OFC provisions. However, their authority is limited. Local fire code official interpretations must be in compliance with the intent and purpose of the OFC and cannot interpret the OFC in a way that has the effect of making the OFC less stringent or less safe. In addition, if the SFM has issued an official opinion on a particular matter, the SFM’s interpretation controls and supersedes any other interpretation.
TB’s and advisory documents are issued by the SFM in the SFM’s discretion. However, if a person would like the SFM to consider issuing clarification on a particular matter or code provision, they can submit a request to the SFM via mail or email to the following: State Fire Marshal, 8895 East Main Street, Reynoldsburg, OH 43068 or websfm@com.state.oh.us.
To see what TB's and advisory statements the SFM has issued, please see below.