Vermont 2025 Fire & Building Safety Code: EFFECTIVE DATE: 11/04/2025

Introduction

Since 1972 the State of Vermont has adopted nationally recognized safety standards to protect the public from fire and explosion hazards and establish standards for fire safety. Standards for boiler safety have been in place even longer. Vermont can benefit from the research and fire safety experience of experts nationwide in every area of expertise by using nationally recognized safety standards in this Code. The national standards are amended only when necessary to address conditions specific to Vermont, stay within the limits set by law, or clarify interpretations of certain sections.

The 2025 Vermont Fire & Building Safety Code establishes the process to obtain a construction or operating permit, lists the codes and standards that are adopted and describes the process used to evaluate and grant a variance or exemption from the Code. The annexes to this Code are designed to help people understand the state laws related to fire, explosion, hazardous materials, structural safety, carbon monoxide, and enable people to understand and take advantage of the flexibility built into this Code for historic buildings.

This Code establishes separate minimum standards for new and existing buildings and existing buildings that are used for a new purpose. This Code recognizes the need to protect the public when the use of a building changes, putting more people at risk or introducing new hazards to a building. But this Code is also written to facilitate the adaptive reuse of buildings, recognizing certain limitations of existing buildings. This Code has less restrictive requirements for low-risk occupancies and promotes the use of alternative safety solutions.

The Life Safety Code (NFPA 101) is the most widely used standard adopted under this Code and applies to all buildings and premises regulated under this Code. The Life Safety Code regulates construction, fire protection, and occupancy features necessary to minimize danger to life from fire and to allow escape from fire and non-fire emergencies.

The Fire Code (NFPA 1) applies to new and existing conditions including general fire safety provisions, fire protection including sprinkler systems, fire department access to buildings, and special material and process fire hazards. The Fire Code functions as a guide to determine what other specialty codes and state amendments apply to a building, premise, or condition.

The International Building Code (IBC) applies to new construction and structural requirements. It is used to determine the allowable size of new construction, and structural design features such as the snow load, and to ensure compliance with the performance requirements of other adopted standards.

The National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) is focused on the installation, maintenance and inspection of boilers and pressure vessels. The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standards or European Committee for