What's Being Discussed

The Hawaii State Fire Council (SFC) is holding its second quarterly meeting for Fiscal Year 2027 on October 9, 2026, at 1:45 p.m. The meeting takes place at the Honolulu Fire Department, 636 South Street, Third Floor, and is also available to join online or by phone.

• Staffing agreement update: Review of a cost-reimbursement agreement between the SFC, the Department of Law Enforcement, and the Honolulu Fire Department for shared staff costs.
• Fire protection systems inspectors: Discussion of whether to require additional expertise for workers who inspect, test, and maintain fire protection systems.
• Kitchen hood cleaning certification: Discussion of whether to require statewide certification for workers who clean commercial kitchen exhaust systems.
• Fire code update — dry standpipes: Review of whether the State Fire Code should require flow testing for manual dry standpipes in buildings.
• National Fire Academy courses: Review of training courses selected by fire departments for this fiscal year, including wildland-urban interface (WUI) classes.
• Governor's affordable housing proclamation: Discussion of how the current emergency proclamation may affect state building and fire code requirements.
• National code updates: Presentations from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and International Code Council (ICC) on fire and building code developments.
• 2027 legislation planning: Discussion of fire safety bills to reintroduce or support in the upcoming legislative session.

Decisions Expected

• Possible votes to update Hawaii Administrative Rules regarding fire protection system inspector qualifications and kitchen hood cleaner certification.
• Possible decision to amend the State Fire Code on standpipe testing requirements.
• Decisions on which fire safety bills to pursue in the 2027 Legislature.

Who Should Pay Attention

• Fire protection system inspectors and contractors
• Commercial kitchen operators and hood cleaning businesses
• Building owners and developers affected by fire code rules
• Fire departments statewide
• Anyone interested in Hawaii fire safety legislation