CHAPTER 2
DEFINITIONS
201.1 Scope. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following words and terms shall, for the purposes of this code, have the meanings shown in this chapter.
201.2 Interchangeability. Words stated in the present tense include the future; words stated in the masculine gender include the feminine and neuter, and the singular number includes the plural and the plural the singular.
201.3 Terms defined in other codes. Where terms are not defined in this code and are defined in other International Codes, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them as in those codes.
201.4 Terms not defined. Where terms are not defined through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have their ordinarily accepted meanings such as the context implies.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE. A building or structure used to shelter or support any material, equipment, chattel or occupancy other than a habitable building.
APPROVED. Approval by the code official as the result of review, investigation or tests conducted by the code official or by reason of accepted principles or tests by national authorities, or technical or scientific organizations.
BRUSH, SHORT. Low-growing species that reach heights of 1 to 3 feet. Sagebrush, snowberry and rabbitbrush are some varieties.
BRUSH, TALL. Arbor-like varieties of brush species and/or short varieties of broad-leaf trees that grow in compact groups or clumps. These groups or clumps reach heights of 4 to 20 feet. In Utah, this includes primary varieties of oak, maples, chokecherry, serviceberry and mahogany, but may also include other species.
BUILDING. Any structure used or intended for supporting or sheltering any use or occupancy.
BUILDING OFFICIAL. The officer or other designated authority charged with the administration and enforcement of the International Building Code, or the building official’s duly authorized representative.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION. Written documentation that the project or work for which a permit was issued has been completed in conformance with requirements of this code.
CODE OFFICIAL. The official designated by the jurisdiction to interpret and enforce this code, or the code official’s authorized representative.
DEFENSIBLE SPACE. An area either natural or man-made, where material capable of allowing a fire to spread unchecked has been treated, cleared or modified to slow the rate and intensity of an advancing wildfire and to create an area for fire suppression operations to occur.
DRIVEWAY. A vehicular ingress and egress route that serves no more than two buildings or structures, not including accessory structures, or more than five dwelling units.
FIRE AREA. The floor area, in square feet (square meters), used to determine the adequate water supply.
FIRE CHIEF. The chief officer or the chief officer’s authorized representative of the fire department serving the jurisdiction.
FIRE PROTECTION PLAN. A document prepared for a specific project or development proposed for the wildland-urban interface area. It describes ways to minimize and mitigate the fire problems created by the project or development, with the purpose of reducing impact on the community’s fire protection delivery system.
FIRE WEATHER. Weather conditions favorable to the ignition and rapid spread of fire. In wildfires, this generally includes high temperatures combined with strong winds and low humidity.
FIRE-RESISTANCE-RATED CONSTRUCTION. The use of materials and systems in the design and construction of a building or structure to safeguard against the spread of fire within a building or structure and the spread of fire to or from buildings or structures to the wildland-urban interface area.
FLAME SPREAD RATING. As used herein refers to rating obtained according to tests conducted as specified by a nationally recognized standard.
FUEL BREAK. An area, strategically located for fighting anticipated fires, where the native vegetation has been permanently modified or replaced so that fires burning into it can be more easily controlled. Fuel breaks divide fire-prone areas into smaller areas for easier fire control and to provide access for fire fighting.
FUEL, HEAVY. Vegetation consisting of round wood 3 inches (76 mm) or larger in diameter. The amount of fuel (vegetation) would be 6 tons per acre or greater.
FUEL, LIGHT. Vegetation consisting of herbaceous and round wood less than 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) in diameter. The amount of fuel (vegetation) would be 1/2 ton to 2 tons per acre.
FUEL, MEDIUM. Vegetation consisting of round wood 1/4 to 3 inches (6.4mm to 76 mm) in diameter. The amount of fuel (vegetation) would be 2 to 6 tons per acre.
FUEL MODIFICATION. A method of modifying fuel load by reducing the amount of nonfire-resistive vegetation or altering the type of vegetation to reduce the fuel load.