3710

JOINT RESOLUTIONS

products when exposed to heat and fire in construction and
furnishing buildings, shall study whether these problems can be
addressed adequately under existing building codes and other
laws, and if appropriate, shall recommend changes in regulations
and legislation it considers necessary; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force report its findings and
recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor by January
1, 1986; and be it further

RESOLVED, That staff for the Task Force be provided by the
Governor's Office; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force may not
receive compensation but may be reimbursed for expenses in
accordance with State Standard Travel Regulations.

Building Materials - Combustibility, Flammability, and

Fire Gas Toxicity

FOR the purpose of requesting the Governor to appoint a Task
Force to study deaths resulting from building fires, the
contribution of building materials to building fire deaths,
and the factors of combustion, smoke, and toxic combustion
products produced when such building materials are burned or
subjected to high temperatures; assessing the current state
of the art in fire hazard analysis and what research is

currently being done by the federal government,

universities, research institutions, standards

organizations, and any other entities, to improve fire
safety in Maryland; providing direction for the Task Force;
and generally relating to the Task Force and its work.

WHEREAS, It has long been recognized that most deaths
associated with fires are the result of inhalation of smoke
and/or toxic gases, and not the fire itself, and that most of
these deaths occur in homes, and because materials used in the
construction of furnishings of homes, offices, or other buildings
occupied by humans may produce toxic gases and smoke in various
quantities when heated or burned, therefore, an understanding of
combustion products of building materials may result in more
effective prevention of fire deaths;

WHEREAS, The relationship between the fire deaths and the
ease of ignition, rate of heat release, smoke development, toxic
combustion products, and other factors, such as detection devices
and new development of quick response sprinklers, may require
that the government reexamine the regulation of the use of
materials for constructing and furnishing buildings, fire safety
systems, and detection and suppression, or other remedies; and

WHEREAS, The long-term effects of toxic combustion products
on the health of the public is generally unknown, and the effects
of these products on the health of fire fighters may require
additional evaluation of protective equipment, physical fitness,