Vermont H 862: An act relating to a pet-friendly policy in State Office Buildings

Bill Text

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.862
2026 Page 1 of 2

VT LEG #386265 v.1
H.862 1
Introduced by Representative Burke of Brattleboro 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Public safety; Division of Fire Safety; building codes; sound control 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to require the 6
Division of Fire Safety to update the Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code 7
to require nonresidential spaces in public buildings to meet minimum standards 8
for sound control. 9
An act relating to interior sound control in certain public buildings 10
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 11
Sec. 1. DIVISION OF FIRE SAFETY; AMENDMENTS TO FIRE AND 12
BUILDING SAFETY CODE; SOUND CONTROL 13
(a) On or before July 1, 2027, the Division of Fire Safety shall amend the 14
Fire and Building Safety Code to require that certain public buildings meet 15
minimum standards for the control of indoor sound and reverberation. 16
(b)(1) The standards shall, at a minimum, provide that rooms and spaces in 17
public buildings, except for dwelling units and utility rooms, have a ceiling 18
constructed with sound-absorbing materials that have a noise reduction 19
coefficient of at least 0.75 and that cover at least 50 percent of the available 20

BILL AS INTRODUCED H.862
2026 Page 2 of 2

VT LEG #386265 v.1
ceiling area. The amendments may set more protective standards for specific 1
interior spaces in public buildings. 2
(2) The amendments may include minimum requirements for limiting 3
sound transmission through interior and exterior walls. 4
(3) The amendments may include minimum requirements for limiting 5
the transmission of impact-related sound through floor-ceiling assemblies. 6
(c) As used in this section, “available ceiling area” means any ceiling 7
surface that is within view of an occupant of a room or interior space. 8
“Available ceiling area” does not include structural beams, skylights, 9
ductwork, and other ceiling components to which sound-absorbing materials 10
cannot be attached. 11
Sec. 2. EFFECTIVE DATE 12
This act shall take effect on July 1, 2026. 13