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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>85367</law_id><section_number>27-95</section_number><catch_line>Definitions</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-308.2</reference><reference>18.2-85</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="27">Fire Protection</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="9">Statewide Fire Prevention Code Act</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter requires otherwise, the following words or terms shall have the meaning herein ascribed to them:
		&#x201C;Board&#x201D; means the Board of Housing and Community Development.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Code provisions</span>&#x201D; means the provisions of the <span class="dictionary">Fire Prevention Code</span> as adopted and promulgated by the Board, and the amendments thereof as adopted and promulgated from time to time by such Board.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Counterfeit lighter</span>&#x201D; means any lighter designed in a way that infringes on the intellectual property rights of any citizen of the United States or any entity that is protected by any federal or state intellectual property <span class="dictionary">law</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Enforcement agency</span>&#x201D; means the agency or agencies of any local governing body or the <span class="dictionary">State Fire Marshal</span> charged with the administration or enforcement of the <span class="dictionary">Fire Prevention Code</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fire Prevention Code</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;Code&#x201D; means the Statewide <span class="dictionary">Fire Prevention Code</span>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fire prevention regulation</span>&#x201D; means any <span class="dictionary">law</span>, rule, resolution, regulation, <span class="dictionary">ordinance</span> or code, general or special, or compilation thereof to safeguard life and property from the hazards of fire or explosion arising from the improper maintenance of life safety and fire prevention and protection <span class="dictionary">materials</span>, devices, systems and structures, and the unsafe storage, handling and use of substances, <span class="dictionary">materials</span> and devices, including explosives and blasting agents, wherever located, heretofore or hereafter enacted or adopted by the Commonwealth or any county or municipality, including departments, <span class="dictionary">boards</span>, bureaus, commissions or other agencies.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fire Services Board</span>&#x201D; means the Virginia <span class="dictionary">Fire Services Board</span> as provided for in &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="Virginia Fire Services Board; membership; terms; compensation" href="/9.1-202/">9.1-202</a>.
		&#x201C;Fireworks&#x201D; means any firecracker, torpedo, skyrocket, or other substance or <span class="dictionary">object</span>, of whatever form or construction, that contains any explosive or inflammable compound or substance, and is intended, or commonly known as fireworks, and which explodes, rises into the air or travels laterally, or fires projectiles into the air.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Fireworks operator</span>&#x201D; or &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">pyrotechnician</span>&#x201D; means any person engaged in the design, setup, and firing of any fireworks other than <span class="dictionary">permissible fireworks</span> either inside a building or structure or outdoors.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Inspection warrant</span>&#x201D; means an <span class="dictionary">order</span> in writing, made in the name of the Commonwealth, signed by any <span class="dictionary">judge</span> or <span class="dictionary">magistrate</span> whose territorial <span class="dictionary">jurisdiction</span> encompasses the building, structure or premises to be inspected or entered, and directed to a state or local official, commanding him to enter and to conduct any inspection, examination, testing or collection of samples for testing required or authorized by the Virginia Statewide <span class="dictionary">Fire Prevention Code</span>.
		&#x201C;Lighter&#x201D; means any electrical or mechanical device that operates using any type of fuel, including butane or another liquid fuel, and is typically used to light a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Local government</span>&#x201D; means the governing body of any city, county or town in this Commonwealth.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Permissible fireworks</span>&#x201D; means any fountains that do not emit sparks or other burning effects to a distance greater than five meters (16.4 feet); wheels that do not emit a flame radius greater than one meter (39 inches); crackling devices and flashers or strobes that do not emit sparks or other burning effects to a distance greater than two meters (78.74 inches); and sparkling devices or other fireworks devices that (i) do not explode or produce a report, (ii) do not travel horizontally or vertically under their own power, (iii) do not emit or function as a projectile, (iv) do not produce a continuous flame longer than 20 inches, (v) are not capable of being reloaded, and (vi) if designed to be ignited by a fuse, have a fuse that is protected to resist side ignition and a burning time of not less than four seconds and not more than eight seconds.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">State Fire Marshal</span>&#x201D; means the <span class="dictionary">State Fire Marshal</span> as provided for by &#xA7;&#xA0;<a class="law" title="State Fire Marshal; qualifications; powers and duties; power to arrest, to procure and serve warrants, and to issue summonses; limitation on authority" href="/9.1-206/">9.1-206</a>.
		&#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Unsafe lighter</span>&#x201D; means (i) a disposable or refillable lighter used for cigarettes, cigars, or pipes that does not comply with ASTM International standard F400-20, as amended from time to time, or (ii) a lighter used for utilities, grills, or fireplaces or a lighting rod or gas match that does not comply with ASTM International standard F2201-20, as amended from time to time.</p></section></text><history>1986, c. 429; 1988, cc. 340, 549; 1989, c. 258; 2002, c. 856; 2010, cc. 587, 643; 2019, c. 720; 2025, c. 97.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
