(a)
Except as provided in subdivision (b), on and after January 1, 1982, no new regulation, or the amendment or repeal of any regulation, which regulation is intended to promote fire and panic safety or provide fire protection and prevention, including fire suppression systems, equipment, or alarm regulation, is valid or effective unless it is submitted by, or approved in writing by, the State Fire Marshal before transmittal to the Secretary of State or the Office of Administrative Law.
(b)
Approval of the State Fire Marshal is not required if the regulation is expressly required to be at least as effective as federal standards published in the Federal Register pursuant to Section 6 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596) within the time period specified by federal law and as provided in subdivision (b) of Section 142.4 of the Labor Code, and as approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the United States Department of Labor as meeting the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 142.3 of the Labor Code, unless the regulation is determined by the State Fire Marshal to be less effective in promoting fire and panic safety than regulations adopted by the State Fire Marshal.