NASHVILLE, Tenn. --

Why did Metro's fire marshal sign off on new fire codes when he admits they are less safe?

Those new fire rules are up for a vote Monday night, and they affect the safety of homes, businesses or hangout spots.

But the Channel 4 I-Team has found out there are serious questions about why those rules are changing. This all has to do with what played out behind closed doors a few months ago -- a meeting only the I-Team was inside.

What happened behind the door has some wondering if lobbyists are influencing the city's fire department.

"Things are for sale," said Gary Moore of the firefighters union. "I hate to say that, but what drives it? You know, there's something driving it."

The questions are due to Metro Fire Marshal Danny Hunt signed off on a new fire code called the international fire code, or the IFC.

"In your opinion, do you feel the people, the citizens of Nashville, are going to be more safe and protected under the international code?" asked Councilman Darren Jernigan of Hunt, who said no.

"If you're going to ask me the truth, whether or not I think it's as safe as what we have now, then I've got to tell you the truth. No," said Hunt.

Councilmembers were stunned.

"I am very uncomfortable when the fire marshal who sits here and he signed it, and now he's saying it's not the safest one," said Councilman Michael Craddock. "That makes me very uncomfortable."

Firefighters union members suspect that top officials were swayed by lobbyists for building contractors and nightclub owners.

The I-Team obtained e-mails to city officials from contractors pushing for a new fire code. It's all about sprinklers.

Nashville's current code requires sprinklers for most existing nightclubs and for homes in front of low-flow fire hydrants. An I-Team investigation found hundreds of low-flow hydrants across the city.

But the proposed new code with amendments doesn't require sprinklers in those cases, making things much cheaper for builders.

"I was asked which one was the safest. And to clarify that, I should have said ... 'They're both minimum standards. They're both safe,'" said Hunt.

Hunt said what we supports is a compromise. Here's how it would affect you.

The city's current fire code requires bars be retrofitted with sprinklers if they have 100 patrons or more. The proposed fire code doesn't have that, but fire officials added on an amendment that adds the sprinkler requirement for bars with 200 patrons or more, so smaller bars wouldn't have to pay to retrofit.

It has an amendment saying if you build a home in front of a low-flow hydrant, you must put in sprinklers or you can't build.

The ordinance supported by the fire marshal was scheduled to come up Monday night before the Metro Codes committee.

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