Header:
CODE OF RHODE ISLAND RULES
AGENCY 42. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
SUB-AGENCY 000. FIRE SAFETY CODE BOARD OF APPEAL AND REVIEW
CHAPTER 001. FIRE SAFETY CODE
Date:
08/31/2009
Document:
42 000 001. FIRE SAFETY CODE
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Chapter 12 New Assembly Occupancies.
(Amd) 12.2.5.4.1
Festival seating, as defined in 3.3.188.1, shall be prohibited within a building, unless otherwise permitted by the following:
(1) Festival seating shall be permitted in assembly occupancies having occupant loads of 250 or less.
(2) Festival seating shall be permitted in assembly occupancies where occupant loads exceed 250 and an approved life safety evaluation has been performed. (See 12.4.1)
(Amd) 12.3.4.1
All assembly occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with amended Section 9.6 of this Code and Chapter 13, as amended, of the Rhode Island Uniform Fire Code.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.1
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.1 shall be installed in all places of assembly having an occupant load of fifty ([greater than or equal] 50) to three hundred ([less than or equal] 300) persons.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.2
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.2 shall be installed in all places of assembly having an occupant load of more than three hundred (> 300) persons.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.3
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.2 shall be installed in all nightclub places of assembly with an occupant load of one hundred fifty or greater ([greater than or equal] 150).
(Add) 12.3.4.1.4
In addition to the locations prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10, a manual fire alarm box shall be installed on every stage, near any fixed lighting control panel and in any projection booth.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.4.1
Manual fire alarm boxes, with the approval of the AHJ, may be omitted from required exits and installed in such supervised locations as bar areas, hostess stands or other areas attended by permanent staff.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.5
Buildings classified as high-rise shall have a fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.3.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.6
Upon the activation of any fire alarm system in any nightclub place of assembly, the notification appliances throughout the facility shall immediately activate and the fire alarm system shall be interconnected with the building systems so that all emergency lights or other appropriate lighting shall activate and that all other conflicting sounds and visuals shall cease.
(Res) 12.3.4.1.7
(Add) 12.3.4.1.8
In any assembly occupancy where the exemption to the requirement for automatic sprinklers is utilized, the fire alarm system shall meet the requirements for total (complete) coverage.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.9
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.2 shall be installed in every theater.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.10
In addition to the locations prescribed in § 13.8.10 of this chapter, a manual fire alarm box shall be installed on every stage, near any fixed lighting control panel, and in every projection booth.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.10.1
Manual fire alarm boxes, with the approval of the AHJ, may be omitted from required exits and installed in such supervised locations as the ticket booth or the refreshment stand.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.11
Notification appliances shall be installed where required by the AHJ. A complete fire alarm/voice communication system with an automatic voice evacuation message is required. The activation of the fire alarm system shall automatically interrupt all theater audio systems and automatically raise the house lights. In addition, if the theater is classified as a nightclub, all emergency lights or other appropriate lighting shall activate whenever the fire alarm system is activated.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.12
Buildings classified as high-rise shall have a fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.3.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.13
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.1 shall be installed in all new places of worship having an occupant load more than seventy-five (> 75) or more than one (> 1) story above grade, or having commercial cooking facilities.
(Add) 12.3.4.1.14
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.2 shall be installed in all new places of worship having an occupant load of more than three hundred (> 300) persons.
(Amd) 12.3.5.1
All new places of assembly shall be completely protected by an approved system of automatic sprinklers installed and maintained in accordance with 9.7.1.1.
(Add) 12.3.5.2.1
The requirements of 12.3.5.1 shall also not apply to the following:
(1) Any place of assembly of less concentrated use, with an occupancy of 300 or fewer people, calculated at 15 square feet per person. (The above fifteen square feet (15 sq. ft.) per person calculation shall be exclusive of any separately calculated limited incidental spaces designated as a waiting area by the AHJ. The above fifteen square feet (15 sq. ft.) per person calculation shall also not apply buildings, containing separately calculated booths or similar fixed seating, determined not to be concentrated occupancies by the AHJ.)
(2) Any place of assembly of concentrated use, with an occupancy of 300 or fewer people, not meeting the definition of a nightclub as outlined in section 3.4.12.
(3) Any place of assembly of concentrated use, meeting the definition of a nightclub, as outlined in section 3.4.12, with a posted maximum occupancy of less than 150 people.
(Add) 12.3.5.4
Effective July 1, 2006, any place of assembly, not required to be sprinkled, was required to render all decorative and acoustical materials, floors, walls, ceilings and their coverings flame resistant, by the application of fire retardant materials approved by the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review.
Exception : Places of worship, existing as of January 1, 2008, that are in compliance with section 13.1.8.1, shall be exempted from this requirement.
(Add) 12.3.5.5
The requirements of 12.3.5.4 do not apply to a place of assembly that voluntarily installed approved sprinklers, in accordance with 9.7.1.1, on or before July 1, 2006.
(Add) 12.4.7.1.1
All nightclubs, as defined in section 3.4.12, shall comply with the requirements of 12.4.7.2 through 12.4.7.8 and shall be inspected annually by the AHJ.
(Add) 12.4.7.1.2
Each stage area, within a nightclub, shall be provided with, and maintain, two fire extinguishers approved by the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal & Review.
(Add) 12.4.7.1.3
The responsible management of each nightclub, shall provide an audible announcement of the location of emergency exits prior to each act or set.
(Add) 12.4.7.1.4
The responsible management of each nightclub, shall have an emergency plan for the rapid evacuation of the premises approved by the state fire marshal. The plan shall identify the egress system of the building, explain, on a step-by-step basis, how the crowd manager on duty will complete the evacuation, and explain how the crowd manager will direct the occupants to safety in the event of one or more blocked exits.
(Add) 12.4.7.2.1
Any nightclub, as outlined in section 3.4.12, with a posted maximum occupancy of less than 150 people, shall not be required to install the sprinkler coverage outlined in 12.4.7.1.
(Amd) 12.6 Means of Egress Inspection.
(Add) 12.6.1
The building owner or agent shall inspect the means of egress to ensure it is maintained free of obstructions, and correct any deficiencies found, prior to each opening of the building to the public.
(Add) 12.6.2
In places of assembly which have scheduled activities for recreational, educational, political, fraternal, social, or amusement purposes, the owner or management must inspect every exit from the building not more than ninety (90) minutes prior to the beginning of any meeting, concert, etc. If the inspection reveals blocked exits, the scheduled presentation must not begin until the exits are cleared and made easily accessible, assuring the safety and welfare of the patrons.
(Add) 12.6.3
The building owner or agent shall prepare and maintain records of the date and time of each inspection on approved forms, listing any deficiencies found and actions taken to correct them.
(Add) 12.7.2.1
The use of open flame devices or pyrotechnic devices, outlined in 12.7.2, shall be limited to the places of assembly with occupancy loads in excess of 1000 persons and to those places of assembly, that are theaters, with occupancy loads of greater than 300 but less than 1001. All such places of assembly must be fully sprinkled and further protected by a municipally connected fire alarm system.
(Amd) 12.7.5 Crowd Management
(Amd) 12.7.5.2
The crowd manager shall receive appropriate training in emergency planning and basic crowd control techniques, by the state fire marshal, or his or her designee, on or before October 1, 2004.
(Add) 12.7.5.2.1
The crowd manager(s) identified in 12.7.5.1 shall be in addition to the detail fire fighter(s) identified in 12.7.5.4 through 12.7.5.10.
(Add) 12.7.5.3 Admissions supervised.
Admissions to all places of assembly shall be supervised by the responsible management or by the person or persons delegated with the responsibility by the management, and the responsible person shall not allow admissions in excess of the maximum occupancy posted by the State Fire Marshal or his or her designee.
(Add) 12.7.5.4
All places of assembly with an occupancy load of greater than 1000 people shall have a uniformed fire fighter, and any additional uniformed fire fighters on duty when deemed necessary by the designee of the state fire marshal in the local fire department.
(Add) 12.7.5.5
All places of assembly, of less concentrated use, with an occupancy load of greater than 300 people, but less than 1001 people, shall have a uniformed fire fighter and any additional uniformed fire fighters on duty when deemed necessary by the designee of the state fire marshal in the local fire department.
(Add) 12.7.5.6
All places of assembly, of concentrated use, with an occupancy load of greater than 50 people, but less than 1001 people shall have a uniformed fire fighter and any additional uniformed fire fighters on duty when deemed necessary by the designee of the state fire marshal in the local fire department except as provided under 12.7.5.7.
(Add) 12.7.5.7
All places of assembly, of concentrated or less concentrated use, with an occupancy load of greater than 50 people, but less than 1001 people, being utilized for activities that could potentially cause the place of assembly to be unsafe, dangerous or hazardous shall have one uniformed fire fighter on duty during such activity and any additional uniformed fire fighters on duty when deemed necessary by the designee of the state fire marshal in the local fire department unless this requirement is specifically waived in writing for each such event.
(Add) 12.7.5.8
The cost of all fire fighters on duty under 12.7.5.4 through 12.7.5.7 shall be borne by the management of the facility.
(Add) 12.7.5.9
Fire fighter(s) assigned a detail pursuant to 12.7.5.4 through 12.7.5.7 shall be equipped with portable communication devices which shall be provided by the local fire department to allow direct communication to the dispatcher of the local fire department.
(Add) 12.7.5.10
The provisions of R.I.G.L. 23-28.2-17 shall apply to any fire fighter assigned a detail, to a place of assembly, pursuant to 12.7.5.4 through 12.7.5.7.
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Chapter 26 Lodging or Rooming Houses.
(Amend) 26.1.1.1
The requirements of this chapter shall apply to buildings that provide sleeping accommodations for 16 or fewer persons on either a transient or permanent basis, with or without meals, but without separate cooking facilities for individual occupants, except as provided in Chapter 24 and/or Sections 26.1.1.1.1 through 26.1.1.1.7 (Bed and Breakfast Homes) as outlined below.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.1
A "Bed and Breakfast Home" is defined as an owner and/or innkeeper occupied building that provides sleeping accommodations for up to sixteen guests. Every "Bed and Breakfast Home" must further have originated as a private home and must have at least 300 square feet of common space (i.e. dining room, living room, etc.) for guest use, and must further provide breakfast. Finally, the owner and/or innkeeper must occupy the building twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, while guests are utilizing the facility. The owner and/or innkeeper of the Bed and Breakfast Home shall have a plan of action, approved by the local official, to assure the safety of the guests in the event the owner or innkeeper is required to temporarily leave the facility unsupervised for limited periods during the day.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.2
A "No Smoking" policy, throughout the building, shall be strictly enforced.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.3
With the exception of fireplaces and/or wood stoves, approved by local fire department and/or the local mechanical inspector, there shall be no open flame in the bedrooms of these facilities. Specifically, candles, incense or similar materials shall not be allowed in the bedrooms. All approved fireplaces and/or wood stoves shall further be provided with approved metal screens or glass doors. Any fireplace or wood stove located in the common areas shall also be approved by local fire department and/or the local mechanical inspector with the above safeguards.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.4
All "Bed and Breakfast Homes" require hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in accordance with the regulations and standards covering a new single family residence. There shall be approved detection in each bedroom.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.5
All "Bed and Breakfast Homes" with a capacity of between four (4) and six (6) guests shall meet the following requirements for this occupancy:
Hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed in accordance with the regulations and standards covering a new single family residence.
Emergency lighting shall be installed in any corridors and/or stairways greater than eight (8) feet in length.
Externally illuminated exit signs shall be installed. An evacuation plan, containing alternative emergency egress routes, shall be presented to the local fire authority for approval. The owner and/or innkeeper shall receive comprehensive crowd management training.
It is recommended that the facility be annually inspected by the local fire authority. Any existing curtains, bedding, rugs or similar flammable materials, shall only be replaced, in the future, by fire retardant materials, manufactured and/or treated to the satisfaction of the local fire authority.
Any existing fire detection and/or suppression system shall be maintained as a required system.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.6
All "Bed and Breakfast Homes" with a capacity of between seven (7) and sixteen (16) guests shall meet the following requirements for this occupancy: Local fire alarm system in accordance with the amended provisions of Chapter 13 of the Rhode Island Uniform Fire Code.
Hardwired, interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors shall be installed in accordance with the regulations and standards covering a new single family residence. (May be incorporated into the local fire alarm system). Solid core doors, maintaining an approximate fire rating of twenty (20) minutes, shall be installed in the existing egress system door jambs with spring-loaded hinges. The local fire authority may approve an alternative plan of action allowing historically significant doors, with an approved Class-A flame-spread finish and spring loaded hinges, to be retained.
Emergency lighting shall be installed in any corridors and/or stairways greater than eight (8) feet in length.
Externally illuminated exit signs shall be installed.
An evacuation plan, containing alternative emergency egress routes, shall be presented to the local fire authority for approval. The owner and/or innkeeper shall receive comprehensive crowd management training.
The facility shall be annually inspected by the local fire authority. Any existing curtains, bedding, rugs or similar flammable materials, shall only be replaced, in the future, by fire retardant materials, manufactured and/or treated to the satisfaction of the local fire authority.
Any existing fire detection and/or suppression system shall be maintained as a required system.
(Add) 26.1.1.1.7
Any building complying with the above "Bed and Breakfast Home" guidelines, with a capacity in excess of sixteen (16) guests, shall be required comply with the requirements for a "Hotel and Dormitory" occupancy as outlined in the provisions of Chapters 28 or 29, as applicable (new or existing), of the Rhode Island Life Safety Code.
(Amd) 26.3.3.5. Detection, Alarm, and Communications Systems.
(Amd) 26.3.3.5.1. General.
Lodging or Rooming House occupancies shall be provided with a fire alarm system in accordance with amended Section 9.6 of this Code and Chapter 13, as amended, of the Rhode Island Uniform Fire Code.
(Add) 26.3.3.5.1.1
A fire alarm system as prescribed in RIUFC § 13.8.10.4.1 shall be installed in every lodging or rooming house.
(Amd) 26.3.3.5.2. Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms.
In addition, every Lodging or Rooming House shall be provided with either hardwired or wireless smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed in accordance with NFPA 72, and NFPA 720, 2003 edition, in every guest room and every living area and sleeping room within a guest suite. Any lodging or rooming house occupancy, not previously required to install such alarms, shall have the above alarms installed and approved on or before July 1, 2005.
(Amd) 26.3.3.5.3
Any conflict between the provisions of this section and the provisions of amended Section 9.6 of this Code and Chapter 13, as amended, of the Rhode Island Uniform Fire Code, shall be resolved in favor of compliance with the strictest combined requirements as determined by the AHJ.
(Amd) 26.3.5.1.
All new lodging or rooming houses shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 26.3.5.3.
(Amd) 26.3.5.2.
Every existing lodging or rooming house built, or converted to this occupancy, on or after June 29, 1990, shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler system in accordance with 26.3.5.3.
(Add) 26.3.5.3.7
Any furnace or boiler in the building shall be equipped with an approved remote shutoff switch approved by the AHJ.
(Add) 26.3.5.4
Portable fire extinguishers shall be provided in accordance with section 9.7.4.1 of this Code.
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**Note: Only the section analyzed by the PHASYS team is included here as the entire regulation exceeded ~100 pages.
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