The Fire Code and Schools: Working Together

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The Fire Code and SchoolsWorking Together

• Sue Birren, Fire Protection Coordinator
• Wisconsin Department of Commerce

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Objectives

• ? Familiarize participants with common code
  violations
• ? Identify and understand code language
• ? Discuss statutory requirements and how to meet
  those requirements
• ? Answer questions and identify solutions

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Topics

• ? Extension/power cord use
• ? Candles and other open flame devices
• ? Exiting issues, during school and special
  events
• ? Corridors, use and storage issues
• ? Clearances ceilings, sprinkler system
  components, electrical equipment
• ? Fire extinguishers, placement and testing
• ? Artwork and other material attached to walls
  and ceiling
• ? Fire Drills

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Fire Protection Coordinators
District 1 Dave Bruflat 715-296-6674 David.Bruflat
_at_wisconsin.gov
District 3 Carl Frisque 920-434-4708 Carl.Frisque_at_
wisconsin.gov

District 1
District 2
District 2 John Andersen 715-726-2556 John.Anderse
n_at_wisconsin.gov
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 5 Terry Nolen 608-845-5375 Terry.Nolen_at_wi
sconsin.gov
District 4 Sue Birren 414-416-3339 Susan.Birren_at_wi
sonsin.gov
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Extension Cords and Power Strips

• Wisconsin Administrative Code, Department of
  Commerce, Chapter Commerce 14 Fire Prevention
  14.06(1)(c) General Requirements
• Extension cords shall only be used for temporary
  wiring and shall not be substituted for permanent
  wiring.
• Extension cords shall be of the 3-wire grounding
  type when used in conjunction with devices
  equipped with 3-prong grounding type
• attachment plugs.

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Extension Cords continued

• 14.06(1)(d) The current-carrying capacity of the
  extension cord or relocatable power tap may not
  be exceeded.
• 14.06(1)(e)1 Extension cords and relocatable
  power taps may not be multiplied or plugged into
  one another.
• 14.06(1)(e)3 Extension cords shall be permitted
  only with portable appliances, hand tools or
• fixtures.

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Extension Cords continued

• 14.06(1)(e)4 Relocatable power taps are
  permitted only with portable electronic equipment
  such as audio-visual equipment, computers and
  peripheral equipment.
• 14.06(1)(f) Extension cords and relocatable
  power taps shall be protected from physical
  impact and environmental damage.
• 14.06(1)(f)2 Extension cords and relocatable
  power taps may not be attached to structures or
  placed under doors or floor coverings.

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Candles

• Wisconsin Administrative Code, Department of
  Commerce, Chapter Commerce 14 Fire Prevention
  14.03(3)(b) Open Flame Candles and Fixtures
• The use of open flame candles or open flame
  fixtures in public buildings and places of
  employment is prohibited.

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Exit Enclosures

• National Fire Protection Association
• Fire Prevention Code 1
• 4-1.2 An exit enclosure shall not be used for
  any purpose that has the potential to interfere
  with its use as an exit and, if so designated, as
  an area of refuge.
• Examples No storage, vending machines, desks or
  other classroom material in stairwells or under
  staircases.

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Maintenance of Exit

• Wisconsin Administrative Code, Department of
  Commerce, Chapter Commerce 14 Fire Prevention
• 14.04(2) The entire means of egress system shall
  remain clear and unobstructed continuous to the
  public way or safe dispersal area of all times.

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Corridors

• National Fire Protection Association
• Fire Prevention Code 1 8.2.2.3.5
• Clothing and personal effects shall not be stored
  in corridors.
• Exception 1 This requirement shall not apply to
  corridors protected by an automatic sprinkler
  system.
• Exception 2 This requirement shall not apply to
  corridors protected by a smoke detection system.
• Exception 3 This requirement shall not apply to
  storage in metal lockers, provided that the
  required egress is
• maintained.

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Clearances

• ? Storage and other obstructions must be at least
  18 below the sprinkler head.
• ? Maintain at least a 36 clearance around all
  electrical service equipment.
• ? Storage in buildings without automatic
  sprinkler systems must keep at least 2 feet from
  the ceiling.
• ? A clearance of at least 36 must be maintained
  around all sprinkler control valves.

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Fire Extinguishers

• National Fire Protection Association
• Fire Prevention Code 1
• 7-6.1.5 Portable fire extinguishers shall be
  maintained in a fully charged and operable
  condition, and kept in their designated places at
  all times when they are not being used.
• 7-6.1.9 Fire extinguishers shall not be
  obstructed or obscured from view.

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Maintenance of Extinguishers

• 7-6.4.1.2 Maintenance, servicing, and recharging
  shall be performed by trained persons having
  available the appropriate servicing manual(s),
  the proper types of tools, recharge materials,
  lubricants, and manufacturers recommended
  replacement parts or parts specifically listed
  for use in the fire extinguisher.
• 7-6.4.2.1 Fire extinguishers shall be subjected
  to maintenance at intervals of not more than1
  year, at the time of hydrostatic test, or when
• specifically indicated by an
  inspection.

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Maintenance continued

• 7-6.4.2.3 Each fire extinguisher shall have a
  label securely attached that indicates the month
  and year the maintenance was performed and
  identifies the person performing the inspection.

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Artwork

• National Fire Protection Association Fire
  Prevention Code 1 8-2.2.3.6
• Artwork and teaching materials shall be permitted
  to be attached directly to the walls and shall
  not exceed 20 percent of the wall area.
• Exception Artwork and teaching materials shall
  not exceed 50 percent of the wall area in a
  building that is protected throughout by an
  approved automatic sprinkler system.

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Artwork Commentary

• Taken from the National Fire Protection
  Association Fire Prevention Code Handbook
• It is advantageous not only to limit the
  quantity of artwork displayed but also to avoid
  placing such materials near a rooms exit access
  doors. Because the combustibility of the artwork
  cannot be effectively controlled, the quantity,
  in terms of the percentage of wall area covered,
  is regulated to avoid creating a continuous
  combustible surface
• that will spread flame across the
  room.

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Artwork Considerations

• ?The 20 criterion refers to the wall area of
  each wall and not the aggregate wall area of a
  room or space.
• ? Bookshelves placed against a wall or built-in
  are part of the wall surface, however books
  placed on the shelves are not part of the 20
  provision.
• ? Art work can be attached only to the walls, not
  the ceiling.

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Furnishings and Decorations

• National Fire Protection Association Fire
  Prevention Code 1 8-2.2.3.1
• Draperies, curtains, and other similar
  furnishings and decorations in educational
  occupancies shall be in accordance with provision
  of NFPA 101 (10114.7.3.1 10115.7.3.1)

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Furnishings and Decorations continued

• 8-2.2.3.3 Furnishings and decorations of an
  explosive or highly combustible charater shall
  not be used.
• Examples Plastic cargo netting, Halloween
  spider webbing.

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Fire-Retardant Coatings

• National Fire Protection Association Fire
  Prevention Code 1 8.2.2.3.4
• Fire-retardant coatings shall be maintained to
  retain their effectiveness of the treatment under
  service conditions encountered in actual use.
• Example Stage curtains.

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Fire Drills

• Wisconsin Statute 118.07(2)(a)
• Once each month, without previous warning, the
  person having direct charge of any public or
  private school shall drill all pupils in the
  proper method of departure from the building as
  if in case of fire, except when the person having
  direct charge deems that the health of the pupils
  may be endangered by inclement weather conditions.

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Fire Drills

• Wisconsin Statute 118.07(2)(b)
• Annually the person having direct charge of
  any public or private school shall file a report
  pertaining to such drills on forms furnished by
  the Department of Commerce. Such reports shall
  be made to the Department of Commerce and, in
  each community having a recognized fire
  department, to the chief of the fire department.
  When no fire drill is held during any month, the
  person having direct
• charge of the school shall state the reasons
• therefore in the report.

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Fire Drills

• National Fire Protection Association Fire
  Prevention Code 1 8-2.2.1.8
• Emergency egress and relocation drills shall
  be conducted as follows (1) Not less than one
  emergency egress and relocation drills shall be
  conducted every month the facility is in session.
  Exception In climates where the weather is
  severe, the monthly emergency egress and
  relocation drills shall be permitted to be
  deferred, provided that the required number of
  emergency egress and relocation drills is
  achieved and not less than four are conducted
  before the
• drills are deferred.

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Fire Drills continued

• (2) All occupants of the building shall
  participate in the drill.
• (3) One additional emergency egress and
  relocation drill, other than for educational
  occupancies that are open on a year-round basis,
  shall be required within the first 30 days of
  operation.

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Fire Drill Notification

• National Fire Protection Association Fire
  Prevention Code 1 8-2.2.1.9
• All emergency and relocation drill alarms shall
  be sounded on the fire alarm system.

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Important
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Questions?