 General Building & Occupant Fire Safety (Check Sheet #1) |
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This part provides for the safety of the occupants in existing buildings, the elimination or control of fire hazards in and around buildings, the installation and maintenance of certain life safety systems in buildings, the installation and maintenance of posted signs and information, and the establishing of a fire safety plan in those occupancies where it is considered necessary.
Responsibility
Unless otherwise specified, the owner or the owner's authorized agent shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this Code and that records of all tests and maintenance be available to the fire inspector including annual servicing by qualified personnel.
Smoke Alarms
Smoke alarms shall be installed, inspected, tested and maintained in conformance with the manufacturers' instructions or at the very least annually.
Damage to Fire Separations
Where fire separations are damaged so as to affect their integrity, they shall be repaired so that the integrity of the fire separation is maintained.
Damage to Closures
Where closures are damaged so as to affect the integrity of their fire-protection rating, such damaged closures shall be repaired so that the integrity of the closures is maintained.
Inspection and Maintenance
Defects that interfere with the operation of closures in fire separations shall be corrected, and such closures shall be maintained to ensure that they are operable at all times by:
- keeping fusible links and other heat activated devices undamaged and free of paint and dirt,
- keeping guides, bearings and stay rolls clean and lubricated,
- making necessary adjustments and repairs to door hardware and accessories to ensure proper closing and latching, and
- repairing or replacing inoperative parts of hold-open devices and automatic releasing devices.
Doors in fire separations shall be operated at intervals not greater than one (1) month to ensure that they are properly maintained.
Closures in fire separations shall not be obstructed or altered in any way that would prevent the normal operation of the closure.
Fire dampers and fire stop flaps shall be inspected at intervals not greater than twelve (12) months to ensure that they are in place and are not obviously damaged or obstructed.
Fire Door Signs
Every door used as a closure with a required fire protection rating shall have a permanent sign acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction, posted on the visible side of the door when it is in the open position, with the words "FIRE DOOR KEEP CLOSED". Except where the door is:
- located between a corridor and an adjacent sleeping room in hospitals or nursing homes,
- located between a corridor and an adjacent classroom,
- located between a public corridor and a suite of Group C or D occupancy, or
- fitted with an acceptable hold-open device designed to be released by a signal from a fire detector, fire alarm system or sprinkler system.
Combustible waste materials in and around buildings shall not be permitted to accumulate in quantities or locations that will constitute an undue fire hazard.
Combustible materials, other than those for which the location, room or space is designed, shall not be permitted to accumulate in any part of an elevator shaft, ventilation shaft, means of egress, service room or service space.
Horizontal concealed spaces, such as crawl spaces and ceiling spaces, shall not be used for the storage of combustible materials.
Combustible materials shall not be stored on a roof or adjacent to any building so as to create a fire hazard to the building or its occupants.
Lint Traps for Laundry Equipment
Lint traps in laundry equipment shall be cleaned after each use of the equipment.
Maintenance of Fire Department Access
Streets, yards and roadways provided for fire department access shall be maintained so as to be ready for use at all times by fire department vehicles.
Vehicles shall not be parked to obstruct access by fire department vehicles and signs shall be posted prohibiting such parking.
Chimneys, Flues and Flue Pipes
Every chimney, flue and flue pipe shall be inspected to identify any dangerous condition:
- at intervals not greater than twelve (12) months,
- at the time of addition of any appliance, and
- after any chimney fire
Maintenance
Means of egress shall be maintained in good repair and free of obstructions.
Exterior Passageways and Exit Stairs
Exterior passageways and exterior exit stairs serving occupied buildings shall be maintained free of snow and ice accumulations.
Exit Doors
All doors forming part of a means of egress shall be tested at intervals not greater than one (1) month to ensure that they are operable. When doors are equipped with electromagnetic locks, these locks shall be tested at intervals not greater than twelve (12) months.
Exit Lighting, Exit Signs and Emergency Lighting
Exit lighting and exit signs shall be illuminated during times the building is occupied.
Emergency lighting shall be maintained in operating condition.
Fire Drill Procedures
The procedure for conducting fire drills shall be determined by the person who is responsible or in charge of the building, taking into consideration:
- the building occupancy and its fire hazards,
- the safety features provided in the building,
- the desirable degree of participation of occupants other than supervisory staff,
- the number and degree of experience of participating supervisory staff,
- the features of fire emergency systems installed in buildings within the scope of Subsection 3.2.6. (high rise buildings) of the British Columbia Building Code, and
- the requirements of the fire department.