No display or exhibit shall be installed or operated to interfere in any way with access to any required exit or with the visibility of any required exit or required exit sign; nor shall any display block access to fire-fighting equipment.

Storage of Materials Not On Display

  • A storage room having an enclosure consisting of a smoke barrier having a fire resistance rating of 1 hour and protected by an automatic extinguishing system shall be provided for combustible materials not on display, including combustible packing crates used to ship exhibitors' supplies and products.
  • The travel distance within the exhibit booth or exhibit enclosure to an exit access aisle shall not exceed 50 ft.
  • The upper deck of multilevel exhibits exceeding 3002 ft shall have not less than two remote means of egress.
  • Exhibit booths shall be constructed of the following:
    • Noncombustible or limited-combustible materials
    • Wood exceeding 6.3 mm (¼ in.) nominal thickness or wood not exceeding 6.3 mm (¼ in.) nominal thickness that is pressure-treated, fire-retardant wood meeting the requirements of NFPA 703, Standard for Fire Retardant Impregnated Wood and Fire Retardant Coatings for Building Materials.
    • Flame-retardant materials complying with NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.
    • Textile wall coverings, such as carpeting and similar products used as wall or ceiling finishes, complying with the provisions of a room corner test and a "Class A" interior finish.
    • Foamed plastics and materials containing foamed plastics having a heat release rate for any single fuel package that does not exceed 100 kW where tested in accordance with UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes.
    • Cardboard, honeycombed paper, and other combustible materials having a heat release rate for any single fuel package that does not exceed 150 kW where tested in accordance with UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes.
  • All fabrics and films used for decorative purposes, all draperies and curtains, and similar furnishings shall be shall be flame resistant as demonstrated by testing in accordance with NFPA 701, Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films.
  • Acoustical and decorative material including, but not limited to, cotton, hay, paper, straw, moss, split bamboo, and wood chips shall be flame-retardant treated to the satisfaction of the authority having jurisdiction. Any materials that cannot be flame-retardant treated shall not be used.
  • Foamed plastics and materials containing foamed plastics and used as decorative objects such as, but not limited to, mannequins, murals, and signs shall have a heat release rate for any single fuel package that does not exceed 150 kW where tested in accordance with UL 1975, Standard for Fire Tests for Foamed Plastics Used for Decorative Purposes. Certificates showing the treatment and conditions must be on file at the facility.
  • Where the aggregate area of acoustical and decorative materials is less than 10 percent of the individual floor or wall area, such materials shall be permitted to be used subject to the approval of the authority having jurisdiction.
     

The Following Shall Be Protected By Automatic Extinguishing Systems

  • Single-level exhibit booths exceeding 3002 ft and covered with a ceiling.
  • Each level of multilevel exhibit booths, including the uppermost level where the uppermost level is covered with a ceiling.
  • Vehicles, boats, and similar exhibited products having over 1002 ft of roofed area shall be provided with smoke detectors acceptable to the authority having jurisdiction unless fire protection of multilevel exhibit booths is provided.
  • A single exhibit or group of exhibits with ceilings that do not require sprinklers shall be separated by a distance of not less than 10 ft. where the aggregate ceiling exceeds 3002 ft.
  • The water supply and piping for the sprinkler system shall be permitted to be of an approved, temporary means that is provided by a domestic water supply, a standpipe system, or a sprinkler system.
  • Open flame devices within exhibit booths shall comply with all open flame and pyrotechnic rules.
     

Cooking & Food: Warming Devices in Exhibit Booths

  • The use of LP-Gas cylinders shall be prohibited.
  • Nonrefillable LP-Gas cylinders shall be approved for use where permitted by the authority having jurisdiction.
  • The devices shall be isolated from the public by not less than 48 in. or by a barrier between the devices and the public.
  • Multi-well cooking equipment using combustible oils or solids shall comply with NFPA 96 which requires automatic suppression systems and vapor exhaust systems.
  • Single-well cooking equipment using combustible oils or solids shall meet the following criteria:
    • They shall have lids available for immediate use.
    • They shall be limited to 2 square feet of cooking surface.
    • They shall be placed on noncombustible surface materials.
    • They shall be separated from each other by a horizontal distance of not less than 24 inches.
    • They shall be kept at a horizontal distance of not less than 610 mm (24 in.) from any combustible material.
    • A portable fire extinguisher in accordance with NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers shall be provided within the booth for each device, or an approved automatic extinguishing system shall be provided.
  • Combustible materials within exhibit booths shall be limited to a one-day supply. Storage of combustible materials behind the booth shall be prohibited.
     

Plans For the Exposition

  • Plans for the exposition, in an acceptable form, shall be submitted to the authority having jurisdiction for approval prior to setting up any exhibit.
  • The plan shall show all details of the proposed exposition.
  • No exposition shall occupy any exposition facility without approved plans.
     

Vehicles in Expositions

  • All fuel tank openings shall be locked and sealed in an approved manner to prevent the escape of vapors; fuel tanks shall not contain in excess of one-half their capacity or contain in excess of 10 gals of fuel, whichever is less.
  • At least one battery cable shall be removed from the batteries used to start the vehicle engine, and the disconnected battery cable shall then be taped.
  • Batteries used to power auxiliary equipment shall be permitted to be kept in service unless the battery is used to also start the vehicle.
  • Fueling or defueling of vehicles shall be prohibited.
  • Vehicles shall not be moved during exhibit hours.
     

Prohibited Materials

  • The following items shall be prohibited within exhibit halls:
    • Compressed flammable gases
    • Flammable or combustible liquids
    • Hazardous chemicals or materials
    • Class II or greater lasers, blasting agents, and explosives
  • The authority having jurisdiction shall be permitted to allow the limited use of any items under special circumstances when following alternative protection measures.
     

Crowd Managers

  • In assembly occupancies having occupant loads exceeding 1000, trained crowd managers or crowd manager supervisors shall be provided at a ratio of 1 crowd manager/supervisor for every 250 occupants, unless otherwise permitted by the following:
    • This requirement shall not apply to assembly occupancies used exclusively for religious worship with an occupant load not exceeding 2000.
    • The ratio of trained crowd managers to occupants shall be permitted to be reduced where, in the opinion of the authority having jurisdiction, the existence of an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system and the nature of the event warrant.
    • The ratio of crowd managers may be increased by the Authority Having Jurisdiction for circumstances requiring more oversight and the protection of occupants/public.
       

Drills & Training

  • The crowd manager shall receive approved training in crowd management techniques.
  • The employees or attendants of assembly occupancies shall be trained and drilled in the duties they are to perform in case of fire, panic, or other emergency to effect orderly exiting.
  • Employees or attendants of assembly occupancies shall be instructed in the proper use of portable fire extinguishers and other manual fire suppression equipment where provided.
  • In the following assembly occupancies, an audible announcement shall be made, or a projected image shall be shown, prior to the start of each program that notifies occupants of the location of the exits to be used in case of a fire or other emergency:
    • Theaters
    • Motion picture theaters
    • Auditoriums
    • Other similar assembly occupancies with occupant loads exceeding 300 where there are noncontinuous programs
  • Announcement required: At every event with a defined start time, where an assembly occupancy can accommodate 300 occupants or more, the event manager, operator, sponsor, or a designee shall make an audio announcement to all occupants, prior to the commencement of the event, regarding the following:
    • Location of Exits;
    • Smoking rules and regulations;
    • Use of open flame devices;
    • What to do in case of emergency evacuation; and
    • Location of any first aid stations
  • Such events include but are not limited to those held at armories, assembly halls, auditoriums, dance halls, exhibition halls, gymnasiums, special amusement buildings regardless of occupant load, and theaters.

    Back to top of page