[Added 6-13-2017 by G.O. No. 11-2017[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Art.
XXVI, Emergency Planning and Preparedness for Shelters, adopted 1-17-2017
by G.O. No. 1-2017.
This article governs emergency reporting, planning and preparedness
for buildings occupied or designed to be occupied to provide emergency
shelter for more than 10 homeless persons for more than 30 days in
a year.
A.
The emergency preparedness plans required by this article shall serve
to assure that procedures are in place that can be timely implemented
in the event of a fire or other emergency to provide the information,
guidance, direction and assistance needed to protect the safety of
building occupants, including, if necessary, effecting their evacuation,
relocation or sheltering in place. Such emergency preparedness plans
shall further serve to assure that knowledgeable assistance is readily
available on the premises to emergency response personnel responding
to a fire or other emergency at the premises.
B.
The Fire Commissioner shall promulgate rules for a comprehensive
fire safety and action plan which shall include the following information
and documentation, and/or such other information and documentation
as the Fire Commissioner may prescribe:
(1)
The designation of the Fire Emergency Plan (FEP) coordinator as described in § 59-318, by name and position at the premises, and other FEP staff, by name and/or position at the premises, if required.
(2)
The procedure by which a fire or other emergency is reported to the
Fire Department, and the FEP staff responsible for ensuring such reporting.
(3)
The procedure for notifying building occupants of a fire or other
emergency, and the FEP staff responsible for ensuring such notification.
(4)
The procedure for coordinating with firefighting, emergency medical
service and other emergency response personnel, including notifying
such personnel upon arrival of the location of the emergency and the
response thereto, and the FEP staff responsible for such coordination.
(5)
Procedures for identifying and assisting building occupants who require
assistance because of an infirmity, disability or other special need.
(6)
Procedures for accounting for employees and occupants after evacuation
has been complete.
(7)
Identification of fire prevention measures appropriate to the occupancy,
to be included in staff training and drills, and the FEP staff or
building staff responsible for addressing any unsafe conditions, including:
(a)
Unobstructed and unimpeded access to means of egress.
(b)
Proper storage and removal of combustible materials and combustible
waste on the premises.
(c)
Maintenance of decorative vegetation.
(d)
Proper use of extension cords, outlets and electrical equipment.
(e)
Maintenance of sprinkler head clearances.
(f)
Posting and maintenance of "No Smoking" signs required by this
code.
(g)
Posting and maintenance of occupancy signs.
(8)
The procedure for the ongoing monitoring of the premises during regular
business hours to verify compliance with the following requirements,
and the FEP staff responsible for such monitoring:
(a)
Access to the means of egress is unobstructed and unimpeded.
(b)
The premises does not exceed the posted and/or design occupant
load.
(c)
Allowable use of open flames and open-flame devices is being
conducted properly and safely.
(d)
The prohibition against smoking, where required by this Code
or the rules, is being observed.
(e)
Inspection and maintenance of life safety systems and equipment
in accordance with the appropriate reference standards.
C.
Fire and emergency preparedness staff. The fire and emergency preparedness
plan shall designate an FEP shelter coordinator and a sufficient number
of deputy FEP shelter coordinators, with such qualifications, duties
and authority as set forth in the rules.
D.
FEP shelter coordinator. The FEP shelter coordinator and deputy FEP
shelter coordinators designated in the fire and emergency preparedness
plan shall have the following duties and responsibilities and such
other duties and responsibilities as prescribed by rule:
(1)
The FEP shelter coordinator shall be present in the building at all
times while the building is occupied. When the FEP shelter coordinator
is absent, a deputy FEP shelter coordinator shall be present in the
building and shall perform the duties of the FEP shelter coordinator.
(2)
In the event of a fire, a medical emergency or other emergency, the
FEP shelter coordinator shall report to the fire command center or
designated alternative location, and, if appropriate, implement the
fire and emergency preparedness plan in accordance with its terms
and the provisions of the rules, and notify arriving emergency response
personnel and incident commander of the fire or other emergency, the
building response thereto, and the building's fire protection
systems.
(3)
The FEP shelter coordinator and deputy FEP shelter coordinators designated
shall be fully familiar with the provisions of the fire and emergency
preparedness plan. The FEP shelter coordinator shall conduct staff
training and quarterly fire and other emergency drills.
E.
Buildings or parts thereof occupied or operated to be occupied by
emergency shelters shall be continuously patrolled by trained staff
personnel. Every area of the building shall be patrolled at least
once every hour.
F.
There shall be posted on or immediately adjacent to the main entrance
door of guest rooms in buildings and occupancies and any emergency
shelter a notice that provides the following information and guidance
to building occupants, and/or such other information as the Fire Commissioner
may prescribe by rule:
(1)
A floor plan indicating visual representation of the location of
primary and secondary evacuation routes, accessible egress routes,
areas of refuge, exits and exterior occupant assembly points.
(2)
Location of manual fire alarm boxes and fire alarm annunciators and
controls.
(3)
Portable fire extinguisher locations.
(4)
A written description and/or visual representation of the procedures
to be followed in the event of a fire, smoke condition or other emergency.
G.
Every comprehensive fire safety and emergency action plan shall be
submitted to the Fire Department for acceptance in the manner prescribed
by the Fire Department. Acceptance of such plans shall be obtained
prior to occupancy of the building or occupancy.
A copy of the emergency preparedness plan shall be maintained
on the premises and kept readily available for inspection at all times.
The Fire Department may require that the emergency preparedness plan
be maintained at an approved location on the premises in an approved
first responder box secured by a Citywide standard key to ensure availability
of the plan at all times.
Emergency preparedness plans shall be reviewed and updated as necessitated by changes in staff assignments, use or occupancy, or the design and arrangement of the premises, but at least annually. An entry shall be made in the log book required by § 59-316 documenting such review, and indicating the general nature of any amendments to be made to such plan. Submission of an amended emergency preparedness plan shall not be required solely by reason of staffing changes. Fire and emergency preparedness guides and notices shall be reviewed prior to each distribution required by this article or the rules, and shall be revised within 60 days of any change in building construction or service equipment materially affecting the content of such guide or notice.
The preparation of an emergency preparedness plan shall constitute
an operational requirement. Except as otherwise provided in this section,
owners and operators of new buildings and occupancies required by
this chapter to have an emergency preparedness plan shall prepare
such plan and submit it to the Fire Department for approval prior
to legally occupying the structure. Owners and operators of existing
buildings and occupancies shall prepare such plan and submit it to
the Fire Department for approval within three months from the promulgation
of rules implementing such emergency preparedness plan provisions
of this article.
Any building or occupancy that prior to the effective date of
this section obtained Fire Department approval of the voluntary installation
of a fire alarm system with two-way voice communication and was required
to provide a fire safety warden or other specified emergency preparedness
staffing shall maintain such staffing unless a higher level of staffing
is required by this article.
Buildings and occupancies required to have an emergency preparedness
plan pursuant to this article shall maintain a log book in accordance
with this section. Such log book shall be kept on the premises and
available to Fire Department personnel if requested.
All owners, employers of building occupants (including lessees
of tenant spaces and similar occupancies) and building occupants shall
cooperate in the development and coordination of emergency preparedness
plans, including designation of building occupants to assist in the
implementation of such plan.
A.
The owner of any premises required by this article to have a fire and emergency preparedness plan shall designate competent persons to act as FEP staff, including a person designated to serve as the FEP coordinator pursuant to Subsection B of this section. An owner of such a premises shall not be required to employ or otherwise retain staff solely for purposes of complying with the requirements of this Article, but shall designate persons employed or otherwise working at the premises to serve as FEP staff and assign them the duties and responsibilities necessary to implement the fire and emergency preparedness plan and otherwise comply with the requirements of this chapter and the rules.
B.
A manager or other responsible FEP staff member employed at the premises
shall be designated in the fire and emergency preparedness plan as
the FEP coordinator and shall be trained and show competence in fire
prevention, evacuation, and fire safety as approved by the Fire Commissioner.
The FEP coordinator shall have the following duties and responsibilities
and such other duties and responsibilities as the Fire Commissioner
may prescribe by rule:
(1)
The FEP coordinator shall be fully familiar with the provisions of the fire and emergency preparedness plan and shall conduct the FEP staff training and fire and other emergency drills including quarterly fire drills, and those required by Subsection C of this section; however, FEP staff training and fire and other emergency drills may be conducted by trained staff personnel under the general supervision of the FEP coordinator.
(2)
The FEP coordinator need not be personally present on the premises
during regular business hours, but shall be responsible for overseeing
and monitoring the performance of the duties and responsibilities
of the FEP staff set forth in the fire and emergency preparedness
plan.
(3)
The FEP coordinator shall endeavor to ensure that adequate FEP staff
is present during regular business hours, and, in the absence of designated
FEP staff, shall designate interim FEP staff.
C.
FEP staff shall be trained in the performance of their duties in
accordance with the fire and emergency preparedness plan.
(1)
FEP staff shall receive initial training in the fire and emergency
preparedness plan upon their designation as FEP staff. Such training
shall familiarize them with:
(2)
With the exception of the FEP coordinator, FEP staff shall receive
refresher training not less than every two months.
(3)
FEP staff shall be periodically instructed and kept informed of their
duties and responsibilities under the plan. A written record of instruction
and training shall be maintained in a log book for purposes of documenting
emergency preparedness. An entry shall be made in such log book for
each training session conducted. Such instruction shall be reviewed
by the staff not less than every two months. A copy of the plan shall
be readily available at all times within the facility.
