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Editor's Note: See also Ch. 133, Assemblies, Public.
The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
DECORATIVE MATERIAL
Includes all such materials as curtains, draperies, streamers, surface coverings applied over the building interior finish for decorative, acoustical or other effect and also cloth, cotton batting, straw, vines, leaves, trees and moss used for decorative effect, but it shall not include floor coverings, ordinary window shades nor materials 1/40 of an inch or less in thickness [NOTE: May be measured by folding a piece to five thicknesses and measuring to see if the thickness of five layers exceeds 1/8 inch.] applied directly to and adhering tightly to a noncombustible base.
PLACE OF ASSEMBLY
A room or space used for assembly or educational occupancy for 100 or more occupants, or which has a floor area of 1,500 square feet or more used for such purposes. Such room or space shall include any similar occupied connecting room or space in the same story, or in a story or stories above or below, where entrance is common to the rooms or spaces.
No place of assembly as defined in § 198-99 shall be maintained, operated or used as such without a permit, except that no permit shall be required for any place of assembly used solely as a place of religious worship.
A. 
No decorative material shall be used which as applied will ignite and allow flame to spread over the surface or allows burning particles to drop when exposed to a match flame test applied to a piece removed from the material and tested in a safe place. The piece shall be held in a vertical position and the bottom edge exposed to a flame from a common match held in a horizontal position, 1/2 inch underneath the piece, and at a constant location for a minimum of 15 seconds.
B. 
Treatments used to accomplish this flameproofing shall be renewed as often as may be necessary to maintain the flameproof effect.
C. 
Pyroxylin coated fabric used as a decorative material in accordance with Subsection A and B of this section, or as a surface covering on fixed furnishings, shall be limited as follows: Such fabrics containing 1.4 ounces or more of cellulose nitrate per square yard shall not be used in excess of a total amount equivalent to one square foot of fabric surface to 15 cubic feet of room volume. Each square foot of such fabric which contains 1.7 ounces or more of cellulose nitrate per square yard shall be counted as two square feet in making this computation.
In places of assembly no motion picture screen or screen masking shall be used which will ignite and allow flame to spread over the surface when exposed to the match flame test described in § 198-101A.
During the period of occupancy, no exit door shall be locked, bolted or otherwise fastened or obstructed by any means, so that the door cannot be opened from the inside by the use of the ordinary door latch or knob or by pressure on the door or on a panic release device.
In each room where chairs, or tables and chairs, are used, the arrangement shall be such as will provide for ready access by aisles to each exit doorway. Aisles leading directly to exit doorways shall have not less than 36 inches clear width, which shall not be obstructed by chairs, tables or other objects.
A plan showing the capacity and location of exitways and of aisles leading thereto shall be submitted for approval to the Chief of the Fire Department, and an approved copy shall be kept on display in the premises.
A. 
No part of a stairway, whether interior or exterior, nor of a hallway, corridor, vestibule, balcony or bridge leading to an exitway shall be used for any purpose which will interfere with its value as an exitway.
B. 
In rooms accommodating more than 100 persons, required exit doorways, other than those no entrance, shall be plainly marked by approved exit signs, sufficiently illuminated when the floor area is occupied, to be readily distinguished.
C. 
Where the exit doorways are not visible from all locations in public corridors, directional signs, as required by the Chief of the Fire Department, shall be placed on walls or otherwise displayed in conspicuous locations to direct occupants to exit doorways.
D. 
Required stairways, hallways and other means of egress, including exterior open spaces to or through which exitways lead, shall be kept adequately lighted at all times that the building served thereby is occupied.
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Editor's Note: State law reference - Exitways, G.L. 1956, § 23-28.23-1 et seq.
Each place of assembly shall be posted with a legible sign in contrasting colors conspicuously located stating the maximum number of occupants permitted. The number shall be determined by the capacity of exitways provided.
All fire protection equipment required under Part 2, Equipment Requirements, Article XVI, Fire Protection Equipment, of this chapter shall be kept in working condition. Extinguishers and hose and similar appliances shall be visible and convenient at all times. It shall be the duty of the owner and the tenant of each building, or part of a building, occupied as a place of assembly to properly train sufficient regular employees in the use of fire appliances so that such appliances can be quickly put in operation.