The operator or the person in charge of operation or use of
any place of assembly or education or any public building or structure
shall check egress facilities before such building or structure is
made available for any use. If the operator in charge or the Fire
Code Official discovers that any element of the required means of
egress is obstructed, inaccessible, locked, fastened or otherwise
unsuited for immediate use, then admittance to the building shall
not be permitted until necessary corrective action has been completed.
During any period of occupancy or use of a building or structure,
no egress doors shall be locked, bolted or otherwise fastened or obstructed
by any means. All such doors must be capable of being opened from
the inside by the use of an ordinary door latch or knob, pressure
on the door or by a panic release device. In problem security areas,
special purpose door alarms or locking devices shall be subject to
approval by the Fire Code Official prior to installation.
All interior exit stairway doors shall be capable of being opened
from both sides without the use of a key or any other special knowledge
or effort whenever the building or area is being occupied.
All exit signs shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition
and shall be clearly illuminated at all times that the building is
occupied. Supplemental internally illuminated directional signs indicating
the direction to egress shall be installed, when necessary, as determined
by the Fire Code Official.
Any door, passage or stairway which is neither a means of egress
nor access to a means of egress and which can possibly be mistaken
for a means of egress shall be properly identified as not being an
exit.
For each room where chairs, tables or other types of furniture
are used, the arrangement shall be such as to provide for ready access
by aisles to each egress door. Aisles leading directly to an egress
door shall have not less than 44 inches clear width. Aisles shall
not be obstructed by chairs, tables or other objects.
Hazardous areas include but are not limited to basements, boiler
rooms, storerooms, closets, workshops and laboratories. All hazardous
areas shall have the highest order of housekeeping. All flammable
liquids and gases shall be stored in suitable containers and in reasonably
small quantities. All containers shall be properly identified. Hazardous
waste and oily waste shall be kept in self-closing containers. All
areas shall be equipped with suitable fire extinguishers in good working
order.
The smoking or carrying of a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette
or tobacco in any form is prohibited in the areas where conditions
are such as to make smoking a hazard, including warehouses, schools
and places of assembly where combustible materials are stored.
The Fire Code Official is empowered to order the owner or occupant
to post "No Smoking" signs in each building or area where smoking
is prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to smoke, throw
or deposit any lighted or smoldering substance in any place where
"No Smoking" signs are posted.