1. Code 10.8 states that any person shall not tamper with the fire extinguisher system or fire warning system. The systems will not be made inaccessible by any person unless there’s an emergency and directive to make the fire protection system or device inoperative is issued by incident commander. Only the person authorized by AHJ can remove, destroy, unlock, or tamper with the door, tag, signage, symbol, barricade, or enclosure placed under the code 10.8 by AHJ. During emergency, the fire protection devices which are necessary to make inoperative would only be made inoperative. During maintenance, drills, alterations, renovations and prescribed testing, fire protection devices and fore warning systems can be made inaccessible.
2. Code 10.13 states that any vacant building shall remove all combustible storage, waste, refuse, and vegetation and shall lock, barricade, or otherwise secure the building. Plastic garbage cans are combustible material and hence, can’t be stored in the vacant building in accordance with the code. Code 10.13.2 requires all fire protection system to be maintained and serviced regularly in vacant buildings, unless it is approved by AHJ otherwise.
3. Charcoal grill can’t be used for the purpose of heating, cooking, or any other purposes in residential buildings and the grill shall not be kindled or used in the balcony or other structure which is overhanging which lies less than 10 ft of any other structure. Similar types of electric grills are permitted to use for the purpose of cooking and heating. This is in accordance with the code 10.11.6. AHJ has the authority to limit or prohibit any or all open flames, and open, recreational or cooking fires from grills under special regulation. This is applicable for one and two family dwellings. 10.11.7 states that permanent barbecues and grills shall not be built, installed, or maintained without approval of AHJ. The grills have to be maintained in good repair and safe condition at all times and the openings in the grills have to provide with an approved spark arrested, screen or door.
4. The children daycare is discussed in 16.7 and 17.7 in detail. The occupancy classification of daycare is personal residence; it doesn’t lie in daycare occupancy as the number of children is less than 12.
5. Vacant property covered by vegetation is a safety hazard and has to be removed when AHZ determines it to be a fire hazard. If the total removal of the growth is seemed impractical due to environmental factor or size of vegetation, AHJ may advice to establish fuel breaks. This requires clearing of certain part of vegetation to establish fuel breaks. For a vacant property covered with vegetations, its owner would be notified of the code 10.14.10 dealing with exterior vegetation and would be asked to remove the combustible vegetation and it’s a possible fire hazard.
6. Portable electric connectors in a building shall be listed and the chimneys, smokestacks, or similar devices to convey smokes and hot gases to the outer air shall be installed and maintained in accordance with NFPA 54 and NFPA 211. Portable electric connectors have to be designed and located in the manner that they can’t be overturned easily. AHJ is permitted to prohibit usage of electric connector in occupancies and situations where such use or operation would present an undue danger to life or property.
7. NFPA 13.3.32.7, educational occupancy buildings exceeding 20,000 ft2 (1860 m2) shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 13.3 and the educational occupancy buildings four or more stories in height shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler in accordance with Section 13.3. Every portion of educational buildings below the level of exit discharge needs to be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 13.3. Buildings with unprotected openings in accordance with 8.6.6 of NFPA 101 shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 13.3. Moreover, where another provision of chapter 14 of NFPA 101 requires an automatic sprinkler system, the sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance to section 13.3. The above-listed NFPA fire restrictions are for new educational occupancies and for the existing educational occupancies, guidelines are; where student occupancy exists below the level of exit discharge, every portion of such floor shall be protected throughout by an approved automatic sprinkler in accordance with section 13.3. Automatic sprinkler protection shall not be required where student occupancy exists below the level of exit discharge, provided that both of the following criteria are met: the approval of the AHJ shall be required and windows for rescue and ventilation shall be provided in accordance with 15.2.11.1 of NFPA 101. Buildings with unprotected openings in accordance with 8.6.6 of NFPA 101 shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic sprinkler system in accordance with section 13.3. Where another provision of chapter 15 of NFPA 101 requires an automatic sprinkler system, the sprinkler system shall be installed in accordance with section 13.3.
Bibliography
NFPA. (n.d.). National Fire Protection Association. Retrieved Oct 2, 2011, from NFPA: http://www.nfpa.org/aboutthecodes/AboutTheCodes.asp?DocNum=1&cookie_test=1
