SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 SUPPORT SERVICES Fire Safety I. Purpose The purpose of this regulation is to establish guidelines for promoting fire safety awareness, practices, and policies to ensure a safe school environment for students, employees, and the general public. II. Scope This regulation outlines procedures to be followed for fire drills and all school event decorations. III. Fire Drills A. Fire Evacuation for Persons with Disabilities Special consideration will be taken for the safety of persons with disabilities, and that of staff members assisting such persons, during emergency evacuations. Students and employees in mechanized wheelchairs require special attention when evacuation during an emergency is necessary. Some of the mechanized wheelchairs can weigh in excess of 500 pounds. Lifting these chairs may create a danger to employees who try to lift the chairs and the chair-bound person who could be injured by this movement. Each principal will have the final decision regarding those persons who have a special need requiring evacuation assistance using the elevator or using other assistance. The Prince William County Fire Marshal s Office has agreed to allow schools equipped with elevators to use those elevators as a safe means to evacuate students and employees with permanent disabilities. This agreement was made with the following understandings: 1. All elevator emergency relief valves must be clearly identified. 2. Key school personnel will be identified and trained annually by safety personnel from the Office of Risk Management and Security Services on the use and operation of the fire department s override operation in the event of an actual emergency. In addition to annual training, key school
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 2 personnel will perform elevator evacuation drills in conjunction with school fire drills. a. In the event of an actual emergency or during training drills, a staff member will be present at each level of access to the elevator to ensure that it is safe to use the elevator in an emergency and there is no danger of a hazardous condition present (i.e., fire or smoke). This applies to employees who are responsible for students with special needs. In the event the elevator is not working, the staff member assigned to the student will assist him/her to the nearest classroom facing the exterior of the building. School administration will be accountable for alerting the first arriving fire department units of the staff and student room location. b. It is agreed that during a drill or non-emergency, key school personnel will perform the fire department s override operation NOT THE RELIEF VALVE OPERATION. The Prince William County Fire Department and certified elevator technician(s) are trained on the use of the relief valve. c. The relief valve operation will only be used by the Prince William County Fire Department or a certified elevator technician. In the event of a malfunction with the elevator where staff, students, or the public is stuck in the elevator, PWCS Facilities Services will be called immediately to provide exit from the elevator, determine the cause of the failure, and ensure the proper repair is completed. In emergency situations, the Prince William County Fire Department will be alerted for immediate evacuation of the elevator occupants. B. One drill will be conducted every week during the first month of every school year and at least one drill each month for the remainder of the school year to ensure that students are thoroughly practiced in such drills (See Virginia Code 22.1-137; Sections 404.2.3 and 405.1 of the Virginia Statewide Fire Prevention Code (SFPC); and Section 8VAC20-131-260 of the Standards of Accreditation ). Fire drills may only be postponed with the permission of the Fire Marshal s Office. Fire drills will not be held during inappropriate times such as when the schools are being used as polling places, during standardized testing, during inclement weather, etc.
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 3 C. The assigned staff member will call the Prince William County Fire and Rescue Communications Center (Dial 911) prior to the drill and provide the following information: 1. Name of school; 2. Address of school; 3. Name of caller; and 4. Time of drill. D. If the building s alarm system is monitored by a central station, notify the central station prior to dialing 911 to inform them that a fire drill will be conducted. E. At the conclusion of the fire drill, the principal will complete an entry on the Drills Conducted Ledger (See Attachment I). This ledger will be maintained at the school and will contain the following information: 1. Name of dispatcher receiving the call; 2. Date and time of drill; 3. Weather conditions at the time of evacuation; 4. Number of occupants evacuated; 5. Total time for evacuation; and 6. Other relevant comments. F. Daily inspection for fire and safety hazards will be the responsibility of the principal and teachers. IV. Fire Lanes In accordance with Section 202 of the SFPC, a fire lane is a road or other passageway developed to allow the passage of fire apparatus. A fire lane is not necessarily intended for vehicular traffic other than fire apparatus. V. Special Events and Activities A. Permits 1. In accordance with Section 108 of the Operational Permits of the SFPC, and Section 32-210 of the Prince William County Zoning Ordinance,
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 4 Temporary Activity Permits are required for any special school activity or event that includes: a. Large numbers of people; b. Use of decorative materials; c. Egress obstructions; d. Emergency access impediments; and e. Proposed alterations of area use. 2. Requests for Temporary Activity Permits (See Attachment II) or Special Assembly Permits (See Attachment III) will be made in writing by the person responsible for the event. The Prince William County Public Schools Special Assembly Permits/Temporary Activity Permits reference page (See Attachment IV) was prepared to assist PWCS staff in determining if a permit is required. B. Amusement Buildings In accordance with the Section 9072.12 of the SFPC, amusement buildings or special amusement buildings, require smoke detection systems, fire alarms, sprinkler systems, illuminated means of egress and exit signs, and a built-in public address system that will automatically produce a pre-recorded message that instructs patrons to proceed to the nearest fire exit. Floor plans, emergency evacuation plans, and fire safety plans must be provided by the person responsible for the event (SFPC 404.3). All decorative materials will meet the requirements set forth in Chapter 8 of the SFPC. The building must have a current fire safety inspection by the Fire Marshal's Office, including up-to-date fire protection system test/inspection records. C. Decorations All decorations used for special events, holidays, and other observances must meet the criteria set forth in the SFPC. VI. Decorations, Lights, and Special Effects A. Trees 1. Live or cut trees are not permitted.
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 5 2. Artificial trees are permitted provided they are flame or fire retardant and listed by a recognized testing laboratory, i.e., Underwriters Laboratory (UL), Factory Mutual (FM), etc. 3. Trees will not be located in an area that will obstruct or restrict any exit, stairway, or corridor. Trees located in any part of the exit way system will be secured or anchored to prevent the tree from being accidentally knocked over by pedestrian traffic. B. Lighting Decorations 1. NO tree lights are to be used. 2. NO decorative lighting is to be used. C. Wreaths, Greenery, and Other Decorations 1. No decorations will be hung from any fire-rated ceiling including, but not limited to, fire protection devices (sprinkler heads, emergency lighting, and fire alarm equipment) and ceiling tiles. 2. Natural wreaths are acceptable for use on the exterior of the building only. Artificial wreaths will be of approved flame retardant or fire resistant materials. 3. Artificial greenery will be of the approved flame or fire retardant material. 4. Other decorations, i.e., tree ornaments, tinsel, garland, and tree skirting, will be noncombustible or approved flame or fire retardant, per the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 701: Standard Methods of Fire Tests for Flame Propagation of Textiles and Films. 5. Wreaths, greenery, and other decorations will be located so as not to obstruct or pose a hazard to any component of the exit way system. 6. Cornstalks, hay bales, stacks of newspapers, or similar combustible materials are prohibited inside and/or outside the building. D. Classroom Door Decorations Decoration of classroom doors are not permitted. Per SFPC, Section 1008, Doors, Gates, and Turnstiles, classroom doors are classified as a means of
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 6 egress, and will readily be distinguished from the adjacent construction and finishes such that the doors are easily recognizable as doors. Mirrors or similar reflecting materials will not be used on means of egress doors. Means of egress doors will not be concealed by curtains, drapes, decorations, or similar materials. E. Wall and Room Decorations 1. Combustible displays in halls, classrooms, and office walls must follow strict guidelines (see below). These guidelines are designed to keep displays away from doors to prevent continuous runs of combustible materials, to maintain clear visual contact with exit signs, and to prevent burning material from falling from above. 2. Guidelines for Display of Combustible Materials in Hallways F. Special Effects a. No combustible materials on any door with the exception of the Crisis Management Plan Classroom Edition, can be displayed on the interior of the classroom door; b. Three foot minimum horizontally from door; c. Three foot minimum vertically from floor; d. Nothing higher than the adjacent door frame; e. Twenty-five foot maximum horizontal width; and f. Ten foot minimum separation. 1. Vapor or smoke producing effects, such as fog/smoke machines and dry ice, are only permitted for theater performances, as outlined in the PWCS Theater Safety Procedural Manual; otherwise they are not permitted due to the possibility of fire alarm activation and obscuring of exits. 2. In the event of fire alarm activation or any emergency, an emergency plan will be in place to immediately stop all music, all audio-visual special effects, and the main lights will be turned on. 3. Fireworks, pyrotechnics, and flame-effects are prohibited inside and/or outside the facility. Any questions with reference to compliance should be addressed to the Office of Risk Management and Security Services or the Prince William County Fire Marshal s Office.
SUPPORT SERVICES September 14, 2016 Page 7 The Associate Superintendent for Finance and Support Services (or designee) is responsible for implementing and monitoring this regulation. The Associate Superintendent for Finance and Support Services (or designee) is responsible for reviewing this regulation in 2019. PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
School Name: Attachment I Drills Conducted Ledger (Submit by July 15 to the Office of Risk Management and Security Services with CMP Updates.) Month/Drill Date Time 911 Called/ Dispatcher Identifier (Fire Drill Only) DRILLS TO BE COMPLETED DURING THE FIRST MONTH OF SCHOOL Fire Drill (Week One) Fire Drill (Week Two) Lockdown Drill (Week Two) Fire Drill (Week Three) Fire Drill (Week Four) Lockdown Drill (Week Four) OCTOBER Fire Drill Earthquake Drill NOVEMBER Fire Drill Tornado Drill DECEMBER Fire Drill JANUARY Fire Drill Lockdown Drill FEBRUARY Fire Drill MARCH Fire Drill Tornado Drill APRIL Fire Drill Lockdown Drill MAY Fire Drill JUNE Fire Drill Weather Conditions (Fire Drill Only) Number of Occupants Time Taken to Evacuate (Fire Drill Only) Comments Initials
Attachment II
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Attachment III
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Attachment IV
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